Bahariya Formation
Bahariya Formation | |
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Stratigraphic range:Early Cenomanian[1] ~ | |
![]() Restoration of the environment and animals of the formation | |
Type | Geological formation |
Underlies | El Heiz Fm.,El Naqb Fm.[2] |
Overlies | Basement[2] |
Thickness | ≈100 m (330 ft)[2] |
Lithology | |
Primary | Sandstone |
Other | Mudstone,siltstone |
Location | |
Coordinates | 28°24′20″N28°48′20″E/ 28.40556°N 28.80556°E |
Region | Western Desert |
Country | ![]() |
Type section | |
Named for | Bahariya Oasis |
Named by | Said |
Year defined | 1962 |
TheBahariya Formation(also transcribed asBaharija Formation) is afossiliferousgeologic formationdating back to the earlyCenomanian,which outcrops within theBahariya depressioninEgypt,and is known from oil exploration drilling across much of theWestern Desertwhere it forms an important oilreservoir.[1][3][4]
Extent
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Spinosaurus_with_contemporaneous_taxa.jpg/220px-Spinosaurus_with_contemporaneous_taxa.jpg)
The Bahariya Formation forms the base of the depression, the lower part of the enclosing escarpment and all of the small hills within.[5]Thetype sectionfor the formation is found at Gebel El-Dist, a hill at the northern end of the Bahariya depression.[6]
Stratigraphy and sedimentology
[edit]Four depositional sequences have been recognised in the Bahariya Formation in the Bahariya depression, separated by three sub-aerialunconformities.The formation was deposited during a period of relative rise in sea level, with each unconformity representing a relative fall in sea level.[1]Each of the individual sequences contains sediments deposited underfluvial,shoreline and shallow marine conditions.
Foraminifera
[edit]Foraminiferaof the Bahariya Formation | ||||||
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Genus | Species | |||||
Charentia | C. cuvillieri | |||||
Favusella | F. washitensis | |||||
Mayncina | M. orbignyi | |||||
Rotalipora | R. cushmani R. reicheli | |||||
Thomasinella | T. aegyptia T. fragmentaria T. punica | |||||
Whiteinella | W. archaeocretacea |
Other microorganisms
[edit]Othermicroorganismsof the Bahariya Formation | ||||||
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Genus | Species | Images | ||||
Botryococcus | ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
Coronifera | C. oceanica | |||||
Cyclonephelium | C. edwardsii C. vannophorum | |||||
Dynopterigium | D. cladoides | |||||
Exochosphaeridium | ||||||
Florentinia | F. cooksoniae F. mantlii | |||||
Kallosphaeridium | ||||||
Mudrongia | M. simplex | |||||
Palaeoperidinium | P. cretaceum | |||||
Pediastrum | ||||||
Pseudoceratium | P. anaphrisum P. securigerum | |||||
Scenedesmus | ||||||
Spiniferites | ||||||
Subtilisphaera | S. perlucida S. senegalensis | |||||
Xiphophoridium | X. alatum |
Invertebrates
[edit]Molluscs
[edit]Molluscsof the Bahariya Formation | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Notes | Images | |||
Baculites | A heteromorphammonitewith a nearly straight shell. | |||||
Cardium | Acockle. | |||||
Exogyra | Areef-formingtrue oysterassociated with solidsubstratesand warm temperatures. | |||||
Gastrochaena | Asaltwaterclam. | |||||
Neolobites | N. vibrayeanus | A typical rolled ammonite. | ||||
Nucula | A small saltwater clam. | |||||
Ostrea | O. flabeata | An edible oyster. |
Crustaceans (Ostracoda)
[edit]Crustaceansof the Bahariya Formation | ||||||
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Genus | Species | Notes | Images | |||
Amphicytherura | A. sexta | |||||
Anticythereis | A. gaensis | |||||
Bairdia | B. bassiounii B. elongata |
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Brachycythere | B. ledaforma porosa | |||||
Bythoceratina | B. avnonensis B. tamarae |
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Bythocypris | B. eskeri | |||||
Cythereis | C. algeriana C. bicornis levis C. canteriolata |
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Cytherella | C. ovata C. paenovata C. parallela C. sulcata |
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Fabanella | ||||||
Looneyella | L. sohni | |||||
Loxoconcha | L. clinocosta L. fletcheri |
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Metacytheropteron | M. berbericum | |||||
Ovocytheridea | O. caudata O. producta O. reniformis |
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Paracypris | P. acutocaudata P. angusta P. mdaouerensis P. triangularis |
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Pterygocythere | P. raabi | |||||
Veeniacythereis | V. jezzineensis | |||||
Xestoleberis | X. obesa |
Insects
[edit]Direct fossils are sparse, though plant leaves with extensive damage fromfolivorousinsectshave been documented.
