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Coordinates: 16°48′N 9°30′E / 16.8°N 9.5°E / 16.8; 9.5
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{{Mergefrom|Gadoufaoua|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox Rockunit
{{Infobox Rockunit
| name = Elrhaz Formation
| name = Elrhaz Formation
| image = Gadoufaoua.png
| image = Gadoufaoua.png
| caption = Outcrops of the formation
| caption = Outcrops of the formation near Gadoufaoua
| type = [[Geological formation]]
| type = [[Geological formation]]
| age = [[Aptian]]-[[Albian]]
| age = [[Early Cretaceous]] ([[Barremian]] to [[Albian]]), {{fossilrange|125|112|earliest=125}}
| prilithology =
| period = Albian
| prilithology = [[Sandstone]]
| otherlithology =
| otherlithology =
| namedfor =
| namedfor =
| namedby =
| namedby =
| region =
| region = [[Africa]]
| country = {{flag|Niger}}
| country = {{flag|Niger}}
| coordinates =
| coordinates = {{coord|16.8|N|9.5|E|display=inline,title}}
| paleocoordinates = {{coord|3.1|N|4.9|E|display=inline}}
| unitof = [[Tegama Group]]
| unitof = [[Tegama Group]]
| subunits =
| subunits =
Line 18: Line 19:
| overlies = [[Tazolé Formation]]
| overlies = [[Tazolé Formation]]
| thickness =
| thickness =
| extent =
| extent = [[Tenere|Tenere desert]]
| area =
| area =
| map =
| map =
Line 24: Line 25:
}}
}}


The '''Elrhaz Formation''' is a geological [[Formation (geology)|formation]] in [[Niger]], central [[Africa]].
The '''Elrhaz Formation''' is a geological [[Formation (geology)|formation]] in [[Niger]], [[West Africa]].


Its strata date back to the [[Early Cretaceous]] (late [[Aptian]]-early [[Albian]] stages, about 112 million years ago). Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.
Its strata date back to the [[Early Cretaceous]], about 125 to 112 million years ago. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation, alongside those of multiple species of crocodyliformes.


== Gadoufaoua ==
==Vertebrate paleofauna==
[[File:African pterosaur.jpg|thumb|left|Reconstructed skeleton of an [[anhanguerid]] from the formation]]
'''Gadoufaoua''' ([[Tuareg language|Tuareg]] for "the place where camels fear to go") is a site within the Elrhaz Formation (located at {{coord|16|50|N|9|25|E|region:NE-1_type:landmark_source:kolossus-dewiki|display=inline}}) in the [[Tenere]] desert of [[Niger]] known for its extensive [[fossil]] graveyard. It is where remains of ''[[Sarcosuchus imperator]]'', popularly known as [[SuperCroc]], were found (by [[Paul Sereno]] in 1997, for example), including vertebrae, limb bones, armor plates, jaws, and a nearly complete {{convert|6|ft|m}} skull.


[[File:Erlhaz Formation.jpg|right|thumb|Dinosaurs of Elrhaz formation]]
===Crocodyliformes===
[[File:Claw of Spinosaur.jpg|right|thumb|The claw of Spinosaur from the formation]]
{| class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%"

Gadoufaoua is very hot and dry. However, it is supposed that millions of years ago, Gadoufaoua had trees, plants, and wide rivers. The river covered the remains of dead animals, the fossilized remains of which were protected by the drying rivers over millions of years.<ref>[http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/Archive/a-2001-11-12-2-1.cfm SCIENCE IN THE NEWS - Nov. 13: Digest - 12 November 2001 Voice of America]</ref>

== Vertebrate paleofauna ==

=== Chondrichthyes ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="5" |[[Chondrichthyes]]
|-
|-
! Genus !! Species !! Material !! Notes !! Images
! colspan="7" align="center" |'''[[crocodyliform]]s reported from the Elrhaz Formation'''
|-
! Genus
! Species
! Location
! Stratigraphic position
! Material
! Notes
! Images
|-
|-
|''[[Hybodus]]''<ref name=Taquet1970/>
|''H. sp.''
|Dorsal spines<ref name=Taquet1970/>
|
|
|[[File:Hybodus model.jpg|center|150px]]
''[[Araripesuchus]]''<ref name="elrhaz">"68.1 Departement D'Agedez, Niger; 1. Elrhaz Formation," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 572.</ref>
|
|}
''A. wegeneri''<ref name="elrhaz" />
|
|
|
"nearly complete skull" - Sereno & Larsson (1999)
|
| rowspan="99" |


