Ouled Abdoun Basin
Ouled Abdoun Basin | |
---|---|
Ma | |
Type | Geological formation |
Unit of | Sedimentary Basins |
Location | |
Coordinates | 32°53′N 6°55′W / 32.883°N 6.917°W |
Region | Béni Mellal-Khénifra, Khouribga |
Country | Morocco |
The Oulad Abdoun Basin (also known as the Ouled Abdoun Basin or Khouribga Basin) is a
Geography
The Oulad Abdoun is located west of the Atlas Mountains, near the city of Khouribga. The Oulad Abdoun phosphate deposits encompass some 100 by 45 kilometres (62 by 28 mi), an area of 4,500 square kilometres (1,700 sq mi).[2] The Oulad Abdoun is the largest and northernmost of Morocco's major phosphate basins, which from northeast to southwest, include the Ganntour, Meskala, and Oued Eddahab (Laayoune-Baa) basins.[1][2]
Paleobiota
Color key
|
Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; |
The Oulad Abdoun Basin stretches from the late Cretaceous to the Eocene and contains abundant marine vertebrate fossils, including
Fish
Bony fish
Bony fish from the Khouribga Phosphates
| ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes | Images |
Acipenseridae[5]
|
Indeterminate | Maastrichtian | First record of a sturgeon on the continent of Africa. | |||
Enchodus | E. libycus | Maastrichtian | An enchodontid aulopiform. | |||
E. bursauxi | Maastrichtian | |||||
E. elegans | Maastrichtian | |||||
Eoserrasalmimus[6] | E. cattoi | Maastrichtian | A pycnodontiform .
|
|||
Mawsoniidae[7] | Indeterminate | Maastrichtian | A giant mawsoniid coelacanth measuring 3.65–5.52 metres (12.0–18.1 ft) long.
|
|||
Phacodus[8] | P. punctatus var. africanus | Maastrichtian | A pycnodontiform. | |||
Plethodidae[9] | Indeterminate | Maastrichtian | Youngest occurrence of plethodid fish. | |||
Pycnodontidae | Indeterminate | Maastrichtian | ||||
Pseudoegertonia | P. sp. | Maastrichtian | ||||
Serrasalmimus[6] | S. secans | Thanetian | A carnivorous pycnodontiform. | |||
Stephanodus | S. libycus | Maastrichtian | ||||
Stratodus | S. apicalis | Maastrichtian | An alepisauroform .
|
|||
Macroprosopon | M. hiltoni[10] | Ypresian | A marine osteoglossid. |
Sharks
Sharks from the Khouribga Phosphates | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes | Images |
Abdounia[11] | A. africana | Selandian | A requiem shark. | |||
Brachycarcharias | B. atlasi[10] | Ypresian | ||||
Casieria | C. maghrebiana | Selandian | ||||
Chiloscyllium | C. salvani. | Selandian | A carpet shark. | |||
Cretalamna | C. appendiculata | Maastrichtian | ||||
C. maroccana | Maastrichtian | |||||
Delpitoscyllium | D. africanum | Selandian | ||||
Eostegostoma | E. sp. | Selandian | A carpet shark. | |||
Foumtizia | F. abdouni | Selandian | ||||
Galeorhinus
|
G. mesetaensis | Selandian | ||||
Ginglymostoma | G. chenanei | Selandian | ||||
G. khouribgaense | Selandian | |||||
Hologinglymostoma | H. jaegeri | Selandian | ||||
Khouribgaleus | K. gomphorhiza | Selandian | ||||
Metlaouia | M. delpiti | Selandian | ||||
Microscyliorhinus | M. simplex | Selandian | ||||
Palaeogaleus | P. larachei | Selandian | ||||
Palaeorhincodon | P. daouii | Selandian | A carpet shark. | |||
Porodermoides | P. spanios | Selandian | ||||
Premontreia | P. peypouqueti | Selandian | ||||
P. subulidens | Selandian | |||||
Scyliorhinus | S. ptychtus | Selandian | ||||
S. entomodon | Selandian | |||||
S. sulcidens | Selandian | |||||
Serratolamna | S. serrata | Maastrichtian | ||||
S. khderii | Maastrichtian | |||||
Squalicorax | S. pristodontus | Maastrichtian | ||||
S. bassanii | Maastrichtian | |||||
S. africanus | Maastrichtian | |||||
S. microserratus | Maastrichtian | |||||
S. benguerirensis | Maastrichtian | |||||
Triakis | T. antunesi | Selandian |
Other cartilaginous fish
Other cartilaginous cish from the Khouribga Phosphates | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes | Images |
Archaemanta | A. priemi | Selandian | A ray .
