Aïn el Guettar Formation
Geologic formation in Tunisia
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The Aïn el Guettar Formation is a geological formation in Tunisia, whose strata date back to the Late Aptian to Late Albian stages of the Cretaceous period.[1][2] The lithology consists of coarse sandstones with occasional conglomerates and mudstones.[3] Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[4]
| Aïn el Guettar Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Late Aptian-Late Albian ~ | |
| Type | Formation |
| Sub-units | Chenini & Oum ed Diab Members |
| Underlies | Zebbag Formation |
| Overlies | Douiret Formation |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Sandstone |
| Other | Conglomerate, mudstone |
| Location | |
| Location | Sahara Desert |
| Coordinates | 33.2°N 10.3°E |
| Approximate paleocoordinates | 15.9°N 10.3°E |
| Region | Tataouine |
| Country | Tunisia |
| Type section | |
| Named for | 'Aïn el Guettar |
  Aïn el Guettar Formation (Tunisia) | |
Stratigraphy
The Aïn el Guettar Formation is divided into at least 3 members, which represent different depositional environments. In ascending order these are: the Chenini Member, the Oum ed Diab Member and the Jebel El Mra Member.
Vertebrate paleofauna
The Ain el Guettar Formation during the Early Cretaceous period was a marsh-like habitat with swamps and plenty of water. The most famous dinosaur discoveries made here include Carcharodontosaurus and Spinosaurus.
| Dinosaurs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
| Carcharodontosaurus | C. saharicus[4] | A Carcharodontosaurid Theropod | .png) | ||
| Spinosaurus | cf. S.aegyptiacus [5] | A Spinosaurid theropod |  | ||
| Tataouinea | T. hannibalis[6] | A Nigersaurine Sauropod |  | ||
| Iguanodontidae[4] | Iguanodontidae indet. | ||||
| Sauropoda indet.[4] | Sauropoda indet. | ||||
| Abelisauridae | Abelisauride indet.[7][8] | ||||
| Carcharodontosauridae | Carcharodontosauridae indet.[7][9][8] | ||||
| Crocodylomorphs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
| Sarcosuchus[6] | cf. Sarchosuchus | A Pholidosaurid Crocodylomorph |  | ||
| Araripesuchus[4][10] | A.sp | A notosuchian crocodylomorph |  | ||
| Crocodyliformes | crocodyliformes indet.[8] | ||||
| Pterosaurs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
| Ornithocheiridae[11] | Ornithocheiridae indet. | ||||