=== Sarcopterygii ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="5" |[[Sarcopterygii]]
|-
! Genus !! Species !! Material !! Notes !! Images
|-
|-
|''[[Asiatoceratodus]]''<ref name="Taquet1970" />
|''A. tiguidiensis<ref name="Taquet1970" />''
|
|
|[[Dipnomorpha|Dipnomorph]] fish. Originally described as ''Ceratodus tiguidiensis'',<ref>N. Tabaste. 1963. Étude derestes de poissons du Crétacé saharien [Study of fish remains from the Saharan Cretaceous]. Mélanges Ichthyologiques Dédiés à la Mémoire d’Achille Valenciennes (1794–1865). Mémoires de l’Institute Français d’Afrique Noire 68:437-485</ref> assigned to ''[[Arganodus]]'' by M. Martin (1984)<ref>Martin, M., 1984. Révision des Arganodontidés et des Néocératodontidés (Dipnoi,
''[[Anatosuchus]]''<ref name="elrhaz" />
Ceratodontiformes) du Crétacé africain. Neues Jb. Geol. Paläontol. Abh. 169, 225–260.</ref> and reassigned by Kemp (1998) to the genus ''Asiatoceratodus''.<ref>Kemp, A. 1998. Skull structure in post-paleozoic lungfish. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 18(1): 43-63.</ref>
|
|
|-
''A. minor''<ref name="elrhaz" />
|[[Mawsonia (fish)|''Mawsonia'']]<ref name="Paleobiology Database">{{Cite web |title=Fossilworks: Gateway to the Paleobiology Database |url=https://paleobiodb.org/classic/displayCollResults?collection_no=37200 |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=[[Paleobiology Database]]}}</ref>
|
|''M. tegamensis''<ref name="Paleobiology Database"/>
|
|
"nearly complete skull" - Sereno & Larsson (1999)
|
|
|A small species.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Taquet |first=Philippe |url=http://archive.org/details/dinosaurimpressi00taqu |title=Dinosaur impressions : postcards from a paleontologist |date=1998 |publisher=Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-521-58372-5}}</ref>
|[[File:MawsoniaDB16 (cropped).jpg|center|150px]]
|-
|-
|''[[Neoceratodus]]''<ref name=Taquet1970/>
|''[[Neoceratodus africanus|N. africanus]]''<ref name=Taquet1970/>
|Tooth plates.<ref>Federico Fanti, Gabriele Larocca Conte, Luana Angelicola, Andrea Cau, 2016. "Why so many dipnoans? A multidisciplinary approach on the Lower Cretaceous lungfish record from Tunisia." Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 449: 255-265. DOI:10.1016/j.palaeo.2016.02.024</ref>
|[[Dipnomorpha|Dipnomorph]] fish. Originally described as ''Ceratodus africanus'', assigned to ''Neoceratodus'' by M. Martin, 1982.<ref name=Martin1982>M. Martin. 1982. Nouvelles données sur la phylogénie et la systématique des dipneustes postpaléozoïques [New data on the phylogeny and systematics of post-Paleozoic dipnoans]. Comptes Rendues de l'Academie des Sciences, Paris, Série II 294:611-614</ref>
|[[File:Neoceratodus forsteri Cologne Zoo.jpg|center|thumb|150px|''[[Neoceratodus forsteri]]'', a modern species]]
|}
|}