Vertebrates
[edit]Cartilaginous fish
[edit]Color key
|
Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are insmall text; |
Chondrichthyesof the Bahariya Formation | ||||
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Genus | Species | Abundance | Notes | Images |
Aegyptobatus | A. kuehnei | Asclerorhynchiform. | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Asteracanthus | A. aegyptiacus | Ahybodontshark. | ||
Baharipristis | B. bastetiae | A sclerorhynchiform. | ||
Cretodus | C. longiplicatus | A shark. | ||
Cretolamna | C. appendiculata | Amackerel shark. | ||
Distobatus | D. nutiae | A sclerorhynchiform. | ||
Gymnura | G. laterialata | Abutterfly ray. | ||
Haimirichia | H. amonensis | A shark previously classified in the generaOdontaspis,Serratolamna,andCarcharias. | ||
Isidobatus | I. tricarinatus | A sclerorhynchiform. | ||
Marckgrafia | M. lybica | A sclerorhynchiform. | ||
Onchopristis | O. numida | One complete cranium and associated vertebrae. | Asclerorhynchidrajoid. | |
Peyeria | P. libyca | A sclerorhynchiform. | ||
Ptychotrygon | P. henkeli | A sclerorhynchiform. | ||
Renpetia | R. labiicarinata | A sclerorhynchiform. | ||
Rhinoptera | Abatoidray. | |||
Schizorhiza | S. stromeri | An unusual sclerorhynchid sawfish that retained its rostral teeth after they were replaced. | ||
Squalicorax | S. baharijensis | A large shark. | ||
Scapanorhynchus | S. subulatus | Amitsukurinidsimilar to the moderngoblin shark. | ||
Squatina | Anangelshark. | |||
Tribodus | T. aschersoni | A hybodont. |
Bony fish
[edit]Color key
|
Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are insmall text; |
Osteichthyesof the Bahariya Formation | ||||
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Genus | Species | Abundance | Notes | Images |
Bawitius | B. bartheli | A giantbichir. | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Concavotectum | C. moroccensis | Possibly synonymous withParanogmius doederleini. | ||
Ceratodus | Alungfish. | |||
Coelodus | Apycnodontid. | |||
Enchodus | One tooth. | A predatory fish. | ||
Lepidotes | Isolated scales. | Possibly misidentified fromBawitiusbartheli. | ||
Mawsonia | M. lybica | Considered a "signature taxon" of the formation. | A giantfreshwatercoelacanth.Species assignation deemed provisional due to the lack ofneotype. | |
Neoceratodus | N. africanus | A lungfish related to the livingAustralianspecies. | ||
Palaeonotopterus | P. greenwoodi | Nomen conservandumof the twoPlethodusspecies previously described. | ||
Paranogmius | Paranogmius doederleini | One vertebra. | Holotypelost inWorld War II.Could be synonymous withConcavotectum moroccensis. | |
Plethodus | P. libycus P. tibniensis |
Holotypes destroyed in World War II, but now believed to have been misidentifiedPalaeonotopterus greenwoodi. | ||
Retodus | R. tuberculatus | A lungfish species identified from remains previously assigned toNeoceratodus. | ||
Saurodon | Identified byStromerin 1936, but now rejected due to this genus appearing only in post-Cenomanian Europe and North America. Now listed asIchthyodectidaeincertae sedis. | |||
Stromerichthys | S. aethiopicus | A predatorybowfinrelative. |
Testudines
[edit]Testudinesof the Bahariya Formation | ||||
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Genus | Species | Abundance | Notes | Images |
Apertotemporalis | A. baharijensis | A smallpleurodiranturtle, likely belonging toBothremydidae.Other unnamed species are also present. |
Squamates
[edit]Squamatesof the Bahariya Formation | ||||
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Genus | Species | Abundance | Notes | Images |
Simoliophis | Abundant | First knownsea snake,with functional hind legs. Now believed to include elements from different species and at least one of a different, unnamed genus. |
Plesiosaurs
[edit]Color key
|
Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are insmall text; |
