Jump to content

Dinosaur Beds: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
a misspell : crocodyliomorphs -> crocodylomorphs
m v2.05 - Autofix / Fix errors for CW project (Link equal to linktext)
 
(10 intermediate revisions by 8 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Geological formation in Malawi}}
{{Infobox rockunit
{{Infobox rockunit
| name = Dinosaur Beds
| name = Dinosaur Beds
Line 34: Line 35:
| map_caption =
| map_caption =
}}
}}
The '''Dinosaur Beds''' is a geological [[Formation (geology)|formation]] in Malawi whose strata date back to the [[Early Cretaceous]]. The age of the deposit is poorly constrained, but is likely to date from the [[Barremian]] to [[Aptian]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Widlansky|first=Sarah J.|last2=Clyde|first2=William C.|last3=O'Connor|first3=Patrick M.|last4=Roberts|first4=Eric M.|last5=Stevens|first5=Nancy J.|date=March 2018|title=Paleomagnetism of the Cretaceous Galula Formation and implications for vertebrate evolution|journal=Journal of African Earth Sciences|volume=139|pages=403–420|doi=10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2017.11.029|issn=1464-343X}}</ref> Dinosaurs, turtles and crocodylomorphs remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.<ref name="cretaceousdistribution">Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Early Cretaceous, Africa)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 571-573. {{ISBN|0-520-24209-2}}.</ref> It is correlated with the [[Galula Formation]] in [[Tanzania]]. It consists of two members, a lower unfossiliferous member consisting of deep red stained sandstones, and an upper fossiliferous member consisting of white sands and grey to red mudstones and siltstones. The upper member is 210 m thick in the vicinity of the CD-9 locality.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=WINKLER|first=DALE A.|last2=GOMANI|first2=ELIZABETH M.|last3=JACOBS|first3=LOUIS L.|date=2000|title=COMPARATIVE TAPHONOMY OF AN EARLY CRETACEOUS SAUROPOD QUARRY, MALAWI, AFRICA|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274082885|journal=Paleont. Soc. Korea Special Publication|volume=4|pages=99–114}}</ref>
The '''Dinosaur Beds''' is a geological [[Formation (geology)|formation]] in Malawi whose strata date back to the [[Early Cretaceous]]. The age of the deposit is poorly constrained, but is likely to date from the [[Barremian]] to [[Aptian]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Widlansky|first1=Sarah J.|last2=Clyde|first2=William C.|last3=O'Connor|first3=Patrick M.|last4=Roberts|first4=Eric M.|last5=Stevens|first5=Nancy J.|date=March 2018|title=Paleomagnetism of the Cretaceous Galula Formation and implications for vertebrate evolution|journal=Journal of African Earth Sciences|volume=139|pages=403–420|doi=10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2017.11.029|issn=1464-343X|doi-access=free|bibcode=2018JAfES.139..403W }}</ref> Dinosaurs, turtles and crocodylomorphs remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.<ref name="cretaceousdistribution">Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Early Cretaceous, Africa)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 571-573. {{ISBN|0-520-24209-2}}.</ref> It is correlated with the [[Galula Formation]] in [[Tanzania]]. It consists of two members, a lower unfossiliferous member consisting of deep red stained sandstones, and an upper fossiliferous member consisting of white sands and grey to red mudstones and siltstones. The upper member is 210 m thick in the vicinity of the CD-9 locality.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=WINKLER|first1=DALE A.|last2=GOMANI|first2=ELIZABETH M.|last3=JACOBS|first3=LOUIS L.|date=2000|title=COMPARATIVE TAPHONOMY OF AN EARLY CRETACEOUS SAUROPOD QUARRY, MALAWI, AFRICA|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274082885|journal=Paleont. Soc. Korea Special Publication|volume=4|pages=99–114}}</ref>


== Vertebrate paleofauna ==
== Fossil content ==
* ''[[Karongasaurus|Karongasaurus gittelmani]]'' - A lower mandible and a few teeth
* ''[[Malawisaurus|Malawisaurus dixeyi]]'' - "Skull elements, teeth, vertebrae, limb elements osteoderms, of several individuals."<ref name="table-13-1-269">"Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 269.</ref>
* ''[[Malawisuchus|Malawisuchus mwakasyungutiensis]]'' - A skeleton (almost complete articulated skeleton and skull)
* ''[[Platycheloides|Platycheloides nyasae]]'' - A partial shell
*[[Frog|Anura indet.]]
* [[Theropoda|Theropoda indet.]]


{{paleobiota-key-compact}}
== Invertebrate fauna ==


=== Dinosaurs ===
* ''[[Hourcqia]]'' a non marine [[ostracod]]

==== Sauropoda ====
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
|-
! colspan="7" align="center" | [[Plesiosauria|Plesiosaurs]] of the Dinosaur Beds
|-
! Genus
! Species
! Location
! Stratigraphic position
! Material
! Notes
! Images
|-
| ''[[Karongasaurus]]''<ref>Gomani, E.M. 2005. Sauropod dinosaurs from the Early Cretaceous of Malawi, Africa: Palaeontologia Electronica 8 (issue 1 - n. 27a): 37 pages.</ref>
| ''K. gittelmani''
|
|
|
| A [[Titanosauria|titanosaurian]] [[Sauropoda|sauropod]].
|
|-
| ''[[Malawisaurus]]''<ref>{{cite journal | author = Jacobs L. D. Winkler, Gomani E. | year = 1993 | title = New material of an Early Cretaceous titanosaurid dinosaur from Malawi | journal = Palaeontology | volume = 36 | issue = 3| pages = 523–534 }}</ref>
| ''M. dixeyi''
|
|
|
| A [[Lithostrotia|lithostrotian]] [[Titanosauria|titanosaur]].
|
|-
|}