=== Actinopterygii ===

{| class="wikitable"
===Ornithischians===
! colspan="5" |[[Actinopterygii]]
{| class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%"
|-
|-
! Genus !! Species !! Material !! Notes !! Images
! colspan="7" align="center" |'''[[Ornithischian]]s reported from the Elrhaz Formation'''
|-
|-
|''[[Pliodetes]]''<ref name=Wenz>S. Wenz. 1999. Pliodetes nigeriensis, gen. nov. et. sp. nov., a new semionotid fish from the Lower Cretaceous of Gadoufaoua (Niger Republic): phylogenetic comments. In G. Arratia & H.-P. Schultz (ed.), Mesozoic Fishes 2—Systematics and Fossil Record 107-120</ref>
! Genus
|''P. nigeriensis''<ref name=Wenz/>
! Species
|Skull and postcranial material including body scales.<ref name=Lopez>A. López-Arbarello. 2012. [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229162077_Phylogenetic_Interrelationships_of_Ginglymodian_Fishes_Actinopterygii_Neopterygii Phylogenetic interrelationships of ginglymodian fishes (Actinopterygii: Neopterygii)]. PLoS ONE</ref>
! Location
|Originally thought to be a [[Semionotidae|semionotid]], later assigned to [[Lepisosteoidei]].<ref name=Lopez/>
! Stratigraphic position
|[[File:Scales of Pliodetes nigeriensis.png|center|150px]]
! Material
! Notes
! Images
|-
|-
|[[Pycnodontidae]] indet.<ref name=Taquet1970>"On the dinosaurian and crocodilian locality of Gadoufaoua (Republic of
Niger)" ([https://paleoglot.org/files/Taquet_2070.pdf PDF]). From Mr. Philippe Taquet (1970), presented by Mr. Jean Piveteau.</ref>
|Indeterminate
|
|
''[[Lurdusaurus]]''<ref name="elrhaz">"68.1 Departement D'Agedez, Niger; 1. Elrhaz Formation," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 572.</ref>
|
|
''L. arenatus''<ref name="elrhaz" />
|
|
|}

=== Testudines ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="5" |[[Testudines]]
|-
! Genus !! Species !! Material !! Notes !! Images
|-
|''[[Francemys]]''<ref name="Perez_Garcia2019" />
|''F. gadoufaouaensis''<ref name="Perez_Garcia2019" />
|"Shell of a juvenile individual and several articulated and disarticulated plates."<ref name="Perez_Garcia2019" />
|[[Pelomedusoides|Pelomedusoid]] turtle. Named in honour of France de Lapparent de Broin.<ref name="Perez_Garcia2019" />
|
|
|-
|''[[Taquetochelys]]''<ref name="Broin1980" />
|''T. decorata''<ref name="Broin1980" />
|A few disarticulated plates and nearly complete skeleton.<ref name="Perez_Garcia2018">{{cite journal |last1=Pérez-García |first1=Adán |title= Identification of the Lower Cretaceous pleurodiran turtle Taquetochelys decorata as the only African araripemydid species |journal=Comptes Rendus Palevol |date=2018 |volume=18 |pages=24–32 |doi=10.1016/j.crpv.2018.04.004 |language=en |issn=1631-0683|doi-access=free }}</ref>
|[[Araripemydidae|Araripemydid]] turtle, similar in shell size to South American ''[[Araripemys]]'' (20–30&nbsp;cm). ''Laganemys tenerensis'' was synonymysed with ''Taquetochelys'' by Pérez-García, 2018.<ref name="Perez_Garcia2018" />
|
|
"Partial skull, fragmentary postcranial skeleton."<ref name="table-19-1-416">"Table 19.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 416.</ref>
|
| rowspan="99" |
[[File:Ouranosaurus.jpg|thumb|center|200px|''[[Ouranosaurus]]'']]
|-
|-
|''[[Teneremys]]''<ref name=Broin1980>F. de Broin. 1980. Les tortues de Gadoufaoua (Aptien du Niger); aperçu sur la Paléobiogéographie des Pelomedusidae (Pleurodira). Mémoires de la Société Géologique de France</ref>
|''T. lapparenti''<ref name=Broin1980/>
|"Several relatively complete skeletons."<ref name=Perez_Garcia2019>{{cite journal |last1=Pérez-García |first1=Adán |title=The African Aptian Francemys gadoufaouaensis gen. et sp. nov.: New data on the early diversification of Pelomedusoides (Testudines, Pleurodira) in northern Gondwana |journal=Cretaceous Research |date=1 October 2019 |volume=102 |pages=112–126 |doi=10.1016/j.cretres.2019.06.003 |language=en |issn=0195-6671|doi-access=free |bibcode=2019CrRes.102..112P }}</ref>
|
|
''[[Ouranosaurus]]''<ref name="elrhaz" />
|
|
|}
''O. nigeriensis''<ref name="elrhaz" />