|
|||
Burnhamia | B. cf. davisi | Selandian | A devil ray | |||
Coupatezia | C. larivei | Selandian | A ray. | |||
C. fallax | Maastrichtian | |||||
C. elevata | Maastrichtian | |||||
Dasyatis | D. ponsi | Selandian | A stingray. An indeterminate species found in Maastrichtian deposits of Ganntour Basin. | |||
Delpitia | D. reticulata | Selandian | A ray. | |||
Gymnura
|
G. delpiti | Selandian | A ray. | |||
Heterobatis | H. talbaouii | Selandian | A ray. | |||
Heterotorpedo | H. brahimi | Selandian | A ray. | |||
Hypolophodon | H. sp. | Selandian | A ray. | |||
Rhombodus | R. binkhorsti | Maastrichtian | A ray. | |||
R. microdus | Maastrichtian | |||||
R. meridionalis | Maastrichtian | |||||
Schizorhiza | S. stromeri | Maastrichtian | A sclerorhynchoid skate which resembled a sawfish. |
Reptiles
Crocodylomorphs
Crocodylomorphs from the Khouribga Phosphates | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes | Images |
Arambourgisuchus[12] | A. khouribgaensis | Thanetian | A dyrosaurid. | |||
Atlantosuchus | A. coupatezi | Danian | A dyrosaurid. | |||
Chenanisuchus | C. lateroculi | Thanetian | The most basal known dyrosaurid. | |||
Dyrosaurus | P. maghribensis | Ypresian | A dyrosaur. | |||
Maroccosuchus[13] | M. zennaroi | Ypresian | A crocodylian .
|
|||
Ocepesuchus[14] | O. eoafricanus | Maastrichtian | A crocodylian .
|
Lepidosaurs
Mosasaurs
Mosasaurs from the Khouribga Phosphates | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes | Images |
Carinodens | C. minalmamar | Maastrichtian | A small mosasaurine mosasaur with crushing teeth. | |||
Eremiasaurus | E. heterodontus | Maastrichtian | A mosasaurine mosasaur with unusual cutting dentition. | |||
Gavialimimus[15] | G. almaghribensis | Maastrichtian | An unusual longirostrine plioplatecarpine mosasaur. | |||
Globidens | G. phosphaticus | Maastrichtian | A mosasaurine mosasaur with specialized crushing teeth. | |||
G. simplex | Maastrichtian | |||||
G. aegyptiacus | Maastrichtian | Now referred to its own genus, Igdamanosaurus. | ||||
Halisaurus | H. arambourgi | Maastrichtian | A halisaurine mosasaur. | |||
Igdamanosaurus | I. aegyptiacus | Maastrichtian | ||||
Khinjaria[16] | K. acuta |
|
Maastrichtian |
|
A plioplatecarpine mosasaur.
