View source for Earth:Qasr el Sagha Formation

{{Infobox rockunit
| name           = Quasr el Sagha Formation
| period         = Priabonian
| age            = [[Earth:Priabonian|Priabonian]]<br>~{{fossilrange|37|34}}
| image          = 
| imagesize      = 
| caption        = 
| type           = [[Earth:Geological formation|Geological formation]]
| prilithology   = [[Earth:Sandstone|Sandstone]]
| otherlithology = Mudstone
| unitof         = 
| subunits       = Dir Abu Lifa & Temple Members
| underlies      = Gebel Qatrani Formation
| overlies       = Birket Qarun Formation
| thickness      = 
| area           = 
| map            = {{Location map+ | Egypt
| relief = 1
| width   = 250
| float   = center
| places  =
  {{Location map~ | Egypt
  | lat_deg = 25.6
  | lon_deg = 29.1
  | mark = Orange pog.svg
  | marksize = 12
  }}
}}
| map_caption    = 
<!----Location---->
| location       = Fayum District
| coordinates    = {{coord|29.5|N|30.5|E|display=inline,title}}
| paleocoordinates = {{coord|24.9|N|26.5|E|display=inline}}
| region         = 
| country        = {{flag|Egypt}}
| extent         = [[Biology:Wadi El Hitan|Wadi El Hitan]]
}}
The '''Qasr el Sagha Formation''' is a geological formation located in [[Place:Egypt|Egypt]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Vickers-Rich|Rich|1993}}</ref> The formation is part of the [[Biology:Wadi El Hitan|Wadi El Hitan]] World Heritage Site. The Qasr el Sagha Formation overlies the Birket Qarun Formation and is overlain by the Gebel Qatrani Formation. The [[Earth:Sandstone|sandstone]]s and [[Chemistry:Shale|shale]]s of the formation were deposited in a deltaic to shallow marine [[Earth:Depositional environment|environment]].<ref name=Gingerich2019>Gingerich et al., 2019</ref> It dates to the Late Eocene (middle [[Earth:Priabonian|Priabonian]], {{Mya|37.2|33.9}}).<ref>{{Paleodb|79699|Tamariskenbucht (Eocene of Egypt)}}. Retrieved July 2013.</ref>

== Paleontological significance ==

Fossils of the [[Biology:Archaeoceti|early whale]] genus ''[[Biology:Saghacetus|Saghacetus]]'' ("Sagha whale", originally named "''Zeuglodon osiris''") were first collected at Qasr al Sagha by German explorer [[Biography:Georg August Schweinfurth|Georg August Schweinfurth]] in January 1886 (a well-preserved dentary).''Saghacetus'' is common in the middle of Qasr el Sagha, but there are few other specimens of archaeocetes whales; the only exception being the enigmatic "''Prozeuglodon stromeri''", named in 1828 based on specimens from 1904, but never adequately described before their destruction during the bombing of Munich in [[Social:World War II|World War II]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Gingerich|2007|pp=363–4}}</ref>