|
=== Crocodyliformes ===
|
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
|
|-
"Skull and poscrania, second skeleton."<ref name="table-19-1-417">"Table 19.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 417.</ref>
! colspan="5" align="center" | '''[[Crocodyliform]]es'''
|-
! Genus !! Species !! Material !! Notes !! Images
|-
| ''[[Anatosuchus]]''<ref name="elrhaz" />
| ''A. minor''<ref name="elrhaz" />
| "Nearly complete skull"
|
|
| [[File:Anatosuchus BW.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Araripesuchus]]''<ref name="elrhaz">"68.1 Departement D'Agedez, Niger; 1. Elrhaz Formation," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 572</ref>
| ''A. wegeneri''<ref name="elrhaz" />
| "Nearly complete skull"
|
|
| [[File:Araripesuchus wegeneri.jpg|center|150px]]
''[[Elrhazosaurus]]''<ref name="elrhaz" />
|
|-
| ''[[Sarcosuchus]]''<ref>Sereno et al., 2011</ref>
''E. nigeriensis''<ref name="elrhaz" />
| ''S. imperator''
|
| "Partial skeletons, numerous skulls"
|
|
|
| [[File:Sarcosuchus Illustration.jpg|center|150px]]
"Femora."<ref name="table-19-1-415">"Table 19.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 415.</ref>
|
|-
| ''[[Stolokrosuchus]]''
| ''S. lapparenti''
|
|
|
|-
|-
|}
|}


===Saurischians===
=== Dinosaurs ===
==== Ornithischians ====

{| class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%"
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
|-
|-
! colspan="7" align="center" |'''[[Saurischian]]s reported from the Elrhaz Formation'''
! colspan="6" align="center" | '''[[Ornithischian]]s'''
|-
|-
! Genus !! Species !! Material !! Notes !! Images
! Genus
! Species
! Location
! Stratigraphic position
! Material
! Notes
! Images
|-
|-
| ''[[Elrhazosaurus]]''<ref name="elrhaz" />
| ''E. nigeriensis''<ref name="elrhaz" />
| "Femora."<ref name="table-19-1-415">"Table 19.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 415.</ref>
| A dryosaurid
| [[File:Elrhazosaurus NT.png|center|150px]]
|-
| ''[[Lurdusaurus]]''<ref name="elrhaz"/>
| ''L. arenatus''<ref name="elrhaz" />
| "Partial skull, fragmentary postcranial skeleton."<ref name="table-19-1-416">"Table 19.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 416.</ref>
|
|
| [[File:Lurdusaurus1.jpg|center|150px]]
''[[Eocarcharia]]''<ref name="elrhaz" />
|
''E. dinops''<ref>Sereno, Paul C.; and Brusatte, Stephen L. (2008). "Basal abelisaurid and carcharodontosaurid theropods from the Lower Cretaceous Elrhaz Formation of Niger" (pdf). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 53 (1): 15–46. doi:10.4202/app.2008.0102.</ref>
|
|
|
"Partial skull and postcranial remains."<ref name="table-4-1-73">"Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 73.</ref>
|Carcharodontosaurid
| rowspan="99" |
[[File:Suchomimus2.jpg|thumb|center|200px|''[[Suchomimus]]'']]
|-
|-
| ''[[Ouranosaurus]]''<ref name="elrhaz" />
| ''O. nigeriensis''<ref name="elrhaz" />
| "Skull and poscrania, second skeleton."<ref name="table-19-1-417">"Table 19.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 417.</ref>
|
|
| [[File:Ouranosaurus nigeriensis restoration.png|center|150px]]
''[[Elaphrosaurus]]''<ref name="elrhaz" />
|
''E. iguidensis''<ref name="elrhaz" />
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
|
|}

