Ouled Abdoun Basin

Last updated
Ouled Abdoun Basin
Stratigraphic range: Cenomanian-Ypresian
~70.6–47.8  Ma
Ocepechelon bouyai geography stratigraphy.png
The Oulad Abdoun and other major phosphate basins (in yellow) of Morocco
Type Geological formation
Unit of Sedimentary Basins
Location
Coordinates 32°53′N6°55′W / 32.883°N 6.917°W / 32.883; -6.917
Region Béni Mellal-Khénifra, Khouribga
CountryFlag of Morocco.svg  Morocco
Morocco relief location map.jpg
Green-orange pog.svg
Ouled Abdoun Basin (Morocco)

The Oulad Abdoun Basin (also known as the Ouled Abdoun Basin or Khouribga Basin) is a phosphate sedimentary basin located in Morocco, near the city of Khouribga. It is the largest in Morocco, comprising 44% of Morocco's phosphate reserves, and at least 26.8 billion tons of phosphate. [1] [2] It is also known as an important site for vertebrate fossils, with deposits ranging from the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Turonian) to the Eocene epoch (Ypresian), a period of about 25 million years. [3]

Contents

Geography

The Oulad Abdoun is located west of the Atlas Mountains, near the city of Khouribga. The Oulad Abdoun phosphate deposits encompass some 100 by 45 kilometres (62 by 28 mi), an area of 4,500 square kilometres (1,700 sq mi). [2] The Oulad Abdoun is the largest and northernmost of Morocco's major phosphate basins, which from northeast to southwest, include the Ganntour, Meskala, and Oued Eddahab (Laayoune-Baa) basins. [1] [2]

Paleobiota

Chase on the beach.jpg
Ouled Abdoun Basin.png
Life restoration of Ouled Abdoun Basin paleoenvironments during the late Cretaceous: Sidi Chennae (left) and Sidi Daoui (right).
Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxonTaxon falsely reported as presentDubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

The Oulad Abdoun Basin stretches from the late Cretaceous to the Eocene and contains abundant marine vertebrate fossils, including sharks, bony fish, turtles, crocodilians, and other reptiles, as well as sea birds and a small number of terrestrial mammals. [3] [4]

Fish

Bony fish

Bony fish from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Acipenseridae [5] IndeterminateMaastrichtianFirst record of a sturgeon on the continent of Africa.
Enchodus E. libycusMaastrichtianAn enchodontid aulopiform. Enchodus petrosus.jpg
E. bursauxiMaastrichtian
E. elegansMaastrichtian
Eoserrasalmimus [6] E. cattoiMaastrichtianA pycnodontiform.
Mawsoniidae [7] IndeterminateMaastrichtianA giant mawsoniid coelacanth measuring 3.65–5.52 metres (12.0–18.1 ft) long.
Phacodus [8] P. punctatus var. africanusMaastrichtianA pycnodontiform.
Plethodidae [9] IndeterminateMaastrichtianYoungest occurrence of plethodid fish.
Pycnodontidae IndeterminateMaastrichtian
Pseudoegertonia P. sp.Maastrichtian
Serrasalmimus [6] S. secansThanetianA carnivorous pycnodontiform.
Stephanodus S. libycusMaastrichtian
Stratodus S. apicalisMaastrichtianAn alepisauroform. Stratodus DB12.jpg
Macroprosopon M. hiltoni [10] YpresianA marine osteoglossid.

Sharks

Sharks from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Abdounia [11] A. africanaSelandianA requiem shark.
Brachycarcharias B. atlasi [10] Ypresian
Casieria C. maghrebianaSelandian
Chiloscyllium C. salvani.SelandianA carpet shark.
Cretalamna C. appendiculataMaastrichtian LACM 128126 - Dentiton.png
C. maroccanaMaastrichtian
Delpitoscyllium D. africanumSelandian
Eostegostoma E. sp.SelandianA carpet shark.
Foumtizia F. abdouniSelandian
Galeorhinus G. mesetaensisSelandian
Ginglymostoma G. chenaneiSelandian
G. khouribgaenseSelandian
Hologinglymostoma H. jaegeriSelandian
Khouribgaleus K. gomphorhizaSelandian
Metlaouia M. delpitiSelandian
Microscyliorhinus M. simplexSelandian
Palaeogaleus P. laracheiSelandian
Palaeorhincodon P. daouiiSelandianA carpet shark.
Porodermoides P. spaniosSelandian
Premontreia P. peypouquetiSelandian
P. subulidensSelandian
Scyliorhinus S. ptychtusSelandian
S. entomodonSelandian
S. sulcidensSelandian
Serratolamna S. serrataMaastrichtian Cretoxyrhinidae - Serratolamns gasfana.JPG
S. khderiiMaastrichtian
Squalicorax S. pristodontusMaastrichtian Squalicorax2DB.jpg
S. bassaniiMaastrichtian
S. africanusMaastrichtian
S. microserratusMaastrichtian
S. benguerirensisMaastrichtian
Triakis T. antunesiSelandian

Other cartilaginous fish

Other cartilaginous cish from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Archaemanta A. priemiSelandianA ray.
Burnhamia B. cf. davisiSelandianA devil ray
Coupatezia C. lariveiSelandianA ray.
C. fallaxMaastrichtian
C. elevataMaastrichtian
Dasyatis D. ponsiSelandianA stingray. An indeterminate species found in Maastrichtian deposits of Ganntour Basin.
Delpitia D. reticulataSelandianA ray.
Gymnura G. delpitiSelandianA ray. Gymnura micrura .jpg
Heterobatis H. talbaouiiSelandianA ray.
Heterotorpedo H. brahimiSelandianA ray.
Hypolophodon H. sp.SelandianA ray.
Rhombodus R. binkhorstiMaastrichtianA ray. Rhombodontidae - Rhombodus meridionalis.JPG
R. microdusMaastrichtian
R. meridionalisMaastrichtian
Schizorhiza S. stromeriMaastrichtianA sclerorhynchoid skate which resembled a sawfish. Schizorhiza restoration.png

Reptiles

Crocodylomorphs

Crocodylomorphs from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Arambourgisuchus [12] A. khouribgaensisThanetianA dyrosaurid. Arambourgisuchus.jpg
Atlantosuchus A. coupateziDanianA dyrosaurid.
Chenanisuchus C. lateroculiThanetianThe most basal known dyrosaurid. Chenanisuchus BW.jpg
Dyrosaurus P. maghribensisYpresianA dyrosaur. Dyrosaurus mount.jpg
Maroccosuchus [13] M. zennaroiYpresianA tomistomine crocodylian.
Ocepesuchus [14] O. eoafricanusMaastrichtianA gavialoid crocodylian.

Lepidosaurs

Mosasaurs
Mosasaurs from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Carinodens C. minalmamarMaastrichtianA small mosasaurine mosasaur with crushing teeth. Carinodens belgicus 1.jpg
Eremiasaurus E. heterodontusMaastrichtianA mosasaurine mosasaur with unusual cutting dentition. Eremiasaurus SW.png
Gavialimimus [15] G. almaghribensisMaastrichtianAn unusual longirostrine plioplatecarpine mosasaur. Bian Zhang Cang Long Tou Gu .jpg
Globidens G. phosphaticusMaastrichtianA mosasaurine mosasaur with specialized crushing teeth. GlobidensDB2.jpg
G. simplexMaastrichtian
G. aegyptiacusMaastrichtianNow referred to its own genus, Igdamanosaurus.
Halisaurus H. arambourgiMaastrichtianA halisaurine mosasaur. Halisaurus arambourgi.jpg
Igdamanosaurus I. aegyptiacusMaastrichtian Igdamanosaurus.jpg
Khinjaria [16] K. acuta
  • Sidi Chennane
Maastrichtian
  • a partial skull and vertebra
A plioplatecarpine mosasaur.
Mosasaurus M. beaugeiMaastrichtianA large mosasaurine mosasaur. Mosasaurus 21copy.jpg
Pachyvaranus P. crassispondylusMaastrichtianA pachyvaranid
Platecarpus P. ptychodonMaastrichtianA nomen dubium. Now referred to its genus, Gavialimimus. Platecarpus1DB.jpg
Pluridens [17] P. serpentisMaastrichtianA large halisaurine mosasaur, also known from Niger and Nigeria. Pluridens serpentis skull by Nick Longrich.jpg
Prognathodon P. curriiMaastrichtianA large mosasaurine mosasaur. Prognathodon3.jpg
P. giganteusMaastrichtian
Stelladens [18] S. mysteriosusMaastrichtianA medium-sized mosasaurine with distinct, unique teeth structure. Stelladens teeth - Longrich et al 2023.png
Thalassotitan [19] T. atroxMaastrichtianA large-bodied mosasaurine with powerful jaws, similar to P. currii. Thalassotitan atrox MP.png
Xenodens [20] X. calminechariMaastrichtianA small mosasaurine mosasaur with unusual, shark-like teeth. Xenodens calminechari holotype prepared by Nick Longrich.jpg
Serpentes
Snakes from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Palaeophis [21] P. maghrebianusMaastrichtian?–YpresianA palaeophiid marine snake. Palaeophiidae - Palaeophis maghrebianus.JPG

