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Aridal Formation

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Aridal Formation
Stratigraphic range: Middle Eocene, Lutetian–Priabonian
Chrysocetus fouadassii cast
TypeGeological formation
Lithology
Othersandstone, marl
Location
CountryMorocco

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.

The formation represents the world's richest Bartonian archaic whale assemblage, including protocetids and basilosaurids.

Paleobiota

Birds

Includes the earliest occurrence of the genus Pelagornis, extending its fossil record back by at least 10 million years.

Taxa Rock Unit Age Image
Pelagornis sp. Gueran Bartonian
Pelagornithidae indet. El Breij Unit II Bartonian

Mammals

Alongside a rich assemblage of archaic whale taxa including two additional unnamed protocetid species, there are also possible remains of the earliest occurrence of Barytherium.

Taxa Rock Unit Age Image
Pappocetus lugardi Gueran,

Sabkha of Lebreij

Bartonian
Eocetus schweinfurthi Gueran,

El Breij Unit II,

El Breij Unit III

Bartonian
Chrysocetus fouadassii Gueran Bartonian
Platyosphys aithai Gueran Bartonian
? Barytherium sp. Gueran Bartonian

Reptiles

There 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.

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

Bartonian

Cartilaginous Fish

Taxa 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

Taxa Rock Unit Age Image
Cylindracanthus sp. Gueran,

El Breij Unit I

Bartonian,

Lutetian

References

  1. "The Paleobiology Database Navigator". The Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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