''[[Nigersaurus]]''<ref name="elrhaz" />
==== Theropods ====
|
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
''N. taqueti''<ref name="elrhaz" />
|
|-
! colspan="6" align="center" | '''[[Theropoda|Theropods]]'''
|
|
|-
! Genus !! Species !! Material !! Notes !! Images
|Sauropod
|-
|-
| ''[[Afromimus]]''
| ''A. tenerensis''
| "caudal vertebrae, chevrons and portions of the right hind limb"<ref>Sereno, P. (2017). "Early Cretaceous ornithomimosaurs (Dinosauria: Coelurosauria) from Africa". Ameghiniana. 54 (5): 576–616. doi:10.5710/AMGH.23.10.2017.3155.</ref>
| A [[Noasaurid]]
| [[File:Afromimus LM (gray).png|center|150px]]
|-
| ''Carcharodontosaurus''
|
|
| Partial remains discovered 1976
''[[Suchomimus]]''<ref name="elrhaz" />
|
|
''S. tenerensis''<ref name="elrhaz" />
|
|
|
|
Partial skull and associated skeleton.<ref name="table-4-1-72">"'Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 72.</ref>
|A second, possible spinosaurid found in the formation, ''[[Cristatusaurus]]'', is considered either a separate species or a synonym to'' Suchomimus''<ref>Rauhut, O.W.M. (2003). "The interrelationships and evolution of basal theropod dinosaurs". Special Papers in Palaeontology 69: 1-213.</ref>
|-
|-
| ''[[Eocarcharia]]''<ref name="elrhaz" />
|
| ''E. dinops''<ref>Sereno & Brusatte, 2008</ref>
''[[Kryptops]]''<ref name="elrhaz" />
| "Partial skull and postcranial remains."<ref name="table-4-1-73">"Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 73.</ref>
|
| Carcharodontosaurid
''K. Palaios''<ref name="elrhaz" />
| [[File:Eocarcharia, improved.png|center|150px]]
|
|
|-
| ''[[Kryptops]]''<ref name="elrhaz" />
|
Postcranial skeleton and partial skull.<ref name="table-4-1-72">"Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2008). Page 72.</ref>
| ''K. palaios''<ref name="elrhaz" />
| Postcranial skeleton and partial skull.<ref>"Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2008). Page 72.</ref>
| Abelisaurid
| Abelisaurid
| [[File:Kryptops life restoration.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
| ''[[Suchomimus]]''<ref name="elrhaz" />
| ''S. tenerensis''<ref name="elrhaz" />
| Partial skull and associated skeleton.<ref>"Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 72.</ref>
| A second, spinosaurid found in the formation, ''[[Cristatusaurus]]'', is considered either a separate species or a synonym to'' Suchomimus''<ref>Rauhut, O.W.M. (2003). "The interrelationships and evolution of basal theropod dinosaurs". Special Papers in Palaeontology 69: 1-213.</ref>
| [[File:Suchomimus2.jpg|center|150px]]
|}
|}


==See also==
==== Sauropods ====
{| class="wikitable"
{{Portal|Earth sciences|Paleontology|Dinosaurs||}}
|+
! colspan="5" align="center" | [[Sauropoda|Sauropods]]
|-
! Genus !! Species !! Material !! Notes !! Images
|-
| ''[[Nigersaurus]]''
| ''N. taqueti''
| Skull and skeletal remains
| A [[rebbachisaurid]].
| [[File:Nigersaurus BW.jpg|center|150px]]
|}

== See also ==
* [[List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations]]
* [[List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations]]
* [[Crato Formation]]
* [[Romualdo Formation]]


==Footnotes==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


=== Bibliography ===
==References==
* {{citation |last1=Sereno |first1=P. C. |last2=Larsson |first2=H. C. |last3=Sidor |first3=C. A. |last4=Gado |first4=B. |year=2001 |title=The giant crocodyliform ''Sarcosuchus'' from the Cretaceous of Africa |journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]] |volume=294 |issue=5546 |pages=1516–1519 |doi=10.1126/science.1066521 |pmid=11679634 |bibcode=2001Sci...294.1516S |author1-link=Paul Sereno }}{{issn|0036-8075}}{{PMID|11679634}}
* Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. 861 pp.&nbsp;ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
* {{citation |last1=Sereno |first1=Paul C. |last2=Brusatte |first2=Stephen L. |year=2008 |title=Basal abelisaurid and carcharodontosaurid theropods from the Lower Cretaceous Elrhaz Formation of Niger |url=https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/portal/files/8231129/PDF_SerenoBrusatte2008NigerTheropods.pdf |journal=[[Acta Palaeontologica Polonica]] |volume=53 |pages=15–49 |doi=10.4202/app.2008.0102 |accessdate=2018-10-06 |author1-link=Paul Sereno }}
* {{citation |last1=Weishampel |first1=David B. |author2-link=Peter Dodson |last2=Dodson |first2=Peter |author3-link=Halszka Osmólska |last3=Osmólska |first3=Halszka |year=2004 |title=The Dinosauria, 2nd edition |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vtZFDb_iw40C |publisher=Berkeley: University of California Press |pages=1–880 |accessdate=2019-02-21 |isbn=0-520-24209-2 |author1-link=David B. Weishampel }}


== Further reading ==
{{coord missing|Niger}}
* P. M. Galton and P. Taquet. 1982. ''Valdosaurus'', a hypsilophodontid dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of Europe and Africa. Géobios 15(2):147-159
{{Phanerozoic eon nav|cat_prefix=|cat_suffix=Africa}}
* H. C. E. Larsson and B. Gado. 2000. A new Early Cretaceous crocodyliform from Niger. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen 217(1):131-141
* P. C. Sereno and S. J. ElShafie. 2013. A New Long-Necked Turtle, ''Laganemys tenerensis'' (Pleurodira: Araripemydidae), from the Elrhaz Formation (Aptian–Albian) of Niger. In D. B. Brinkman, P. A. Holroyd, J. D. Gardner (eds.), Morphology and Evolution of Turtles 215–250
* P. C. Sereno and H. C. E. Larsson. 2009. Cretaceous crocodyliformes from the Sahara. ZooKeys 28:1-143
* P. C. Sereno, A. L. Beck, D. B. Dutheil, B. Gado, H. C. E. Larsson, G. H. Lyon, J. D. Marcot, O. W. M. Rauhut, R. W. Sadleir, C. A. Sidor, D. D. Varricchio, G. P. Wilson, and J. A. Wilson. 1998. A long-snouted predatory dinosaur from Africa and the evolution of spinosaurids. Science 282:1298-1302


[[Category:Cretaceous Africa]]
[[Category:Geologic formations of Niger]]
[[Category:Geology of Niger]]
[[Category:Upper Cretaceous Series of Africa]]
[[Category:Cretaceous geologic formations]]
[[Category:Cretaceous Niger]]
[[Category:Albian Stage]]
[[Category:Sandstone formations]]
[[Category:Fluvial deposits]]
[[Category:Paleontology in Niger]]
[[Category:Cretaceous paleontological sites of Africa]]
[[Category:Cretaceous paleontological sites of Africa]]
[[Category:Geologic formations of Africa]]


{{Cretaceous-stub}}
{{geologic-formation-stub}}
{{paleo-site-stub}}
{{Niger-geo-stub}}

Latest revision as of 07:02, 8 December 2024

Elrhaz Formation
Stratigraphic range: Early Cretaceous (Barremian to Albian), 125–112 Ma
Outcrops of the formation near Gadoufaoua
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofTegama Group
UnderliesEchkar Formation
OverliesTazolé Formation
Lithology
PrimarySandstone
Location
Coordinates16°48′N 9°30′E / 16.8°N 9.5°E / 16.8; 9.5
Approximate paleocoordinates3°06′N 4°54′E / 3.1°N 4.9°E / 3.1; 4.9
RegionAfrica
Country Niger
ExtentTenere desert

The Elrhaz Formation is a geological formation in Niger, West Africa.

Its strata date back to the Early Cretaceous, about 125 to 112 million years ago. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation, alongside those of multiple species of crocodyliformes.

Gadoufaoua

[edit]
Reconstructed skeleton of an anhanguerid from the formation

Gadoufaoua (Tuareg for "the place where camels fear to go") is a site within the Elrhaz Formation (located at 16°50′N 9°25′E / 16.833°N 9.417°E / 16.833; 9.417) in the Tenere desert of Niger known for its extensive fossil graveyard. It is where remains of Sarcosuchus imperator, popularly known as SuperCroc, were found (by Paul Sereno in 1997, for example), including vertebrae, limb bones, armor plates, jaws, and a nearly complete 6 feet (1.8 m) skull.