Plesiosaurs

Plesiosaurs from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Zarafasaura Z. oceanisMaastrichtianAn elasmosaurid plesiosaur with an unusually short skull. Zarafasaura.jpg

Turtles

Turtles from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Alienochelys [22] A. selloumiMaastrichtianA sea turtle with crushing jaws. Alienochelys skull.jpg
Araiochelys [23] A. hirayamai
Argillochelys [24] A. africanaYpresianA pancheloniid sea turtle. Sheppey turtles.jpg
Bothremys [23] B. kellyiDanian-Thanetian
B. maghrebiana
Brachyopsemys B. tingitanaDanianA sandownid sea turtle
Euclastes E. acutirostrisDanian-ThanetianA pancheloniid sea turtle. An indeterminate species also present in the Maastrichtian deposits of Ganntour Basin. [25] Euclastes sp.jpg
E. wielandiDanian
Labrostochelys [23] L. galkiniDanian
Ocepechelon [26] O. bouyaiMaastrichtianA giant protostegid sea turtle with an unusual pipette-like snout. Ocepechelon bouyai skull lat.png
Puppigerus P. camperiYpresian Puppigerus camperi .jpg
Rhothonemys [23] R. brinkmaniDanian
Tasbacka T. ouledabdounensisDanian Tasbacka danica.JPG
Taphrosphys T. ippolitoiDanian
Ummulisani U. rutgersensisYpresian

Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Alcione [27] A. elainusMaastrichtianA nyctosaurid which shows possible adaptations towards diving behaviour. Alcione right humerus.PNG
Barbaridactylus B. grandisMaastrichtianA nyctosaurid. Barbaridactylus Humerus - Longrich et al 2018.PNG
Simurghia S. robustaMaastrichtianA nyctosaurid related to Alcione.
Phosphatodraco P. mauritanicusMaastrichtianAn azhdarchid. Phosphatodraco.jpg
cf Arambourgiania A. sp?MaastrichtianA giant azhdarchid, may belong to the Jordanian taxon Arambourgiania. Arambourgiania philadelphiae.png
AzhdarchidaeIndet.MaastrichtianA new taxon, currently unnamed.
Tethydraco T. regalisMaastrichtianA pterosaur of debated affinity; may be an azhdarchid or a pteranodontid. Tethydraco hindlimb elements.PNG

Dinosaurs

Late Maastrichtian dinosaurs of Ouled Abdoun Basin, including Minqaria, Ajnabia, Chenanisaurus, and several unnamed specimens Late Maastrichtian dinosaurs from the Moroccan Phosphates.png
Late Maastrichtian dinosaurs of Ouled Abdoun Basin, including Minqaria, Ajnabia, Chenanisaurus, and several unnamed specimens

Bird fossils are common in the Basin, which includes the oldest birds in Africa. [4] At least three orders and several families of sea birds are represented, including Procellariiformes (albatrosses and petrels, fossils assignable to Diomedeidae and Procellariidae), Pelecaniformes (pelicans and allies, fossils assignable to Phaethontidae, Prophaethontidae, Fregatidae and Pelagornithidae), and Anseriformes (waterfowl, including fossil Presbyornithidae). [4]

Ornithischians

Ornithischians from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Ajnabia [28] A. odysseus
  • Office Cherifien des Phosphates mines at Sidi Chennane
Maastrichtian
  • partial left maxilla with teeth
  • fragments of right maxilla
  • partial right dentary
A small lambeosaurine hadrosaur; the first known from Africa. Life reconstruction of Ajnabia odysseus.png
Lambeosaurinae [29] Indeterminate
  • Mrah Lahrach
Maastrichtian
  • right femur
A lambeosaurine larger than Ajnabia and Minqaria. Lambeosaurinae indet. (right femur).png
Lambeosaurinae [29] Indeterminate
  • Sidi Daoui
Maastrichtian
  • left humerus
A lambeosaurine larger than Ajnabia and Minqaria. Lambeosaurinae indet. (left humerus).png
Minqaria [29] M. bata
  • Sidi Chennane
Maastrichtian
  • right maxilla
  • left dentary
  • braincase
A lambeosaurine hadrosaur. Minqaria.png

Saurischians

Saurischians from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Abelisauridae [30] Indeterminate
  • Sidi Chennane
Maastrichtianright tibiaProbably distinct from Chenanisaurus due to its smaller size (about 5 m (16 ft) long) despite being mature. Similar to South American abelisaurids.
Abelisauridae [30] Indeterminate
  • Sidi Daoui
Maastrichtianright metatarsal IIA mature specimen but very small for an abelisaurid, about 2.6 m (8.5 ft) long
Chenanisaurus [31] C. barbaricus
  • Sidi Chennane
  • Sidi Daoui
Maastrichtian
  • anterior end of left dentary
  • 2 premaxillary teeth
  • a maxillary tooth
A large abelisaurid theropod. Chenanisaurus barbaricus.jpg
Titanosauria [31] IndeterminateMaastrichtian
  • right femur, tibia, and fibula
  • undescribed material
A new titanosaurian taxon, currently unnamed.
Dasornis D. tolapicaSelandianA pelagornithid, or pseudotooth bird. Dasornis emuinus 1.jpg
D. emuinusYpresian
Lithoptila [33] L. abdounensisThanetianA seabird related to modern tropicbirds.

Mammals

Afrotheres

Afrotheres from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Abdounodus [34] A. hamdiiThanetian-YpresianA lower jaw.An early afrotherian mammal. Abdounodus hamdii left dentary.jpg
Daouitherium [35] D. rebouliYpresianlower jaws and associated cheek teethAn early proboscidean. Daouitherium.png
Eritherium [36] E. azzouzorumThanetianAn early proboscidean.
Hadrogeneios [37] H. phosphaticusSelandian-ThanetianAn early afrotherian mammal.
Ocepeia [34] O. daouiensisSelandianPartial skull consists of an upper jaw and dental fragmentsAn early afrotherian mammal. Ocepeia head restoration PLoS ONE.png

Ocepeia grandis PM66 dentary2.png

O. grandisThanetianLower jaw and teeth.
Phosphatherium P. escuillieiSelandianAn early proboscidean. Phosphatherium - head restoration.tif
Stylolophus [38] S. minorYpresianAn embrithopod.
S. majorYpresian

Creodonts

Creodonts from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Boualitomus B. marocanensisSelandianA hyaenodont.
Lahimia [39] L. selloumiSelandianA hyaenodont.

Molluscs

Mollusca from the Khouribga Phosphates [40]
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Cucullaea (Idonearca)C. (I.) thevestensisA false ark shell.
HeligmopsisH. wegmanianus Maastrichtian A feather oyster also present in Ganntour basin.
VenericardiaV. coquandi Danian A carditid clam also present in Ganntour basin.
Baculites B. sp. Maastrichtian A straight-shelled ammonite, also present in Ganntour basin.
CimomiaC. aff. sudanensisYpresianA nautiloid also present in Ganntour basin.
AmpullinopsisA. crassatinaAn ampullinid gastropod.
HemithersiteaH. choubertiLutetianA thersiteid gastropod.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halisaurinae</span> Extinct subfamily of lizards

The Halisaurinae are a subfamily of mosasaurs, a group of Late Cretaceous marine lizards. They were small to medium-sized, ranging from just under 3 meters in Eonatator sternbergi to as much as 8 or 9 meters in Pluridens serpentis. They tended to have relatively slender jaws and small, numerous teeth, suggesting a diet of small fish and other prey. Although the skeleton is primitive compared to other Mosasauridae in many respects, halisaurines had the distinctive hypocercal tail of other mosasaurids suggesting good swimming ability, and they persisted alongside other mosasaurs until the end of the Cretaceous. The earliest known remains of halisaurines occur in rocks of Santonian age and the subfamily persists until the latest Maastrichtian. Halisaurines are known from North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa, indicating a more or less global distribution in the Late Cretaceous. Four genera are currently recognized: Eonatator, Halisaurus, Phosphorosaurus and Pluridens.

