Earth:Aïn el Guettar Formation
Aïn el Guettar Formation Stratigraphic range: Late Aptian-Early Albian ~115–109 Ma | |
---|---|
Type | Formation |
Sub-units | Chenini & Oum ed Diab Members |
Underlies | Zebbag Formation |
Overlies | Douiret Formation |
Lithology | |
Primary | Sandstone |
Other | Conglomerate, mudstone |
Location | |
Location | Sahara Desert |
Coordinates | [ ⚑ ] : 33°12′N 10°18′E / 33.2°N 10.3°E |
Paleocoordinates | [ ⚑ ] 15°54′N 10°18′E / 15.9°N 10.3°E |
Region | Tataouine |
Country | Tunisia |
Type section | |
Named for | 'Aïn el Guettar |
The Aïn el Guettar Formation is a geological formation in Tunisia, whose strata date back to the Late Aptian to Early Albian stages of the Cretaceous period.[1][2] The lithology consists of coarse sandstones with occasional conglomerates and mudstones.[3] Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[4]
Stratigraphy
The Aïn el Guettar Formation is divided into at least 3 members, which represent different depositional environments. In ascending order these are: the Chenini Member, the Oum ed Diab Member and the Jebel El Mra Member.
Vertebrate paleofauna
The Ain el Guettar Formation during the Early Cretaceous period was a marsh-like habitat with swamps and plenty of water. The most famous dinosaur discoveries made here include Carcharodontosaurus and Spinosaurus.
- Carcharodontosaurus saharicus[4]
- Spinosaurus cf. aegyptiacus[5]
- Tataouinea hannibalis[6]
- cf. Sarcosuchus[6]
- Araripesuchus[4][7]
- Sauropoda indet.[4]
- Iguanodontidae indet.[4]
- Ornithocheiridae indet.[8]
- Mawsonia[4]
See also
- List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations
- Geology of Tunisia
References
- ↑ Bateun el Hmaima at Fossilworks.org
- ↑ Bir Miteur, RH 45 at Fossilworks.org
- ↑ Benton, Michael J.; Bouaziz, Samir; Buffetaut, Eric; Martill, David; Ouaja, Mohamed; Soussi, Mohamed; Trueman, Clive (April 2000). "Dinosaurs and other fossil vertebrates from fluvial deposits in the Lower Cretaceous of southern Tunisia". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 157 (3–4): 227–246. doi:10.1016/s0031-0182(99)00167-4. ISSN 0031-0182. Bibcode: 2000PPP...157..227B. http://doc.rero.ch/record/14838/files/PAL_E1974.pdf.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 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.
- ↑ Buffetaut, E & Ouaja, M (2002) A new specimen of Spinosaurus (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from the Lower Cretaceous of Tunisia, with remarks on the evolutionary history of the Spinosauridae. Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France 173: 415–421. doi:10.2113/173.5.415
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Federico Fanti; Andrea Cau; Mohsen Hassine; Michela Contessi (2013). "A new sauropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Tunisia with extreme avian-like pneumatization". Nature Communications 4 (2080): 1–7. doi:10.1038/ncomms3080. PMID 23836048. Bibcode: 2013NatCo...4.2080F.
- ↑ G. Cuny, A. M. Cobbett, F. J. Meunier and M. J. Benton. 2010. Vertebrate microremains from the Early Cretaceous of southern Tunisia. Geobios 43:615-628
- ↑ BENTON, M. J., BOUAZIZ, S., BUFFETAUT, E., MARTILL, D. M., OUAJA, M., SOUSSI, M. & TRUEMAN, C. (2000): Dinosaurs and other fossil vertebrates from fluvial deposits in the Lower Cretaceous of southern Tunisia. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 157: 227–246.
Further reading
- S. Bouaziz, É. Buffetaut, M. Ghanmi, J.-J. Jaeger, M. Martin, J.-M. Mazin, and H. Tong. 1988. Nouvelles découvertes de vertébrés fossiles dans l'Albien du sud tunisien [New discoveries of fossil vertebrates in the Albian of southern Tunisia]. Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France, 8e série 4(2):335-339
- J. Le Loeuff, É. Buffetaut, G. Cuny, Y. Laurent, M. Ouaja, C. Souillat, D. Srarfi and H. Tong. 2000. Mesozoic continental vertebrates of Tunisia. 5th European Workshop on Vertebrate Palaeontology, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Geowissenschaften Abteilung. Program. Abstracts. Excursion Guides 45
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Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aïn el Guettar Formation.
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