Other fossils found in the formation include:<ref name=FWQasr>[http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=displayStrata&geological_group=&formation=Qasr%20el%20Sagha&group_formation_member=Qasr%20el%20Sagha Qasr el Sagha Formation] at [[Biology:Fossilworks|Fossilworks]].org</ref>
===[[Biology:Mammal|Mammal]]s===
====Afrotheres====
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
|-
! colspan="7" align="center" | '''Afrotheres'''
|-
! Genus !! Species !! Presence 
!'''Stratigraphic member'''
!'''Material'''!! Notes !! Images
|-
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|''Archaeosiren''
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|''A. stromeri''
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|Westlich von Dimeh, Fayum.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last=Gingerich |first=Philip D |date=September 2006 |title=Marine Mammals (Cetacean and Sirenia) from the Eocene of Gebel Mokattam and Fayum, Egypt: Stratigraphy, Age, and Paleoenvironments. |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/30849389 |journal=University of Michigan Papers on Paleontology |volume=30 |pages=1–84}}</ref>
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|A skull & isolated thoracic vertebrae.<ref name=":5" />
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|Synonym of ''[[Biology:Eosiren|Eosiren]] libyca''.
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|
|-
|''[[Biology:Barytherium|Barytherium]]''
|''B.'' cf. ''B. grave''
|Locality 25 & an unspecified locality.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Holroyd |first1=P. |last2=Simons |first2=E. |last3=Bown |first3=T. |last4=Polly |first4=P. D. |last5=Kraus |first5=M. |date=1996 |title=New records of terrestrial mammals from the Upper Eocene Qasr El Sagha Formation, Fayum Depression, Egypt |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230554238 |language=en}}</ref>
|Dir Abu Lifa Member.<ref name=":0" />
|2 teeth (DPC 2917 & 4071).<ref name=":0" />
|A basal [[Biology:Proboscidea|proboscidea]]n.
|[[File:Barytherium graveDB1.jpg|center|150 px]]
|-
|''[[Biology:Eosiren|Eosiren]]''
|''E. libyca''
|North of Birket Qarun.<ref name=":5" />
|Temple Member.<ref name=":5" />
|Skulls & vertebrae.<ref name=":5" />
|A [[Biology:Dugongidae|dugongid]].
|[[File:Eosiren lybica.JPG|center|150 px]]
|-
|''[[Biology:Moeritherium|Moeritherium]]''
|''M. lyonsi''
|Various localities.<ref name=":0" />
|Dir Abu Lifa Member.<ref name=":0" />
|Numerous specimens.<ref name=":0" />
|A basal [[Biology:Proboscidea|proboscidea]]n.
|[[File:Moeritherium NT small.jpg|center|150 px]]
|-
|[[Biology:Pliohyracidae|Pliohyracidae]]
|Genus & species indeterminate
|½ mile east of Qasr el Sagha Temple.<ref name=":0" />
|Dir Abu Lifa Member.<ref name=":0" />
|A mandible (AMNH 13445).<ref name=":0" />
|A large [[Biology:Hyrax|hyrax]] formerly thought to be a juvenile specimen of ''[[Biology:Moeritherium|Moeritherium]] gracile''.<ref name=":0" />
|
|-
|style="background:#f3e9f3;" |''[[Biology:Protosiren|Protosiren]]''
|style="background:#f3e9f3;" |''P.'' sp.
|style="background:#f3e9f3;" |
|style="background:#f3e9f3;" |
|style="background:#f3e9f3;" |Mandible.<ref name=":5" />
|style="background:#f3e9f3;" |Actually from the Gehannam Formation or Birket Qarun Formation.
|style="background:#f3e9f3;" |
|-
|}

====Ferae====
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
|-
! colspan="7" align="center" | '''[[Biology:Ferae|Ferae]]'''
|-
! Genus !! Species !! Presence 
!'''Stratigraphic member'''
!'''Material'''!! Notes !! Images
|-
|rowspan=2|''[[Biology:Apterodon|Apterodon]]''
|''A. saghensis''
| Locality 25.<ref name=":0" />
|Dir Abu Lifa Member.<ref name=":0" />
|Left mandibular fragment.<ref name=":0" />
| A hyaenodont.
| 
|-
|''A.'' sp.
|Three localities.<ref name=":0" />
|Dir Abu Lifa & Temple member.<ref name=":0" />
|Mandibular elements & 2 [[Biology:Humerus|humeri]].<ref name=":0" />
|A hyaenodont.
|
|-
|cf. ''[[Biology:Hyaenodon|Hyaenodon]]''
|cf. ''H. brachycephalus''
|"Near Qasr el Sagha".<ref name=":0" />
|
|An eroded left mandibular corpus (AMNH 128553).<ref name=":0" />
|A hyaenodont.
|
|-
|}

