| Karabastau Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Middle Jurassic - Late Jurassic | |
 Specimen of the salamander Karaurus sharovi | |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Area | Karatau Mountains |
| Thickness | 26 m (85 ft) exposed |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Claystone dolomite, |
| Other | Sandstone, conglomerate |
| Location | |
| Region | Central Asia |
| Country |  Kazakhstan |
The Karabastau Formation (Kazakh: Qarabastaý svıtasy) is a geological formation and lagerstätte in the Karatau Mountains of southern Kazakhstan whose strata date to the Middle to Late Jurassic. It is an important locality for insect fossils that has been studied since the early 20th century, alongside the rarer remains of vertebrates, including pterosaurs, salamanders, lizards and crocodiles.[1][2]
- ^ Barrett, P.M., Butler, R.J., Edwards, N.P., & Milner, A.R. Pterosaur distribution in time and space: an atlas. p61-107. in Flugsaurier: Pterosaur papers in honour of Peter Wellnhofer. 2008. Hone, D.W.E., and Buffetaut, E. (eds). Zitteliana B, 28. 264pp.[1]
- ^ Dzik, Jerzy; Sulej, Tomasz; Niedźwiedzki, Grzegorz (2010-07-14). "Possible link connecting reptilian scales with avian feathers from the early Late Jurassic of Kazakstan". Historical Biology. 22 (4): 394–402. Bibcode:2010HBio...22..394D. doi:10.1080/08912961003710616. ISSN 0891-2963. S2CID 55901653.