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Elrhaz Formation: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 16°48′N 9°30′E / 16.8°N 9.5°E / 16.8; 9.5
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Fossils of the [[Araripemydidae|araripemydid]] turtle ''[[Taquetochelys|Taquetochelys decorata]]'' were found in the formation.<ref>[http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=collectionSearch&collection_no=133668 ''Laganemys'' type, Gadoufaoua] at [[Fossilworks]].org</ref>
Fossils of the [[Araripemydidae|araripemydid]] turtle ''[[Taquetochelys|Taquetochelys decorata]]'' were found in the formation.<ref>[http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=collectionSearch&collection_no=133668 ''Laganemys'' type, Gadoufaoua] at [[Fossilworks]].org</ref>


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|''M. tegamensis''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fossilworks: Gateway to the Paleobiology Database |url=http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=collectionSearch&collection_no=37200 |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=www.fossilworks.org}}</ref>
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! colspan="4" align="center" | '''[[Crocodyliform]]es'''
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! Genus !! Species !! Material !! Notes !! Images
! Genus !! Species !! Material !! Notes !! Images

Revision as of 15:25, 16 May 2022

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, central Africa.

Its strata date back to the Early Cretaceous late Albian stages, about 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

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.

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

Fossils of the araripemydid turtle Taquetochelys decorata were found in the formation.[2]

Fish

Fish
Genus Species Material Notes Images
Mawsonia[3] M. tegamensis[4]

Crocodyliformes

Crocodyliformes
Genus Species Material Notes Images
Araripesuchus[5] A. wegeneri[5] (1959) "nearly complete skull" - Sereno & Larsson (1999)
Anatosuchus[5] A. minor[5] (2003) "nearly complete skull" - Sereno & Larsson (1999)
Sarcosuchus[6] S. imperator "partial skeletons, numerous skulls" (1966)

Ornithischians

Ornithischians
Genus Species Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Lurdusaurus[5] L. arenatus[5] (1999) "Partial skull, fragmentary postcranial skeleton."[7]
Ouranosaurus[5] O. nigeriensis[5] (1976) "Skull and poscrania, second skeleton."[8]
Elrhazosaurus[5] E. nigeriensis[5] (2009) "Femora."[9] A dryosaurid

Theropods

Theropods
Genus Species Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Afromimus A. tenerensis (2017) "caudal vertebrae, chevrons and portions of the right hind limb"[10] A Noasaurid
Eocarcharia[5] E. dinops[11] (2008) "Partial skull and postcranial remains."[12] Carcharodontosaurid
Suchomimus[5] S. tenerensis[5] (1998) Partial skull and associated skeleton.[13] A second, spinosaurid found in the formation, Cristatusaurus, is considered either a separate species or a synonym to Suchomimus[14]
Kryptops[5] K. palaios[5] (2008) Postcranial skeleton and partial skull.[15] Abelisaurid

Sauropods

Sauropods
Genus Species Material Images
Nigersaurus N. taqueti The limited understanding of the genus was the result of poor preservation of its remains, which arises from the delicate and highly pneumatic construction of the skull and skeleton, in turn causing disarticulation of the fossils. Some of the skull fossils were so thin that a strong light beam was visible through them. Therefore, no intact skulls or articulated skeletons have been found, and these specimens represent the most complete known rebbachisaurid remains.

See also

References

  1. ^ SCIENCE IN THE NEWS - Nov. 13: Digest - 12 November 2001 Voice of America
  2. ^ Laganemys type, Gadoufaoua at Fossilworks.org
  3. ^ "Fossilworks: Gateway to the Paleobiology Database". www.fossilworks.org. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
  4. ^ "Fossilworks: Gateway to the Paleobiology Database". www.fossilworks.org. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
  5. ^ 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
  6. ^ Sereno et al., 2011
  7. ^ "Table 19.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 416.
  8. ^ "Table 19.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 417.
  9. ^ "Table 19.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 415.
  10. ^ Sereno, P. (2017). "Early Cretaceous ornithomimosaurs (Dinosauria: Coelurosauria) from Africa". Ameghiniana. 54 (5): 576–616. doi:10.5710/AMGH.23.10.2017.3155.
  11. ^ Sereno & Brusatte, 2008
  12. ^ "Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 73.
  13. ^ "Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 72.
  14. ^ Rauhut, O.W.M. (2003). "The interrelationships and evolution of basal theropod dinosaurs". Special Papers in Palaeontology 69: 1-213.
  15. ^ "Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2008). Page 72.

Bibliography

Further reading

  • 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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