====Ungulates====
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
|-
! colspan="7" align="center" | '''[[Biology:Ungulate|Ungulate]]s'''
|-
! Genus !! Species !! Presence 
!'''Stratigraphic member'''
!'''Material'''!! Notes !! Images
|-
|cf. ''[[Biology:Bothriogenys|Bothriogenys]]''
|cf. ''B.'' sp.
|Locality 25.<ref name=":0" />
|Dir Abu Lifa Member.<ref name=":0" />
|A weathered right distal [[Biology:Humerus|humerus]] & shaft.<ref name=":0" />
|An anthracothere.
|[[File:Bothriogenys fraasi.JPG|center|150 px]]
|-
|''[[Biology:Dorudon|Dorudon]]''
|''D. atrox''
|"Feinktirnigem graugriinlichem Sandstein der Saghastufe, Fayum".<ref name=":5" />
|
|Remains of an immature individual now destroyed.<ref name=":5" />
|A [[Biology:Basilosauridae|basilosaurid]] whale.
|[[File:Dorudon cropped.png|center|150 px]]
|-
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|''Prozeuglodon''
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|''P. stromeri''
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|"Feinktirnigem graugriinlichem Sandstein der Saghastufe, Fayum".<ref name=":5" />
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|Remains of an immature individual now destroyed.<ref name=":5" />
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|Junior synonym of ''Dorudon atrox''.
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|
|-
|''[[Biology:Saghacetus|Saghacetus]]''
|''S. osiris''
|Multiple localities.<ref name=":5" />
|Temple Member.<ref name=":5" />
|Multiple specimens.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gingerich |first=Philip D. |title=Early Evolution of Whales A Century of Research in Egypt |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/253535544 |journal=Elwyn Simons: A Search for Origins}}</ref>
|A [[Biology:Basilosauridae|basilosaurid]] whale.
|[[File:Saghacetus osiris eo sup fayum.JPG|center|150 px]]
|-
|''[[Biology:Stromerius|Stromerius]]''
|''S. nidensis''
|Blanckenhorn’s interval II 5a of the Saghastufe.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Gingerich |first=Philip |title=Stromerius Nidensis, New Archaeocete (Mammalia, Cetacea) From the Upper Eocene Qasr El-Sagha Formation, Fayum, Egypt |url=https://www.academia.edu/21636009}}</ref>
|Temple Member.<ref name=":1" />
|2 vertebral sequences (UM 100140 & BSPM 1902.XI.504-510).<ref name=":1" />
|A [[Biology:Basilosauridae|basilosaurid]] whale.
|[[File:Stromerius vertebrae Stromer 1903.png|center|150 px]]
|-
|style="background:#E6E6E6;" rowspan="3" |''Zeuglodon''
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|''Z. elliotsmithii''
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|North of Birket Qarun.<ref name=":5" />
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|An [[Biology:Endocast|endocast]].<ref name=":5" />
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|Junior synonym of ''[[Biology:Saghacetus|Saghacetus]] osiris''.
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|
|-
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" |''Z. sensitivus''
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" |Gar-el-Gehannem.<ref name=":5" />
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" |Temple Member.<ref name=":5" />
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" |An [[Biology:Endocast|endocast]].<ref name=":5" />
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" |Junior synonym of ''[[Biology:Saghacetus|Saghacetus]] osiris''.
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" |
|-
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|''Z. zitteli''
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|"Zeuglodonberg".<ref name=":5" />
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|A fragmentary rostrum & 3 articulated cervical vertebrae.<ref name=":5" />
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|Junior synonym of ''[[Biology:Saghacetus|Saghacetus]] osiris''.
|style="background:#E6E6E6;"|
|}

===[[Biology:Reptile|Reptile]]s===
====Squamates====
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
|-
! colspan="7" align="center" | '''[[Biology:Squamata|Squmates]]'''
|-
! Genus !! Species !! Presence 
!'''Stratigraphic member'''
!'''Material'''!! Notes !! Images
|-
|''Gigantophis''
|''G. garstini''
|"An unspecified locality north of Birket Qarun, Fayum".<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Rio |first1=Jonathan P. |last2=Mannion |first2=Philip D. |date=2017-07-04 |title=The osteology of the giant snake Gigantophis garstini from the upper Eocene of North Africa and its bearing on the phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of Madtsoiidae |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=37 |issue=4 |pages=e1347179 |doi=10.1080/02724634.2017.1347179 |s2cid=90335531 |issn=0272-4634|doi-access=free |hdl=10044/1/48946 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
|
|Vertebrae & ribs.<ref name=":2" />
|A [[Biology:Madtsoiidae|madtsoiid]] snake.
|
|-
|}

