Aridal Formation

 ( Fossils Of Morocco ) 

The Aridal Formation in the Sahara 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 Protocetidae and Basilosauridae.

---

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 Protocetidae species, there are also possible remains of the earliest occurrence of Barytherium.

+ !Taxa !Rock Unit !Age !Image
Pappocetus	Gueran, Sabkha of Lebreij	Bartonian
Eocetus	Gueran, El Breij Unit II, El Breij Unit III	Bartonian
Chrysocetus	Gueran	Bartonian
Platyosphys	Gueran	Bartonian
? Barytherium sp.	Gueran	Bartonian

---

Reptiles

There are at least three indeterminate species of turtles: two marine Cryptodira, a Cheloniidae, a Dermochelyidae, and a possible Littoral zone Pleurodira. Two species of longirostrine crocodylians are present, including a Gavialoidea 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	Gueran	Bartonian
Palaeophis	El Breij, Unit I	Lutetian
Palaeophiidae indet.	Sabkha of Lebreij	Bartonian
Cordichelys	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
Crocodilia indet.	El Breij Unit I, Sabkha of Lebreij	Lutetian Bartonian

---

Cartilaginous Fish

+ !Taxa !Rock Unit !Age !Image
Galeocerdo	Gueran	Bartonian
Pristis lathami	Gueran	Bartonian
Propristis	Gueran	Bartonian
Macrorhizodus	Gueran	Bartonian
Hemipristis curvatus	Gueran	Bartonian
Carcharias	Gueran	Bartonian
Otodus	Gueran	Bartonian
Tethylamna	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

Categories: Fossils Of Morocco

Post Comment