Plesiosaursof the Bahariya Formation | ||||
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Genus | Species | Abundance | Notes | Images |
Leptocleidus | L. capensis | A small plesiosaur that visitedbrackishorfresh watersystems. Though known from bothSouth AfricaandEngland,the Egyptian material lacks diagnostic traits of the genus and is now referred asPolycotylidaeincertae sedis. | ![]() |
Crocodyliformes
[edit]Color key
|
Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are insmall text; |
Crocodyliformesof the Bahariya Formation | ||||
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Genus | Species | Abundance | Notes | Images |
Aegyptosuchus | A. peyeri | A poorly known, possiblystomatosuchidcrocodile. | ![]() ![]() | |
Hamadasuchus | H. rebouli | A terrestrial, dog-likepeirosaurid.It is possible that some material previously attributed toLibycosuchusactually belongs to this species. | ||
Libycosuchus | L. brevirostris | A terrestrial crocodile of uncertain affinities, possibly related toNotosuchus. | ||
Stomatosuchus | S. inermis | A complete cranium | A large, flat-headed stomatosuchid with multiple small conical teeth, and possibly apelican-likethroat pouch.The only remains were destroyed in World War II. | |
Stromerosuchus | S. aegyptiacus | Fragmentary remains | Nomen dubiumassigned to material found in 1911, that were badly damaged in 1922 while being shipped toGermanyfor study. Some material may belong toAegyptosuchusand other toStomatosuchus. |
Pterosaurs
[edit]Color key
|
Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are insmall text; |
Pterosaursof the Bahariya Formation | ||||
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Genus | Species | Material | Notes | Images |
Pterosauriaindet.[7] | Indeterminate | Left first wing phalanx | A medium-sized pterosaur. The first record of a pterosaur from Egypt. |
Sauropods
[edit]Color key
|
Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are insmall text; |
Sauropodsof the Bahariya Formation | ||||
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Genus | Species | Material | Notes | Images |
Aegyptosaurus[3] | A. baharijensis[3] | Partial postcranial skeleton[8] | Atitanosaurof about 15 meters. All remains were destroyed in World War II. | ![]() ![]()
![]() |
Dicraeosaurus | D. hansemanni | Isolatedscapulaand vertebra | Identified by Stromer in 1932. Subsequently considered arebbachisaurid,or a third, unnamed titanosaur. | |
Paralititan[3] | P. stromeri[3] | Partial postcranial skeleton[9] | One of the largest titanosaurs of the Cretaceous, with a 1.69 meters longhumerusand an estimated total length of 26 meters. |
Theropods
[edit]Color key
|
Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are insmall text; |
Theropodsof the Bahariya Formation | ||||
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Genus | Species | Abundance | Notes | Images |
Abelisauridaeindet.[10] | Indeterminate | "MUVP 477, an isolated caudal (tenth) cervical vertebra" | A medium-sized abelisaurid, estimated around 5.77 meters (~18.9 feet) long. The first unambiguous abelisaurid known from the Bahariya Formation. | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Bahariasaurus | B. ingens[3] | A medium-sized theropod of uncertain affinities. Possibly amegaraptoran,a relative ofDeltadromeus,or both. | ||
Carcharodontosaurus[3] | C. saharicus[3] | A largecarcharodontosauridallosauroid. | ||
Elaphrosaurus | E. bambergi | Material now considered to be indeterminate theropod remains.[3] | ||
Sigilmassasaurus[3] | S. brevicollis | Previously considered a species ofSpinosaurus,or a synonym ofS. aegyptiacus. | ||
Spinosaurus | S. aegyptiacus | Most common dinosaur of the formation. | A largespinosaurid. |
In addition, there are isolated theropod teeth disputedly assigned todromaeosaurids,or toabelisaurids.
