In Europe the Sinemurian age, together with the Hettangian age, saw the deposition of the lower Lias, in Great Britain known as the Blue Lias.
Stratigraphic definitions
The Sinemurian stage was defined and introduced into scientific literature by French palaeontologist Alcide d'Orbigny in 1842. It takes its name from the French town of Semur-en-Auxois, near Dijon. The calcareous soil formed from the Jurassic limestone of the region is in part responsible for the character of the classic Sancerre wines.
The top of the Sinemurian (the base of the Pliensbachian) is at the first appearances of the ammonite species Bifericeras donovani and ammonite genus Apoderoceras.
The earliest known example of several features distinctive to mammals, including mammal-like mandible and middle-ear structures and a relatively large brain cavity.
A large (about 3 to 5 meters long), marine sauropterygian reptile, it was distinguished by its small head, long and slender neck, broad turtle like body, a short tail, and two pairs of large, elongated paddles
Despite the similar cranial morphology with crocodilians, the genus is currently regarded as a basal crocodyliform although more derived than protosuchians.
A sphenosuchian crocodylomorph. Because some of its teeth were leaf-shaped it does not appear to have been a strict carnivore like most other crocodylomorphs.
A small herbivore dinosaur despite long canines it sported in its jaws; due to this unique characteristic it is very clearly allied to Heterodontosaurus
One of the earliest representatives of the armored dinosaurs and the basalmost form discovered to date. It was a small, lightly-built, ground-dwelling, herbivore, that could grow up to an estimated 1.2 m (3.9 ft) long.
A primitive ornithischian, about 2 meters (6 feet 7 inches) long. The proportions of the posterior limbs show differences with those of Lesothosaurus, and reveal a lower ability to run
Tatisaurus is a genus of basal ornithischian dinosaur from China. Little is known as the remains are fragmentary but it's likely a thyreophoran related to Scutellosaurus and Scelidosaurus.
A medium-small sized theropod, C. kayentakatae had two small, parallel crests which may demonstrate an evolutionary step toward later and larger neotheropods, such as the more advanced and larger Dilophosaurus and Sinosaurus.
Measured around six meters (20 ft) long and may have weighed half a ton. The most distinctive characteristic of Dilophosaurus is the pair of rounded crests on its skull, possibly used for display.
Measured around 3.5 meters (11 feet) long. The most distinctive characteristic of Sarcosaurus is its pelvis which is remarkably similar to Dilophosaurus