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{{Short description|Geological formation in Malawi}}
{{Infobox rockunit
{{Infobox rockunit
| name = Dinosaur Beds
| name = Dinosaur Beds
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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 crocodyliomorphs 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|via=}}</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
{{paleobiota-key-compact}}
* ''[[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)
=== Dinosaurs ===
* ''Platycheloides nyasae'' - A partial shell

*''Hourcqia''
==== Sauropoda ====
*[[Frog|Anura ident.]]
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
* [[Theropoda|Theropoda indet.]]
|-
! 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 ==
{{Portal|Earth sciences|Paleontology|Dinosaurs|Cretaceous}}
* [[List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations]]
* [[List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations]]
* [[List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Malawi]]
* [[List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Malawi]]
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{{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]]
[[Category:Cretaceous Malawi]]
[[Category:Aptian Stage]]
[[Category:Aptian Stage]]
[[Category:Barremian Stage]]
[[Category:Barremian Stage]]

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

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

Sauropoda

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

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

Crocodyliformes

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

Turtles

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

Amphibians

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

Crutaceans

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

See also

References

  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.
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