Flora
[edit]Thirty different genera are known from Bahariya, includingmegaflora.Much of the material is yet to be described.[11][12]Other taxa includeSapindales,Piperaceae,Lauraceae,Platanaceae,Magnoliopsida,Nymphaeaceae,Cornaceae,ProteaceaeandVitaceaenot identified at genus level; andmiosporeandpollenspecies.[13][14]
Vascular Plants | ||||||
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Genus | Species | Abundance | Notes | Images | ||
Agathis/Wollemia[15] | A/W spp. | Few Specimens | AnAraucarianconifer,now restricted toAustralasia. |
![]() ![]() | ||
Araliaephyllum?[11][13] | Indeterminate ( "Morphotype-14" ) | Few Specimens | Suggested to be related withLauraceae | |||
Cladophlebis[11][13] | C. spp. | Few Specimens | Fern Laflets | |||
Cornophyllum[11][13] | C. distense | Few Specimens | Suggested to be related withCornaceae | |||
Cinnamophyllum?[11][13] | Indeterminate ( "Morphotype-12" ) | Few Specimens | Suggested to be related withLauraceae | |||
Eucalyptolaurus/ "Myrtophyllum”(?)[13][14] | Indeterminate ( "Morphotype-08" ) | Few Specimens | Specimens of the familyLauraceae | |||
Laurophyllum[11][13] | L. africanum | Few Specimens | Specimens of the familyLauraceae | |||
Liriophyllum[11][13] | L. farafraense | Few Specimens | Specimens of the familyMagnoliaceae | |||
Marsilea[15] | aff.Marsilea spp. | Few Specimens | Water fern. | |||
Magnoliid[13][14] |
|
Few Specimens | Shows festooned brochidodromous venation | |||
Magnoliaephyllum[13] |
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Few Specimens | Possible affinities withLauraceae | |||
Nelumbites[13][14] |
|
Common occurrence in the lower shale bed | Typical leaves of the faimilyNelumbonaceae | |||
Paradoxopteris[11][13] | P. stromeri | Co-Dominant plant | Xerophytictree fernsuggestive of a dry tropical climate. | |||
Plumafolium?[13][14] | Indeterminate ( "Morphotype-18" ) | Few Specimens | A Monocot, probably related withLiliopsida | |||
Rogersia[11][13] | R. longifolia | Few Specimens | Likely lobes of a much bigger leaf ofSapindopsistype | |||
Typhaephyllum[11][13] | cf.T.sp. | Few Specimens | Interpreted as a monocot, probably related toTyphaceae | |||
Vitiphyllum[11][13] | V.aff.multifidum | Few Specimens | Some similarities withPabianiaof the familyLauraceae | |||
Weichselia[11] | W. reticulata | Dominant plant | Xerophytictree fernsuggestive of a dry tropical climate. |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcCatuneanu O., Khalifa M.A. & Wanas H.A. (2006)."Sequence stratigraphy of the Lower Cenomanian Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt"(PDF).Sedimentary Geology.190(1–4): 121–137.Bibcode:2006SedG..190..121C.doi:10.1016/j.sedgeo.2006.05.010.
