Echkar Formation

Summary

The Echkar Formation is a geological formation comprising sandstones and claystones in the Agadez Region of Niger, central Africa.

Echkar Formation
Stratigraphic range: Late Albian-Cenomanian
~100–95 Ma
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofTegama Group
UnderliesFarak Formation
OverliesElrhaz Formation
Lithology
PrimarySandstone
OtherClaystone
Location
Coordinates17°54′N 5°36′E / 17.9°N 5.6°E / 17.9; 5.6
Approximate paleocoordinates2°48′N 0°24′E / 2.8°N 0.4°E / 2.8; 0.4
RegionAgadez Region
Country Niger
ExtentIullemmeden Basin
Type section
Named forEchkar, Aderbissinat
Echkar Formation is located in Niger
Echkar Formation
Echkar Formation (Niger)

Description edit

Its strata date back to the Late Albian to Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian stages, about 100-95 million years ago). Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[1]

Fossil content edit

[2]

Vertebrates edit

Archosaurs
Genus Species Material Notes Images
Aegyptosaurus A. baharijensis  
Araripesuchus A. rattoides
 
Bahariasaurus B. ingens  
Carcharodontosaurus[3] C. iguidensis[4]
C. saharicus[2]
 
Ceratodus C. sp.  
Elaphrosaurus E. iguidiensis (=Theropoda indet.) Likely an indeterminate theropod.  
Elosuchus E. sp.  
Fortignathus F. felixi
Inosaurus I. tedreftensis
Kaprosuchus K. saharicus
 
Laganosuchus L. thaumastos
 
Lepidotes L. sp.  
Onchopristis O. numida  
Platyspondylus P. foureaui
Rebbachisaurus R. tamesnensis
R. sp.[citation needed]
 
Rugops R. primus
 
Spinosaurus S. aegyptiacus
 
?Stegosauria indet. No genus given. May not actually belong to Stegosauria.
Testudines indet. No genus given.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b In Abangarit-Tamesna at Fossilworks.org
  3. ^ Brusatte, S. and Sereno, P.C. (2005). "A new species of Carcharodontosaurus (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Cenomanian of Niger and its implications for allosauroid phylogeny." Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 25: 40A.
  4. ^ Brusatte, S.L. and Sereno, P.C. (2007). "A new species of Carcharodontosaurus (dinosauria: theropoda) from the Cenomanian of Niger and a revision of the genus." Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 27(4)

Bibliography edit

  • Young, Mark T.; Alexander K. Hastings; Ronan Allain, and Thomas J. Smith. 2017. Revision of the enigmatic crocodyliform Elosuchus felixi de Lapparent de Broin, 2002 from the Lower–Upper Cretaceous boundary of Niger: potential evidence for an early origin of the clade Dyrosauridae. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 179. 377–403. .

Further reading edit

  • A. F. d. Lapparent. 1953. Gisements de Dinosauriens dans le "Continental intercalaire" d'In Abangarit (Sahara méridional) [Dinosaur localities in the "Continental Intercalaire" of In Abangarit (southern Sahara)]. Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences à Paris 236:1905-1906
  • P. C. Sereno, J. A. Wilson, and J. L. Conrad. 2004. New dinosaurs link southern landmasses in the mid-Cretaceous. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 271(1546):1325-1330