Aridal Formation
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The Aridal Formation in the Sahara Desert of southwestern Morocco is a fossil formation with rocks dating to the Lutetian - Priabonian (47.8 - 33.9 million years ago), preserving a middle Eocene shallow coastal environment.[1]
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| Aridal Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Middle Eocene, Lutetian–Priabonian | |
| |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Lithology | |
| Other | sandstone, marl |
| Location | |
| Country | Morocco |
The formation represents the world's richest Bartonian archaic whale assemblage, including protocetids and basilosaurids.[2]
Paleobiota
Birds
Includes the earliest occurrence of the genus Pelagornis, extending its fossil record back by at least 10 million years.[2]
| Taxa | Rock Unit | Age | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pelagornis sp. | Gueran | Bartonian |  |
| Pelagornithidae indet. | El Breij Unit II | Bartonian |
Mammals
Alongside a rich assemblage of archaic whale taxa including two additional unnamed protocetid species,[3] there are also possible remains of the earliest occurrence of Barytherium.[4]
| Taxa | Rock Unit | Age | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pappocetus lugardi | Gueran,[3]
Sabkha of Lebreij |
Bartonian |  |
| Eocetus schweinfurthi | Gueran,[3]
El Breij Unit II, El Breij Unit III |
Bartonian | |
| Chrysocetus fouadassii | Gueran[3] | Bartonian |  |
| Platyosphys aithai | Gueran[3] | Bartonian |  |
| ? Barytherium sp. | Gueran[4] | Bartonian |  |
Reptiles
There are at least three indeterminate species of turtles: two marine cryptodires, a cheloniid, a dermochelyid, and a possible littoral pleurodire. Two species of longirostrine crocodylians are present, including a gavialoid similar to Eogavialis africanum (which is typically known from younger strata), and one too fragmentary to identify beyond being a crocodyliform.[2]
| Taxa | Rock Unit | Age | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pterosphenus schweinfurthi | Gueran | Bartonian |  |
| Palaeophis africanus | El Breij, Unit I | Lutetian | |
| Palaeophiidae indet. | Sabkha of Lebreij | Bartonian | |
| Cordichelys antiqua | El Breij, Unit I | Lutetian | |
| Cheloniidae indet. | Gueran | Bartonian | |
| Dermochelyidae indet. | Gueran | Bartonian | |
| Pleurodira indet. | Gueran | Bartonian | |
| Gavialoidea indet. | Gueran | Bartonian | |
| Crocodyliformes indet. | Gueran | Bartonian | |
| Crocodylia indet. | El Breij Unit I,
Sabkha of Lebreij |
Lutetian |
Cartilaginous Fish
| Taxa | Rock Unit | Age | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galeocerdo eaglesomei | Gueran | Bartonian | |
| Pristis lathami | Gueran | Bartonian |  |
| Propristis schweinfurthi | Gueran | Bartonian | _(20937469632)_(cropped).jpg) |
| Macrorhizodus praecursor | Gueran | Bartonian |  |
| Hemipristis curvatus | Gueran | Bartonian | |
| Carcharias koerti | Gueran | Bartonian | |
| Otodus cf. sokolowi | Gueran | Bartonian | |
| Tethylamna cf. twiggsensis | Gueran | Bartonian | |
| Carcharhinus sp. | Gueran | Bartonian | |
| Abdounia sp. | Gueran | Bartonian | |
| Physogaleus sp. | Gueran | Bartonian |
Bony Fish
| Taxa | Rock Unit | Age | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cylindracanthus sp. | Gueran,
El Breij Unit I |
Bartonian, |  |