|
|
Mosasaurus | M. beaugei | Maastrichtian | A large mosasaurine mosasaur. | |||
Pachyvaranus | P. crassispondylus | Maastrichtian | A pachyvaranid | |||
Platecarpus | P. ptychodon | Maastrichtian | A nomen dubium. Now referred to its genus, Gavialimimus. | |||
Pluridens[17] | P. serpentis | Maastrichtian | A large halisaurine mosasaur, also known from Niger and Nigeria. | |||
Prognathodon | P. currii | Maastrichtian | A large mosasaurine mosasaur. | |||
P. giganteus | Maastrichtian | |||||
Stelladens[18] | S. mysteriosus | Maastrichtian | A medium-sized mosasaurine with distinct, unique teeth structure. | |||
Thalassotitan[19] | T. atrox | Maastrichtian | A large-bodied mosasaurine with powerful jaws, similar to P. currii. | |||
Xenodens[20] | X. calminechari | Maastrichtian | A small mosasaurine mosasaur with unusual, shark-like teeth. |
Serpentes
Snakes from the Khouribga Phosphates | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes | Images |
Palaeophis[21] | P. maghrebianus | Maastrichtian?–Ypresian | A palaeophiid marine snake. |
Plesiosaurs
Plesiosaurs from the Khouribga Phosphates | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes | Images |
Zarafasaura | Z. oceanis | Maastrichtian | An elasmosaurid plesiosaur with an unusually short skull. |
Turtles
Turtles from the Khouribga Phosphates | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes | Images |
Alienochelys[22] | A. selloumi | Maastrichtian | A sea turtle with crushing jaws. | |||
Araiochelys[23] | A. hirayamai | |||||
Argillochelys[24]
|
A. africana | Ypresian | A pancheloniid sea turtle. | |||
Bothremys[23] | B. kellyi | Danian-Thanetian | ||||
B. maghrebiana | ||||||
Brachyopsemys | B. tingitana | Danian | A sandownid sea turtle
|
|||
Euclastes | E. acutirostris | Danian-Thanetian | A pancheloniid sea turtle. An indeterminate species also present in the Maastrichtian deposits of Ganntour Basin.[25] | |||
E. wielandi | Danian | |||||
Labrostochelys[23] | L. galkini | Danian | ||||
Ocepechelon[26] | O. bouyai | Maastrichtian | A giant protostegid sea turtle with an unusual pipette-like snout. | |||
Puppigerus | P. camperi | Ypresian | ||||
Rhothonemys[23] | R. brinkmani | Danian | ||||
Tasbacka | T. ouledabdounensis | Danian | ||||
Taphrosphys | T. ippolitoi | Danian | ||||
Ummulisani | U. rutgersensis | Ypresian |
Pterosaurs
Pterosaurs from the Khouribga Phosphates | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes | Images |
Alcione[27] | A. elainus | Maastrichtian | A nyctosaurid which shows possible adaptations towards diving behaviour. | |||
Barbaridactylus | B. grandis | Maastrichtian | A nyctosaurid. | |||
Simurghia | S. robusta | Maastrichtian | A nyctosaurid related to Alcione. | |||
Phosphatodraco | P. mauritanicus | Maastrichtian | An azhdarchid. | |||
cf Arambourgiania | A. sp? | Maastrichtian | A giant azhdarchid, may belong to the Jordanian taxon Arambourgiania. | |||
Azhdarchidae | Indet. | Maastrichtian | A new taxon, currently unnamed. | |||
Tethydraco | T. regalis | Maastrichtian | A pterosaur of debated affinity; may be an azhdarchid or a pteranodontid. |
Dinosaurs
Bird fossils are common in the Basin, which includes the oldest birds in Africa.
Ornithischians
Ornithischians from the Khouribga Phosphates
| ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes | Images |
Ajnabia[28] | A. odysseus |
|
Maastrichtian |
|
A small hadrosaur ; the first known from Africa.
|
|
Lambeosaurinae[29] | Indeterminate |
|
Maastrichtian |
|
A lambeosaurine larger than Ajnabia and Minqaria. | |
Lambeosaurinae[29] | Indeterminate |
|
Maastrichtian |
|
A lambeosaurine larger than Ajnabia and Minqaria. | |
Minqaria[29] | M. bata |
|
Maastrichtian |
|
A lambeosaurine hadrosaur. |
Saurischians
Saurischians from the Khouribga Phosphates
| ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes | Images |
Abelisauridae[30] | Indeterminate |
|
Maastrichtian | right tibia | Probably distinct from Chenanisaurus due to its smaller size (about 5 m (16 ft) long) despite being mature. Similar to South American abelisaurids. | |
Abelisauridae[30] | Indeterminate |
|
Maastrichtian | right metatarsal II | A mature specimen but very small for an abelisaurid, about 2.6 m (8.5 ft) long | |
Chenanisaurus[31] | C. barbaricus |
|
Maastrichtian |
|
A large theropod .
|
|
Titanosauria[31] | Indeterminate |
|
Maastrichtian |
|
A new titanosaurian taxon, currently unnamed. | |
Dasornis | D. tolapica | Selandian | A pelagornithid, or pseudotooth bird. | |||
D. emuinus | Ypresian | |||||
Lithoptila[33] | L. abdounensis | Thanetian | A tropicbirds .
|
Mammals
Afrotheres
Afrotheres from the Khouribga Phosphates
| ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes | Images |
Abdounodus[34] | A. hamdii | Thanetian-Ypresian | A lower jaw. | An early afrotherian mammal.