====Testudines====
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
|-
! colspan="7" align="center" | '''Testudines'''
|-
! Genus !! Species !! Presence 
!'''Stratigraphic member'''
!'''Material'''!! Notes !! Images
|-
|''Andrewsemys''
|''A. libyca''
|
|
|An almost complete & well-preserved shell.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Pérez-García |first=Adán |date=2019-03-16 |title=New information and establishment of a new genus for the Egyptian Paleogene turtle 'Stereogenys' libyca (Podocnemididae, Erymnochelyinae) |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2017.1374383 |journal=Historical Biology |volume=31 |issue=3 |pages=383–392 |doi=10.1080/08912963.2017.1374383 |s2cid=90915135 |issn=0891-2963}}</ref>
|A [[Biology:Podocnemididae|podocnemidid]].
|
|-
|''[[Biology:Cordichelys|Cordichelys]]''
|''C.'' sp.
|North of Birket Qarun.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last1=Cherney |first1=Michael D. |last2=Mantilla |first2=J. a. W. |last3=Gingerich |first3=P. |last4=Zalmout |first4=Iyad S. |last5=Antar |first5=M. |date=2020 |title=New Specimens of the Late Eocene Turtle Cordichelys (Pleurodira: Podocnemididae) From Wadi Al Hitan and Qasr El-Sagha in the Fayum Province of Eqypt |s2cid=228833249 |language=en}}</ref>
|
|A nearly complete cranium lacking only the premaxillae (UMMP 13994).<ref name=":3" />
|A [[Biology:Podocnemididae|podocnemidid]].
|
|-
|rowspan=2|''Stereogenys''
|style="background:#fbdddb;" |''<nowiki/>'S.' libyca''
|style="background:#fbdddb;" |
|style="background:#fbdddb;" |
|style="background:#fbdddb;" |An almost complete & well-preserved shell.<ref name=":4" />
|style="background:#fbdddb;" |Reassigned to ''Andrewsemys''.
|style="background:#fbdddb;" |
|-
|''S.(?)'' sp.
|North of Birket Qarun.<ref name=":3" />
|
|A mostly-complete [[Biology:Carapace|carapace]] & plastron (CGM 8718).<ref name=":3" />
|A [[Biology:Podocnemididae|podocnemidid]].
|
|-
|}

===[[Biology:Fish|Fish]]===
** ''Misrichthys stromeri''
** ''Carcharhinus aff. frequens''
** ''Odontorhytis aff. pappenheimi''
** ''?Jacquhermania attiai''
** ''[[Biology:Carcharhinus|Carcharhinus sp.]]''
** ''[[Biology:Coupatezia|Coupatezia sp.]]''
** ''Ouledia sp.''
** ''[[Biology:Pastinachus|Pastinachus sp.]]''
** ''[[Biology:Rhinobatos|Rhinobatos sp.]]''
** ''[[Biology:Scyliorhinus|Scyliorhinus sp.]]''
** ''[[Biology:Sphyrna|?Sphyrna sp.]]''
** [[Biology:Pristidae|Pristidae indet.]]
** ''[[Biology:Cretolamna|"Cretolamna" twiggsensis]]''

== See also ==
* [[Biology:List of fossil sites|List of fossil sites]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|3}}

=== Bibliography ===
* {{cite LSA |first=Philip D. |last=Gingerich |first2=Mohammed Sameh M. |last2=Antar |first3=Iyad S. |last3=Zalmout |year=2019 |title=''Aegicetus gehennae'', a new late Eocene protocetid (Cetacea, Archaeoceti) from Wadi Al Hitan, Egypt, and the transition to tail-powered swimming in whales |url=https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0225391 |journal=PLoS ONE |volume=14 |issue=12 |pages=e0225391}} {{doi|10.1371/journal.pone.0225391}} {{PMID|31825956}} {{PMC|6905522}}
{{Refbegin}}
* A. Pérez-García. 2019. New information and establishment of a new genus for the Egyptian Paleogene turtle ‘Stereogenys’ libyca (Podocnemididae, Erymnochelyinae). Historical Biology 31(3):383-392
* S. Adnet, H. Cappetta, S. Elnahas and A. Strougo. 2011. A new Priabonian Chondrichthyans assemblage from the Western desert, Egypt: Correlation with the Fayum oasis. Journal of African Earth Sciences 61:27-37
* {{Cite journal
 | last = Gingerich | first = Philip D
 | title=''Stromerius nidensis'', new archaeocete (Mammalia, Cetacea) from the Upper Eocene Qasr El-Sagha Formation, Fayum, Egypt
 | year = 2007 | journal = Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology | volume = 31 | issue = 13 | pages = 363–78
 | url = http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/57499/1/Vol%2031%20No%2013%20final%2012-19-07.pdf
 | oclc = 214233870 }}<!-- {{Harvnb|Gingerich|2007}} -->
* {{Cite book
 | last1 = Vickers-Rich | first1 = Patricia
 | last2 = Rich | first2 = Thomas Hewitt V.
 | title = Wildlife of Gondwana
 | year = 1993 | publisher = Indiana University Press
 | isbn = 0-7301-0315-3 }}<!-- {{Harvnb|Vickers-Rich|Rich}} -->
{{Refend}}

[[Category:Sandstone formations]]
[[Category:Mudstone formations]]
[[Category:Shallow marine deposits]]

{{Sourceattribution|Qasr el Sagha Formation}}