The Aridal Formation in the Sahara Desert of southwestern Morocco is a fossil formation with rocks dating to the Lutetian - Priabonian (47.8 - 33.9 million years ago), preserving a middle Eocene shallow coastal environment.[1]
Aridal Formation | |
---|---|
Stratigraphic range: Middle Eocene, Lutetian–Priabonian | |
![]() | |
Type | Geological formation |
Lithology | |
Other | sandstone, marl |
Location | |
Country | Morocco |
The formation represents the world's richest Bartonian archaic whale assemblage, including protocetids and basilosaurids.[2]
Paleobiota
editBirds
editIncludes the earliest occurrence of the genus Pelagornis, extending its fossil record back by at least 10 million years.[2]
Taxa | Rock Unit | Age | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Pelagornis sp. | Gueran | Bartonian | |
Pelagornithidae indet. | El Breij Unit II | Bartonian |
Mammals
editAlongside a rich assemblage of archaic whale taxa including two additional unnamed protocetid species,[3] there are also possible remains of the earliest occurrence of Barytherium.[4]
Taxa | Rock Unit | Age | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Pappocetus lugardi | Gueran,[3]
Sabkha of Lebreij |
Bartonian | |
Eocetus schweinfurthi | Gueran,[3]
El Breij Unit II, El Breij Unit III |
Bartonian | |
Chrysocetus fouadassii | Gueran[3] | Bartonian | |
Platyosphys aithai | Gueran[3] | Bartonian | |
? Barytherium sp. | Gueran[4] | Bartonian |
Reptiles
editThere are at least three indeterminate species of turtles: two marine cryptodires, a cheloniid, a dermochelyid, and a possible littoral pleurodire. Two species of longirostrine crocodylians are present, including a gavialoid similar to Eogavialis africanum (which is typically known from younger strata), and one too fragmentary to identify beyond being a crocodyliform.[2]
Taxa | Rock Unit | Age | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Pterosphenus schweinfurthi | Gueran | Bartonian | |
Palaeophis africanus | El Breij, Unit I | Lutetian | |
Palaeophiidae indet. | Sabkha of Lebreij | Bartonian | |
Cordichelys antiqua | El Breij, Unit I | Lutetian | |
Cheloniidae indet. | Gueran | Bartonian | |
Dermochelyidae indet. | Gueran | Bartonian | |
Pleurodira indet. | Gueran | Bartonian | |
Gavialoidea indet. | Gueran | Bartonian | |
Crocodyliformes indet. | Gueran | Bartonian | |
Crocodylia indet. | El Breij Unit I,
Sabkha of Lebreij |
Lutetian |
Cartilaginous Fish
editTaxa | Rock Unit | Age | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Galeocerdo eaglesomei | Gueran | Bartonian | |
Pristis lathami | Gueran | Bartonian | |
Propristis schweinfurthi | Gueran | Bartonian | |
Macrorhizodus praecursor | Gueran | Bartonian | |
Hemipristis curvatus | Gueran | Bartonian | |
Carcharias koerti | Gueran | Bartonian | |
Otodus cf. sokolowi | Gueran | Bartonian | |
Tethylamna cf. twiggsensis | Gueran | Bartonian | |
Carcharhinus sp. | Gueran | Bartonian | |
Abdounia sp. | Gueran | Bartonian | |
Physogaleus sp. | Gueran | Bartonian |
Bony Fish
editTaxa | Rock Unit | Age | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Cylindracanthus sp. | Gueran,
El Breij Unit I |
Bartonian, |
References
edit- ^ "The Paleobiology Database Navigator". The Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ a b c Zouhri, Samir; Gingerich, Philip D.; Khalloufi, Bouziane; Bourdon, Estelle; Adnet, Sylvain; Jouve, Stéphane; Elboudali, Najia; Amane, Ayoub; Rage, Jean-Claude; Tabuce, Rodolphe; De Broin, France De Lapparent (11 March 2021). "Middle Eocene vertebrate fauna from the Aridal Formation, Sabkha of Gueran, southwestern Morocco". Geodiversitas. 43 (5). doi:10.5252/geodiversitas2021v43a5. ISSN 1280-9659.
- ^ a b c d e Gingerich, Philip D.; Zouhri, Samir (November 2015). "New fauna of archaeocete whales (Mammalia, Cetacea) from the Bartonian middle Eocene of southern Morocco". Journal of African Earth Sciences. 111: 273–286. doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2015.08.006.
- ^ a b Zouhri, Samir; Gingerich, Philip D.; Khalloufi, Bouziane; Bourdon, Estelle; Adnet, Sylvain; Jouve, Stéphane; Elboudali, Najia; Amane, Ayoub; Rage, Jean-Claude; Tabuce, Rodolphe (11 March 2021). "Barytherium sp. Andrews 1901". doi:10.5281/zenodo.4606655.
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