|
||
Daouitherium[35] | D. rebouli | Ypresian | lower jaws and associated cheek teeth | An early proboscidean. | ||
Eritherium[36] | E. azzouzorum | Thanetian | An early proboscidean. | |||
Hadrogeneios[37] | H. phosphaticus | Selandian-Thanetian | An early afrotherian mammal.
|
|||
Ocepeia[34] | O. daouiensis | Selandian | Partial skull consists of an upper jaw and dental fragments | An early afrotherian mammal.
|
| |
O. grandis | Thanetian | Lower jaw and teeth. | ||||
Phosphatherium | P. escuilliei | Selandian | An early proboscidean. | |||
Stylolophus[38] | S. minor | Ypresian | An embrithopod. | |||
S. major | Ypresian |
Creodonts
Creodonts from the Khouribga Phosphates
| ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes | Images |
Boualitomus | B. marocanensis | Selandian | A hyaenodont. | |||
Lahimia[39] | L. selloumi | Selandian | A hyaenodont. |
Molluscs
Mollusca from the Khouribga Phosphates[40] | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes | Images |
Cucullaea (Idonearca) | C. (I.) thevestensis | A false ark shell .
|
||||
Heligmopsis | H. wegmanianus | Maastrichtian | A feather oyster also present in Ganntour basin. | |||
Venericardia | V. coquandi | Danian | A carditid clam also present in Ganntour basin. | |||
Baculites | B. sp. | Maastrichtian | A straight-shelled ammonite , also present in Ganntour basin.
|
|||
Cimomia | C. aff. sudanensis | Ypresian | A nautiloid also present in Ganntour basin. | |||
Ampullinopsis | A. crassatina | An ampullinid gastropod. | ||||
Hemithersitea | H. chouberti | Lutetian | A thersiteid gastropod. |
See also
- Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event
- Fauna of Africa
- List of dinosaur bearing rock formations
References
- ^ ISBN 978-3-540-77075-6.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-521-67333-4.
- ^ .
- ^ .
- S2CID 257863907.
- ^ PMC 5533729.
- S2CID 233551515.
- ISSN 0195-6671.
- ISSN 0195-6671.
- ^ .
- ^ Noubhani, A.; Cappetta, H. (1997). "Les Orectolobiformes, Carcharhiniformes et Myliobatiformes (Elasmobranchii, Neoselachii) des bassins à phosphate du Maroc (Maastrichtien-Lutétien basal). Systématique, biostratigraphie, évolution et dynamique des faunes". Palaeo Ichthyologica.
- ^ Jouve, S.; Iarochène, M.; Bouya, B.; Amaghzaz, M. (2005). "A new dyrosaurid crocodyliform from the Palaeocene of Morocco and a phylogenetic analysis of Dyrosauridae". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 50 (3): 581–594.
- ^ Jonet, S.; Wouters, G. (1977). "Maroccosuchus zennaroi, crocodilien eusuchien nouveau des phosphates du Maroc". Notes et Mémoires du Service Géologique du Maroc. 38: 177–202.
- S2CID 86503283.
- ISSN 1477-2019.
- ISSN 0195-6671.
- .
- ISSN 2813-6284.
- S2CID 251821884.
- S2CID 233567615.
- .
- PMID 23874378.
- ^ S2CID 85790134.
- .
- S2CID 128481560.
- PMID 23874378.
- PMID 29534059.
- S2CID 228807024.
- ^ PMID 38351204.
- ^ .
- ^ .
- ISSN 1464-343X.
- S2CID 86218884.
- ^ S2CID 85966740.
- ^ Gheerbrant, E.; Sudre, J.; Cappetta, H.; Iarochène, M.; Amaghzaz, M.; Bouya, B. (2002). "A new large mammal from the Ypresian of Morocco: Evidence of surprising diversity of early proboscideans" (PDF). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 47 (3): 493–506.
- PMID 19549873.
- ISSN 0272-4634.
- ^ Emmanuel Gheerbrant; Arnaud Schmitt; László Kocsis (2018). "Early African fossils elucidate the origin of embrithopod mammals". Current Biology. Online edition. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2018.05.032.
- .
- ISBN 9782917198469.
External links
- Fossil Vertebrates from the Phosphate Basins of Morocco, paleontological research from the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris.