Earth:Kem Kem Beds
| Kem Kem Beds Stratigraphic range: Cenomanian[1] ~99–95 Ma | |
|---|---|
| Type | Geological formation |
| Sub-units | Akrabou Formation, Aoufous Formation, Ifezouane Formation |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Sandstone |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | [ ⚑ ] : 30°54′N 4°00′W / 30.9°N 4.0°W |
| Paleocoordinates | [ ⚑ ] 17°54′N 4°00′W / 17.9°N 4.0°W |
| Region | Er Rachidia, Tafilalt |
| Country |  Morocco Algeria |
| Extent | Northwestern Sahara |
  Kem Kem Beds (Morocco) | |
The Kem Kem Beds (also referred to by various names including the Continental Red Beds and Continental intercalaire[2]) is a geological formation along the border between Morocco and Algeria in southeastern Morocco, whose strata date back to the Late Cretaceous.[3]
Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[1] Recent fossil evidence in the form of isolated large abelisaurid bones and comparisons with other similarly aged deposits elsewhere in Africa indicates that the fauna of the Kem Kem Beds (specifically in regard to the numerous predatory theropod dinosaurs) may have been mixed together due to the harsh and changing geology of the region when in reality they would likely have preferred separate habitats and likely would be separated by millions of years.[4]
Vertebrate paleofauna
Fish
| Fishes reported from the Continental Red Beds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
| Aidachar | Aidachar pankowskii | ||||
| Arganodus | Arganodus tiguidiensis | ||||
| Bawitius | cf. Bawitius sp. | Isolated scales and jaw fragments[5] | |||
| Lepidotes | Lepidotes pankowskii | Isolated scales[5] and two skulls[6] | |||
| Mawsonia | Mawsonia lavocati | ||||
| Neoceratodus | Neoceratodus africanus | ||||
| Obaichthys | Obaichthys africanus | Isolated scales[5] | |||
| Onchopristis | Onchopristis numidus | A giant sawfish[7] | |||
| Oniichthys | Oniichthys falipoui | Near complete skeleton including skull[5] | |||
| Stromerichthys | Stromerichthys aethiopicus | ||||
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Crocodylomorphs
| Crocodylomorphs reported from the Continental Red Beds | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|
Aegisuchus witmeri |
"Partial braincase of a large individual with skull roof, temporal, and occipital regions."[8] |
An aegyptosuchid. |
||||
|
Araripesuchus rattoides |
||||||
|
Elosuchus cherifiensis |
An Elosuchid. | |||||
|
Hamadasuchus rebouli |
A Peirosaurid. | |||||
|
K. auditorei |
Errachidia Province, Morocco[9] |
Known from an isolated caudal vertebra.[9] |
Initially thought to be a neotheropod,[9] but subsequently discovered to be an indeterminate crocodyliform.[10] | |||
|
Laganosuchus maghrebensisis |
||||||
Dinosaurs
Indeterminate lithostrotian remains once misattributed to the Titanosauridae are present in the province of Ksar-es-Souk, Morocco.[1]
| Dinosaurs reported from the Continental Red Beds | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
|
Abelisauridae indet.[11] |
Indeterminate |
An indeterminate abelisaurid. |
||||
|
C. saharicus[1] |
Ksar-es-Souk province, Morocco.[1] |
A carcharodontosaurid theropod. | ||||
|
D. agilis |
"Partial skeleton, isolated limb elements."[13] |
A noasaurid ceratosaurian or possible neovenatorid carnosaur. May be synonymous with Bahariasaurus. | ||||
|
Dromaeosauridae indet.[11] |
Indeterminate |
Isolated teeth.[11] |
An indeterminate dromaeosaurid. | |||
|
cf. Elaphrosaurus |
Indeterminate |
Ksar-es-Souk province, Morocco.[1] |
Fossils previously referred to cf. Elaphrosaurus are actually indeterminate theropod remains. | |||
|
I. tedreftensis |
"Vertebrae."[14] |
|||||
|
R. garasbae |
Ksar-es-Souk province, Morocco.[1] |
A rebbachisaurid. | ||||
|
R. sp. |
Partial maxila (UCPC 10), left maxila (MPUR NS 153/02) [15] |
An abelisaurid theropod | ||||
|
cf. Brachiosaurus |
"B. nougaredi" |
Algeria |
Partial sacrum, phalanges |