Dinosaurs of Elrhaz formation
The claw of Spinosaur from the formation

Gadoufaoua is very hot and dry. However, it is supposed that millions of years ago, Gadoufaoua had trees, plants, and wide rivers. The river covered the remains of dead animals, the fossilized remains of which were protected by the drying rivers over millions of years.[1]

Vertebrate paleofauna

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Chondrichthyes

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Chondrichthyes
Genus Species Material Notes Images
Hybodus[2] H. sp. Dorsal spines[2]

Sarcopterygii

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Sarcopterygii
Genus Species Material Notes Images
Asiatoceratodus[2] A. tiguidiensis[2] Dipnomorph fish. Originally described as Ceratodus tiguidiensis,[3] assigned to Arganodus by M. Martin (1984)[4] and reassigned by Kemp (1998) to the genus Asiatoceratodus.[5]
Mawsonia[6] M. tegamensis[6] A small species.[7]
Neoceratodus[2] N. africanus[2] Tooth plates.[8] Dipnomorph fish. Originally described as Ceratodus africanus, assigned to Neoceratodus by M. Martin, 1982.[9]
Neoceratodus forsteri, a modern species

Actinopterygii

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Actinopterygii
Genus Species Material Notes Images
Pliodetes[10] P. nigeriensis[10] Skull and postcranial material including body scales.[11] Originally thought to be a semionotid, later assigned to Lepisosteoidei.[11]
Pycnodontidae indet.[2] Indeterminate

Testudines

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Testudines
Genus Species Material Notes Images
Francemys[12] F. gadoufaouaensis[12] "Shell of a juvenile individual and several articulated and disarticulated plates."[12] Pelomedusoid turtle. Named in honour of France de Lapparent de Broin.[12]
Taquetochelys[13] T. decorata[13] A few disarticulated plates and nearly complete skeleton.[14] Araripemydid turtle, similar in shell size to South American Araripemys (20–30 cm). Laganemys tenerensis was synonymysed with Taquetochelys by Pérez-García, 2018.[14]
Teneremys[13] T. lapparenti[13] "Several relatively complete skeletons."[12]

Crocodyliformes

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Crocodyliformes
Genus Species Material Notes Images
Anatosuchus[15] A. minor[15] "Nearly complete skull"
Araripesuchus[15] A. wegeneri[15] "Nearly complete skull"
Sarcosuchus[16] S. imperator "Partial skeletons, numerous skulls"
Stolokrosuchus S. lapparenti

Dinosaurs

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Ornithischians

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Ornithischians
Genus Species Material Notes Images
Elrhazosaurus[15] E. nigeriensis[15] "Femora."[17] A dryosaurid
Lurdusaurus[15] L. arenatus[15] "Partial skull, fragmentary postcranial skeleton."[18]
Ouranosaurus[15] O. nigeriensis[15] "Skull and poscrania, second skeleton."[19]

Theropods

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Theropods
Genus Species Material Notes Images
Afromimus A. tenerensis "caudal vertebrae, chevrons and portions of the right hind limb"[20] A Noasaurid
Carcharodontosaurus Partial remains discovered 1976
Eocarcharia[15] E. dinops[21] "Partial skull and postcranial remains."[22] Carcharodontosaurid
Kryptops[15] K. palaios[15] Postcranial skeleton and partial skull.[23] Abelisaurid
Suchomimus[15] S. tenerensis[15] Partial skull and associated skeleton.[24] A second, spinosaurid found in the formation, Cristatusaurus, is considered either a separate species or a synonym to Suchomimus[25]

