Adaffa Formation

Adaffa Formation
Stratigraphic range: Campanian ~72  Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	Suqah Group
Underlies	Unconformity with Lower Miocene Al Wajh Formation
Overlies	Proterozoic granite basement
Thickness	Up to 200 m (660 ft)
Lithology
Primary	Sandstone, siltstone, marl
Other	Conglomerate
Location
Location	Midyan Peninsula, Tabuk Region
Coordinates	27°18′N35°42′E / 27.3°N 35.7°E / 27.3; 35.7
Approximate paleocoordinates	9°42′N29°12′E / 9.7°N 29.2°E / 9.7; 29.2
Region	Arabian Peninsula
Country	Saudi Arabia
Adaffa Formation (Saudi Arabia)

The Adaffa Formation is a geological formation in Saudi Arabia, and the lowermost unit of the Suqah Group. It dates back to the Campanian of the Late Cretaceous. The lithology consists of sandstone, siltstone and marl, with a basal granitic conglomerate with phosphatic nodules. Also present are ferricrete horizons. It was deposited in marginal marine conditions close to land. Fish, ^[1] marine reptile ^[2] and dinosaur ^[3] remains have been recovered from the formation.

Fossil content

Color key Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon		Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Dinosaurs

Sauropods

Sauropods of the Adaffa Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Image
Titanosauria Indet.	Indeterminate	Arabian Peninsula	Campanian	Seven Caudal Vertebrae, Seemingly from the Same Individual	A titanosaurian sauropod

Theropods

Theropods of the Adaffa Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Image
Abelisauridae Indet.	Indeterminate	Arabian peninsula	Campanian	Two teeth	A abelisaurid theropod

Crocodylomorphs

Crocodylomorphs of the Adaffa Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Image
Dyrosauridae Indet.	Indeterminate	Arabian Peninsula	Campanian	Two vertebrae	A dyrosaurid neosuchian
Crocodyliformes Indet.	Indeterminate	Arabian Peninsula	Campanian	Cranial fragment	A Indeterminate crocodyliform

Turtles

Turtles of the Adaffa Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Image
Bothremydidae Indet.	Indeterminate	Arabian Peninsula	Campanian	Shell fragments and a femur	A bothremydid side-necked turtle

Squamates

Squamates of the Adaffa Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Image
Prognathodon	Indeterminate	Arabian Peninsula	Campanian	Teeth	A prognathodontin mosasaurine
cf. Pachyvaranus	Indeterminate	Arabian Peninsula	Campanian	Vertebrae	A aquatic pachyvaranid varanoid
Mosasauridae Indet.	Indeterminate	Arabian Peninsula	Campanian	Pygal vertebra	An indeterminate mosasaurid
Plioplatecarpinae Indet.	Indeterminate	Arabian Peninsula	Campanian	Dorsal vertebra	A plioplatecarpine mosasaurid

Plesiosaurs

Plesiosaurs of the Adaffa Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Image
Elasmosauridae Indet.	Indeterminate	Arabian Peninsula	Campanian	Rostral portion of a skull	A elasmosaurid plesiosaur

Fish

Fishes of the Adaffa Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Image
Ceratodus	Indeterminate	Arabian Peninsula	Campanian	Toothplates	A ceratodontid lungfish
cf. Enchodus	Indeterminate	Arabian Peninsula	Campanian	Teeth	A enchodontid aulopiform
cf. Protosphyraena	Indeterminate	Arabian Peninsula	Campanian	Teeth	A pachycormid pachycormiform
?Anacoracidae Indet.	Indeterminate	Arabian Peninsula	Campanian	Vertebrae	A anacoracid lamniform
Lepisosteidae Indet.	Indeterminate	Arabian Peninsula	Campanian	Vertebral centra	A gar
Pycnodontiformes Indet.	Indeterminate	Arabian Peninsula	Campanian	Teeth	A pycnodont

References

1. Kear, Benjamin P.; Rich, Thomas H.; Ali, Mohammed A.; Al-Mufarrih, Yahya A.; Matiri, Adel H.; Al-Masary, Abdu M.; Attia, Yousry (October 2009). "An Upper Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian) actinopterygian fish assemblage from the marginal marine Adaffa Formation of Saudi Arabia". Cretaceous Research. 30 (5): 1164–1168. Bibcode:2009CrRes..30.1164K. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2009.05.002. ISSN   0195-6671.
2. Kear, B. P.; Rich, T. H.; Ali, M. A.; Al-Mufarrih, Y. A.; Matiri, A. H.; Masary, A. M.; Attia, Y. (September 2008). "Late Cretaceous (Campanian—Maastrichtian) marine reptiles from the Adaffa Formation, NW Saudi Arabia". Geological Magazine. 145 (5): 648–654. Bibcode:2008GeoM..145..648K. doi:10.1017/S0016756808005062. ISSN   1469-5081. S2CID   128412516.
3. Kear, Benjamin P.; Rich, Thomas H.; Vickers-Rich, Patricia; Ali, Mohammed A.; Al-Mufarreh, Yahya A.; Matari, Adel H.; Al-Massari, Abdu M.; Nasser, Abdulaziz H.; Attia, Yousry (2013-12-26). "First Dinosaurs from Saudi Arabia". PLOS ONE. 8 (12) e84041. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...884041K. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084041 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   3873419 . PMID   24386326.