Fossils assigned to Brachiosaurus are actually from an indeterminate titanosauriform, still assigned to "B. nougaredi".[16] |
||
|
Saurischia indet.[17] |
Indeterminate |
Isolated vertebrae.[17] |
An indeterminate saurischian. | |||
|
S. pachytholus |
"An isolated and almost complete left frontal."[19] |
A carcharodontosaurid distinct from Carcharodontosaurus.[18][19] | ||||
|
S. brevicollis |
Ksar-es-Souk province, Morocco. |
|||||
|
S. aegyptiacus |
Ksar-es-Souk province, Morocco.[1] | |||||
Pterosaurs
| Pterosaurs of the Kem Kem Beds | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic position | Abundance | Notes | Images |
|
A. saharica[20] |
||||||
|
Azhdarchidae indet.[21] |
Indeterminate[21] |
Averianov (2014) considered these vertebrae to pertain to Alanqa saharica,[22] although the vertebrae may be indicative of two taxa.[21] | ||||
|
Azhdarchoidea indet.[21] |
Indeterminate[21] |
Humerus.[21] |
Averianov (2014) considered it to be a specimen of Alanqa saharica.[22] | |||
| Coloborhynchus[23] | C. fluviferox[23] | Hassi El Begaa | Premaxillae fragment | |||
|
Indeterminate[21] |
Anterior fragment from a jaw, possibly a mandible.[21] |
May be a specimen of Alanqa saharica[22] or a non-azhdarchid azhdarchoid or nyctosaurid.[21] | ||||
|
?Pteranodontidae indet.[20] |
Indeterminate[20] |
A fragment of bone, possibly the anterior section of rostrum.[20] |
A possible pteranodontid[20] or a specimen of Alanqa saharica.[22] | |||
|
S. moroccensis[25] |
Classified by some authors as a species belonging to the genus Coloborhynchus.[20] | |||||
|
Tapejaridae indet.[26] |
Indeterminate[26] |
A fragment of bone originally interpreted as a fragment of anterior mandibular symphysis,[26] though it might pertain to the rostrum instead.[20] |
Might belong to the family Thalassodromidae[20] or be a specimen of Alanqa saharica instead.[22] | |||
| Xericeps | X. curvirostra | A mandible fragment | ||||
Turtles
| Turtles reported from the Continental Red Beds | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | |
|
Dirqadim |
Dirqadim schaefferi |
A Euraxemydid | ||||
|
Galianemys emringeri |
A Cearachelyin | |||||
|
Hamadachelys |
Hamadachelys escuilliei |
|||||
See also
- Aoufous Formation, which lies within the Kem Kem Beds
- List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Cretaceous, Africa)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 604-605. ISBN:0-520-24209-2.
- ↑ Michard, A. (2008). Continental evolution: the geology of Morocco : structure, stratigraphy, and tectonics of the Africa-Atlantic-Mediterranean Triple junction. Published by Springer, 2008. 424 pages. ISBN:3-540-77075-5, ISBN:978-3-540-77075-6
- ↑ Kem Kem Beds at Fossilworks.org
- ↑ Imperial College News
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Cavin, Lionel; Boudad, Larbi; Tong, Haiyan; Läng, Emilie; Tabouelle, Jérôme; Vullo, Romain (2015). "Taxonomic Composition and Trophic Structure of the Continental Bony Fish Assemblage from the Early Late Cretaceous of Southeastern Morocco" (in en). PLOS ONE 10 (5): e0125786. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0125786. ISSN 1932-6203. PMID 26018561.
- ↑ https://palaeo-electronica.org/2011_1/239/239.pdf
- ↑ "Onchopristis - Paleobiology Database - Details - Encyclopedia of Life" (in en). http://eol.org/pages/4538405/hierarchy_entries/49478940/details.
- ↑ Casey M. Holliday; Nicholas M. Gardner (2012). "A New Eusuchian Crocodyliform with Novel Cranial Integument and Its Significance for the Origin and Evolution of Crocodylia". PLoS ONE 7 (1): e30471. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0030471. PMID 22303441. Bibcode: 2012PLoSO...7E0471H.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Cau, Andrea; Maganuco, Simone (2009). "A new theropod dinosaur, represented by a single unusual caudal vertebra from the Kem Kem Beds (Cretaceous) of Morocco". Atti Soc. it. Sci. nat. Museo civ. Stor. nat. Milano 150 (II): 239–257.
