Dinosaur Beds

Dinosaur Beds
Stratigraphic range: Barremian–Aptian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	Lupata Group
Sub-units	Lower Member, Upper Member
Underlies	Unconformity with Pliocene Chiwondo Beds
Overlies	Precambrian metamorphic basement
Thickness	Upper member is 210 m (690 ft) thick in vicinity of CD-9 locality
Lithology
Primary	Sandstone, siltstone, mudstone
Location
Coordinates	10°17′S34°02′E / 10.28°S 34.04°E / -10.28; 34.04
Region	Northern Region
Country	Malawi
Extent	Karonga District
Dinosaur Beds (Malawi)

The Dinosaur Beds is a geological formation in Malawi whose strata date back to the Early Cretaceous. The age of the deposit is poorly constrained, but is likely to date from the Barremian to Aptian. ^[1] Dinosaurs, turtles and crocodylomorphs remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation. ^[2] It is correlated with the Galula Formation in Tanzania. It consists of two members, a lower unfossiliferous member consisting of deep red stained sandstones, and an upper fossiliferous member consisting of white sands and grey to red mudstones and siltstones. The upper member is 210 m thick in the vicinity of the CD-9 locality. ^[3]

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

Sauropoda

Sauropods of the Dinosaur Beds
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Karongasaurus [4]	K. gittelmani				A titanosaurian sauropod.
Malawisaurus [5]	M. dixeyi				A lithostrotian titanosaur.

Theropoda

theropods of the Dinosaur Beds
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Theropoda Indet.	Indeterminate

Crocodyliformes

Crocodyliformes of the Dinosaur Beds
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Malawisuchus	M. mwakasyungutiensis					A candidodontid notosuchian.

Turtles

Turtles of the Dinosaur Beds
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Platycheloides	P. nyasae				A pelomedusid turtle.

Amphibians

Amphibians of the Dinosaur Beds
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Anura Indet.	Indetrminate

Crutaceans

Crustaceans of the Dinosaur Beds
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Hourcqia	H. sp.					A non-marine ostracod.

See also

• List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations
• List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Malawi

References

1. Widlansky, Sarah J.; Clyde, William C.; O'Connor, Patrick M.; Roberts, Eric M.; Stevens, Nancy J. (March 2018). "Paleomagnetism of the Cretaceous Galula Formation and implications for vertebrate evolution". Journal of African Earth Sciences. 139: 403–420. Bibcode:2018JAfES.139..403W. doi: 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2017.11.029 . ISSN   1464-343X.
2. 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.
3. WINKLER, DALE A.; GOMANI, ELIZABETH M.; JACOBS, LOUIS L. (2000). "COMPARATIVE TAPHONOMY OF AN EARLY CRETACEOUS SAUROPOD QUARRY, MALAWI, AFRICA". Paleont. Soc. Korea Special Publication. 4: 99–114.
4. Gomani, E.M. 2005. Sauropod dinosaurs from the Early Cretaceous of Malawi, Africa: Palaeontologia Electronica 8 (issue 1 - n. 27a): 37 pages.
5. Jacobs L. D. Winkler, Gomani E. (1993). "New material of an Early Cretaceous titanosaurid dinosaur from Malawi". Palaeontology. 36 (3): 523–534.