==== Theropoda ====
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
|-
! colspan="7" align="center" | [[theropods]] of the Dinosaur Beds
|-
! Genus
! Species
! Location
! Stratigraphic position
! Material
! Notes
! Images
|-
| [[Theropoda]] Indet.
| Indeterminate
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|}

=== Crocodyliformes ===
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
|-
! colspan="7" align="center" | [[Crocodyliformes]] of the Dinosaur Beds
|-
! Genus
! Species
! Location
! Stratigraphic position
! Material
! Notes
! Images
|-
| ''[[Malawisuchus]]''
| ''M. mwakasyungutiensis''
|
|
|
|
| A [[Candidodontidae|candidodontid]] [[Notosuchia|notosuchian]].
|-
|}

=== Turtles ===
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
|-
! colspan="7" align="center" | [[Turtle|Turtles]] of the Dinosaur Beds
|-
! Genus
! Species
! Location
! Stratigraphic position
! Material
! Notes
! Images
|-
| ''[[Platycheloides]]''
| ''P. nyasae''
|
|
|
| A [[Pelomedusidae|pelomedusid]] [[turtle]].
|
|-
|}

=== Amphibians ===
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
|-
! colspan="7" align="center" | [[Amphibia|Amphibians]] of the Dinosaur Beds
|-
! Genus
! Species
! Location
! Stratigraphic position
! Material
! Notes
! Images
|-
| [[Anura]] Indet.
| Indetrminate
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|}

=== Crutaceans ===
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
|-
! colspan="7" align="center" | [[Crustacean|Crustaceans]] of the Dinosaur Beds
|-
! Genus
! Species
! Location
! Stratigraphic position
! Material
! Notes
! Images
|-
| ''[[Hourcqia]]''
| ''H. sp.''
|
|
|
|
| A non-marine [[Ostracod]].
|-
|}


== See also ==
== See also ==
Line 55: Line 196:
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


[[Category:Geologic formations of Malawi]]
[[Category:Cretaceous paleontological sites of Africa]]
[[Category:Cretaceous paleontological sites of Africa]]
[[Category:Lower Cretaceous Series of Africa]]
[[Category:Lower Cretaceous Series of Africa]]

Latest revision as of 17:22, 29 November 2024

Dinosaur Beds
Stratigraphic range: Barremian–Aptian
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofLupata Group
Sub-unitsLower Member, Upper Member
UnderliesUnconformity with Pliocene Chiwondo Beds
OverliesPrecambrian metamorphic basement
ThicknessUpper member is 210 m (690 ft) thick in vicinity of CD-9 locality
Lithology
PrimarySandstone, siltstone, mudstone
Location
Coordinates10°17′S 34°02′E / 10.28°S 34.04°E / -10.28; 34.04
RegionNorthern Region
Country Malawi
ExtentKaronga District
Dinosaur Beds is located in Malawi
Dinosaur Beds
Dinosaur Beds (Malawi)

The Dinosaur Beds is a geological formation in Malawi whose strata date back to the Early Cretaceous. The age of the deposit is poorly constrained, but is likely to date from the Barremian to Aptian.[1] Dinosaurs, turtles and crocodylomorphs remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[2] It is correlated with the Galula Formation in Tanzania. It consists of two members, a lower unfossiliferous member consisting of deep red stained sandstones, and an upper fossiliferous member consisting of white sands and grey to red mudstones and siltstones. The upper member is 210 m thick in the vicinity of the CD-9 locality.[3]

Fossil content

[edit]
Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Dinosaurs

[edit]

Sauropoda

[edit]
Plesiosaurs of the Dinosaur Beds
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Karongasaurus[4] K. gittelmani A titanosaurian sauropod.
Malawisaurus[5] M. dixeyi A lithostrotian titanosaur.

Theropoda

[edit]
theropods of the Dinosaur Beds
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Theropoda Indet. Indeterminate

Crocodyliformes

[edit]
Crocodyliformes of the Dinosaur Beds
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Malawisuchus M. mwakasyungutiensis A candidodontid notosuchian.

Turtles

[edit]
Turtles of the Dinosaur Beds
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Platycheloides P. nyasae A pelomedusid turtle.

Amphibians

[edit]
Amphibians of the Dinosaur Beds
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Anura Indet. Indetrminate

Crutaceans

[edit]
Crustaceans of the Dinosaur Beds
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Hourcqia H. sp. A non-marine Ostracod.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Widlansky, Sarah J.; Clyde, William C.; O'Connor, Patrick M.; Roberts, Eric M.; Stevens, Nancy J. (March 2018). "Paleomagnetism of the Cretaceous Galula Formation and implications for vertebrate evolution". Journal of African Earth Sciences. 139: 403–420. Bibcode:2018JAfES.139..403W. doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2017.11.029. ISSN 1464-343X.
  2. ^ Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Early Cretaceous, Africa)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 571-573. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  3. ^ WINKLER, DALE A.; GOMANI, ELIZABETH M.; JACOBS, LOUIS L. (2000). "COMPARATIVE TAPHONOMY OF AN EARLY CRETACEOUS SAUROPOD QUARRY, MALAWI, AFRICA". Paleont. Soc. Korea Special Publication. 4: 99–114.
  4. ^ Gomani, E.M. 2005. Sauropod dinosaurs from the Early Cretaceous of Malawi, Africa: Palaeontologia Electronica 8 (issue 1 - n. 27a): 37 pages.
  5. ^ Jacobs L. D. Winkler, Gomani E. (1993). "New material of an Early Cretaceous titanosaurid dinosaur from Malawi". Palaeontology. 36 (3): 523–534.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Dinosaur_Beds&oldid=1260236339"