- ↑ Lio, G., Agnolin, F., Cau, A. and Maganuco, S. (2012). "Crocodyliform affinities for Kemkemia auditorei Cau and Maganuco, 2009, from the Late Cretaceous of Morocco." Atti della Società Italiana di Scienze Naturali e del Museo di Storia Naturale di Milano, 153 (I), s. 119–126.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Ute Richter; Alexander Mudroch; Lisa G. Buckley (2013). "Isolated theropod teeth from the Kem Kem Beds (Early Cenomanian) near Taouz, Morocco". Paläontologische Zeitschrift 87 (2): 291–309. doi:10.1007/s12542-012-0153-1.
- ↑ Alfio Alessandro Chiarenza; Andrea Cau (2016). "A large abelisaurid (Dinosauria, Theropoda) from Morocco and comments on the Cenomanian theropods from North Africa". PeerJ 4: e1754. doi:10.7717/peerj.1754. PMID 26966675.
- ↑ "Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 76.
- ↑ "Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 78.
- ↑ Robert S.H. Smyth; Nizar Ibrahim; Alexander Kao; David M. Martill (2019). "Abelisauroid cervical vertebrae from the Cretaceous Kem Kem beds of Southern Morocco and a review of Kem Kem abelisauroids". Cretaceous Research: 104330. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2019.104330. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667119303738.
- ↑ Upchurch, P., Barrett, P.M. & Dodson, P. (2004). "Sauropoda", pp. 259–322 in Weishampel, D.B., Dodson, P. & Osmólska, H. (Eds.) The Dinosauria, 2nd edition. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles. ISBN:0520254082.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 B. McFeeters (2013). "Bone "taxon" B: Reevaluation of a supposed small theropod dinosaur from the mid-Cretaceous of Morocco". Kirtlandia 58: 38–41.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Andrea Cau; Fabio M. Dalla Vecchia; Matteo Fabbri (2012). "A thick-skulled theropod (Dinosauria, Saurischia) from the Upper Cretaceous of Morocco with implications for carcharodontosaurid cranial evolution". Cretaceous Research in press: 251–260. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2012.09.002.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Andrea Cau; Fabio Marco Dalla Vecchia; Matteo Fabbri (2012). "Evidence of a new carcharodontosaurid from the Upper Cretaceous of Morocco". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 57 (3): 661–665. doi:10.4202/app.2011.0043. Archived from the original on 2012-11-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20121108141452/http://www.app.pan.pl/article/item/app20110043.html.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 20.8 20.9 Ibrahim, N.; Unwin, D.M.; Martill, D.M.; Baidder, L.; Zouhri, S. (2010). "A New Pterosaur (Pterodactyloidea: Azhdarchidae) from the Upper Cretaceous of Morocco". PLoS ONE 5 (5): e10875. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0010875. PMID 20520782. Bibcode: 2010PLoSO...510875I.
- ↑ 21.00 21.01 21.02 21.03 21.04 21.05 21.06 21.07 21.08 21.09 21.10 Taissa Rodrigues; Alexander W. A. Kellner; Bryn J. Mader; Dale A. Russell (2011). "New pterosaur specimens from the Kem Kem beds (Upper Cretaceous, Cenomanian) of Morocco". Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia 117 (1): 149–160. http://www.rivistaitalianadipaleontologia.it/pub/index.php/abstracts-vol-117-1-2011.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 Alexander Averianov (2014). "Review of taxonomy, geographic distribution, and paleoenvironments of Azhdarchidae (Pterosauria)". ZooKeys (432): 1–107. doi:10.3897/zookeys.432.7913. PMID 25152671.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Jacobs, Megan L.; Martill, David M.; Ibrahim, Nizar; Longrich, Nick (March 2019). "A new species of Coloborhynchus (Pterosauria, Ornithocheiridae) from the mid-Cretaceous of North Africa". Cretaceous Research 95: 77–88. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2018.10.018. ISSN 0195-6671.
- ↑ I.e. a member of the clade containing the most recent common ancestor of Nyctosaurus and Quetzalcoatlus and all their descendants. See: Kellner, A.W.A., 2003. Pterosaur phylogeny and comments on the evolutionary history of the AN group. In: Buffetaut, E., Mazin, J.M. (Eds.), Evolution and Palaeobiology of Pterosaurs. Geological Society, London, Special Publication 217, 105–137
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Rodrigues, Taissa; Kellner, Alexander W. A (2008). "Review of the pterodactyloid pterosaur Coloborhynchus". Zitteliana B 28: 219–228. http://epub.ub.uni-muenchen.de/12017/1/zitteliana_2008_b28_15.pdf.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 Peter Wellnhofer; Eric Buffetaut (1999). "Pterosaur remains from the Cretaceous of Morocco". Paläontologische Zeitschrift 73 (1–2): 133–142. doi:10.1007/BF02987987.
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