Sauropods

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Sauropods
Genus Species Material Notes Images
Nigersaurus N. taqueti Skull and skeletal remains A rebbachisaurid.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ SCIENCE IN THE NEWS - Nov. 13: Digest - 12 November 2001 Voice of America
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "On the dinosaurian and crocodilian locality of Gadoufaoua (Republic of Niger)" (PDF). From Mr. Philippe Taquet (1970), presented by Mr. Jean Piveteau.
  3. ^ N. Tabaste. 1963. Étude derestes de poissons du Crétacé saharien [Study of fish remains from the Saharan Cretaceous]. Mélanges Ichthyologiques Dédiés à la Mémoire d’Achille Valenciennes (1794–1865). Mémoires de l’Institute Français d’Afrique Noire 68:437-485
  4. ^ Martin, M., 1984. Révision des Arganodontidés et des Néocératodontidés (Dipnoi, Ceratodontiformes) du Crétacé africain. Neues Jb. Geol. Paläontol. Abh. 169, 225–260.
  5. ^ Kemp, A. 1998. Skull structure in post-paleozoic lungfish. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 18(1): 43-63.
  6. ^ a b "Fossilworks: Gateway to the Paleobiology Database". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
  7. ^ Taquet, Philippe (1998). Dinosaur impressions : postcards from a paleontologist. Internet Archive. Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-58372-5.
  8. ^ Federico Fanti, Gabriele Larocca Conte, Luana Angelicola, Andrea Cau, 2016. "Why so many dipnoans? A multidisciplinary approach on the Lower Cretaceous lungfish record from Tunisia." Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 449: 255-265. DOI:10.1016/j.palaeo.2016.02.024
  9. ^ M. Martin. 1982. Nouvelles données sur la phylogénie et la systématique des dipneustes postpaléozoïques [New data on the phylogeny and systematics of post-Paleozoic dipnoans]. Comptes Rendues de l'Academie des Sciences, Paris, Série II 294:611-614
  10. ^ a b S. Wenz. 1999. Pliodetes nigeriensis, gen. nov. et. sp. nov., a new semionotid fish from the Lower Cretaceous of Gadoufaoua (Niger Republic): phylogenetic comments. In G. Arratia & H.-P. Schultz (ed.), Mesozoic Fishes 2—Systematics and Fossil Record 107-120
  11. ^ a b A. López-Arbarello. 2012. Phylogenetic interrelationships of ginglymodian fishes (Actinopterygii: Neopterygii). PLoS ONE
  12. ^ a b c d e Pérez-García, Adán (1 October 2019). "The African Aptian Francemys gadoufaouaensis gen. et sp. nov.: New data on the early diversification of Pelomedusoides (Testudines, Pleurodira) in northern Gondwana". Cretaceous Research. 102: 112–126. Bibcode:2019CrRes.102..112P. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2019.06.003. ISSN 0195-6671.
  13. ^ a b c d F. de Broin. 1980. Les tortues de Gadoufaoua (Aptien du Niger); aperçu sur la Paléobiogéographie des Pelomedusidae (Pleurodira). Mémoires de la Société Géologique de France
  14. ^ a b Pérez-García, Adán (2018). "Identification of the Lower Cretaceous pleurodiran turtle Taquetochelys decorata as the only African araripemydid species". Comptes Rendus Palevol. 18: 24–32. doi:10.1016/j.crpv.2018.04.004. ISSN 1631-0683.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "68.1 Departement D'Agedez, Niger; 1. Elrhaz Formation," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 572
  16. ^ Sereno et al., 2011
  17. ^ "Table 19.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 415.
  18. ^ "Table 19.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 416.
  19. ^ "Table 19.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 417.
  20. ^ Sereno, P. (2017). "Early Cretaceous ornithomimosaurs (Dinosauria: Coelurosauria) from Africa". Ameghiniana. 54 (5): 576–616. doi:10.5710/AMGH.23.10.2017.3155.
  21. ^ Sereno & Brusatte, 2008
  22. ^ "Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 73.
  23. ^ "Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2008). Page 72.
  24. ^ "Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 72.
  25. ^ Rauhut, O.W.M. (2003). "The interrelationships and evolution of basal theropod dinosaurs". Special Papers in Palaeontology 69: 1-213.

Bibliography

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Further reading

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  • P. M. Galton and P. Taquet. 1982. Valdosaurus, a hypsilophodontid dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of Europe and Africa. Géobios 15(2):147-159
  • H. C. E. Larsson and B. Gado. 2000. A new Early Cretaceous crocodyliform from Niger. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen 217(1):131-141
  • P. C. Sereno and S. J. ElShafie. 2013. A New Long-Necked Turtle, Laganemys tenerensis (Pleurodira: Araripemydidae), from the Elrhaz Formation (Aptian–Albian) of Niger. In D. B. Brinkman, P. A. Holroyd, J. D. Gardner (eds.), Morphology and Evolution of Turtles 215–250
  • P. C. Sereno and H. C. E. Larsson. 2009. Cretaceous crocodyliformes from the Sahara. ZooKeys 28:1-143
  • P. C. Sereno, A. L. Beck, D. B. Dutheil, B. Gado, H. C. E. Larsson, G. H. Lyon, J. D. Marcot, O. W. M. Rauhut, R. W. Sadleir, C. A. Sidor, D. D. Varricchio, G. P. Wilson, and J. A. Wilson. 1998. A long-snouted predatory dinosaur from Africa and the evolution of spinosaurids. Science 282:1298-1302
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