- ^abcCatuneany et al., 2006, p.122
- ^abcdefghijWeishampel, 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.ISBN0-520-24209-2.
- ^Macgregor D.S. & Moody R.T.G. (1998)."Mesozoic and Cenozoic petroleum systems of North Africa".In Macgregor D.S.; Moody R.T.G.; Clark-Lowes D.D. (eds.).Petroleum geology of North Africa.Special Publications. Vol. 132. Geological Society. pp. 201–216.ISBN9781862390041.
- ^Khalifa M.A. & Catuneanu O. (2008). "Sedimentology of the fluvial and fluvio-marine facies of the Bahariya Formation (Early Cenomanian), Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt".Journal of African Earth Sciences.51(2): 89–103.Bibcode:2008JAfES..51...89K.doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2007.12.004.
- ^Tanner L.H. & Khalifa M.A. (2010). "Origin of ferricretes in fluvial-marine deposits of the Lower Cenomanian Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt".Journal of African Earth Sciences.56(4–5): 179–189.Bibcode:2010JAfES..56..179T.doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2009.07.004.
- ^Salem, Belal S.; Sallam, Hesham M.; El-Sayed, Sanaa; Thabet, Wael; Antar, Mohammed; Lamanna, Matthew C. (October 2019)."NEW DINOSAUR, PTEROSAUR, AND CROCODYLIFORM FOSSILS FROM THE UPPER CRETACEOUS (CENOMANIAN) BAHARIYA FORMATION OF THE BAHARIYA OASIS, EGYPT".Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- ^"Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 267.
- ^"Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 269.
- ^Salem, Belal S.; Lamanna, Matthew C.; O'Connor, Patrick M.; El-Qot, Gamal M.; Shaker, Fatma; Thabet, Wael A.; El-Sayed, Sanaa; Sallam, Hesham M. (2022)."First definitive record of Abelisauridae (Theropoda: Ceratosauria) from the Cretaceous Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt".Royal Society Open Science.9(6): 220106.Bibcode:2022RSOS....920106S.doi:10.1098/rsos.220106.PMC9174736.PMID35706658.
- ^abcdefghijklLejal-Nicol, A; Dominik, W. (1990). "Sur la paleoflore a Weichseliaceae et a angiospermes du Cenomanien de la region de Bahariya (Egypte du Sud-Ouest)".Berliner geowissenschaftliche Abhandlungen A.120(5): 957–991.
- ^Ijouhier, Jamale (2016) A reconstruction of the palaeoecology and environmental dynamics of the Bahariya Formation of Egypt.PeerJ Preprints,https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.2470v1
- ^abcdefghijklmnopEl Atfy, Haytham; Coiffard, Clément; El Beialy, Salah Y.; Uhl, Dieter (2023-01-30)."Vegetation and climate change at the southern margin of the Neo-Tethys during the Cenomanian (Late Cretaceous): Evidence from Egypt".PLOS ONE.18(1): e0281008.Bibcode:2023PLoSO..1881008E.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0281008.ISSN1932-6203.PMC9886267.PMID36716334.
- ^abcdeEl Atfy, Haytham; Coiffard, Clément; Uhl, Dieter; Spiekermann, Rafael; El Khoriby, Essam M.; Aleraky, Heba; Mohamed, Ahmed (2023)."A new florula dominated by angiosperms from the Cenomanian of Egypt".Cretaceous Research.149:105554.Bibcode:2023CrRes.14905554E.doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2023.105554.ISSN0195-6671.
- ^abLyon, M. A.; Johnson, K. R.; Wing, S. L.; Nichols, D. J.; Lacovara, K. J.; Smith, J. B. (2001)."Late Cretaceous equatorial coastal vegetation: new megaflora associated with dinosaur finds in the Bahariya Oasis, Egypt".Geological Society of America, Annual Meeting:198.