<i>Phosphatodraco</i> Late Cretaceous genus of pterosaur

Phosphatodraco is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous of what is now Morocco. In 2000, a pterosaur specimen consisting of five cervical (neck) vertebrae was discovered in the Ouled Abdoun Phosphatic Basin. The specimen was made the holotype of the new genus and species Phosphatodraco mauritanicus in 2003; the genus name means "dragon from the phosphates", and the specific name refers to the region of Mauretania. Phosphatodraco was the first Late Cretaceous pterosaur known from North Africa, and the second pterosaur genus described from Morocco. It is one of the only known azhdarchids preserving a relatively complete neck, and was one of the last known pterosaurs. Additional cervical vertebrae have since been assigned to the genus, and it has been suggested that fossils of the pterosaur Tethydraco represent wing elements of Phosphatodraco.

<i>Brachysaurana</i> Extinct genus of lizards

Brachysaurana is an extinct genus of marine lizard belonging to the mosasaur family. It is classified as part of the Mosasaurinae subfamily, alongside genera like Mosasaurus and Clidastes. Although traditionally synonymized with Prognathodon, recent cladistic studies do not find it closely related to the Prognathodon type species to the exclusion of other prognathodontin mosasaurines.

Ocepesuchus is an extinct genus of gavialoid crocodilian, related to modern gharials. Ocepesuchus is the oldest known crocodilian of Africa, and is known only from a single species, O. eoafricanus. It lived in Morocco during the late Maastrichtian age of the Late Cretaceous.

Eromangasaurus is an extinct genus of elasmosaurid known from northern Queensland of Australia.

<i>Zarafasaura</i> Extinct genus of reptiles

Zarafasaura is an extinct genus of elasmosaurid known from the Ouled Abdoun Basin of Morocco. As a relatively small elasmosaur, it would have measured around 3–4 metres (9.8–13.1 ft) long and weighed about 100 kilograms (220 lb).

<i>Phosphorosaurus</i> Extinct genus of lizards

Phosphorosaurus is an extinct genus of marine lizard belonging to the mosasaur family. Phosphorosaurus is classified within the Halisaurinae subfamily alongside the genera Pluridens, Eonatator, and Halisaurus.

Eremiasaurus is a genus of mosasaurs, an extinct group of marine reptiles. It lived during the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous in what is now North Africa. Only one species is known, E. heterodontus, described in 2012 from two remarkably complete fossil specimens discovered in the Ouled Abdoun Basin, Morocco. This site is known to have delivered a significant number of other related mosasaurs.

<i>Ocepeia</i> Extinct Afrotherian mammal

Ocepeia is an extinct genus of afrotherian mammal that lived in present-day Morocco during the middle Paleocene epoch, approximately 60 million years ago. First named and described in 2001, the type species is O. daouiensis from the Selandian stage of Morocco's Ouled Abdoun Basin. A second, larger species, O. grandis, is known from the Thanetian, a slightly younger stage in the same area. In life, the two species are estimated to have weighed about 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) and 10 kg (22 lb), respectively, and are believed to have been specialized leaf-eaters. The fossil skulls of Ocepeia are the oldest known afrotherian skulls, and the best-known of any Paleocene mammal in Africa.

<i>Chenanisaurus</i> Extinct genus of dinosaurs

Chenanisaurus is a genus of predatory abelisaurid dinosaur, with a single known species C. barbaricus. It comes from the upper Maastrichtian phosphates of the Ouled Abdoun Basin in Morocco, North Africa. The animal is known from a holotype, consisting of a partial jaw bone, and several isolated teeth found in the same beds. Chenanisaurus is one of the largest members of the Abelisauridae, and one of the last, being a contemporary of the North American Tyrannosaurus. It would have been among the dinosaur species wiped out by the Chicxulub asteroid impact and the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction that followed.

<i>Tethydraco</i> Genus of ornithocheiroid pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous

Tethydraco is a genus of pterodactyloid pterosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period of what is now the area of present Morocco, about 66 million years ago. Tethydraco was originally assigned to the family Pteranodontidae. Some researchers argued that subsequently described material suggests that it may have been an azhdarchid, and possibly synonymous with Phosphatodraco, though this has been disputed. The type and only species is T. regalis.

<i>Ajnabia</i> Extinct genus of reptiles

Ajnabia is a genus of lambeosaurine hadrosaur from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) of Morocco. It is the first definitive hadrosaur from Africa, and is thought to be related to European dinosaurs like Arenysaurus. The discovery of Ajnabia came as a surprise to the paleontologists who found it, because Africa was isolated by water from the rest of the world during the Cretaceous, such that hadrosaurs were assumed to have been unable to reach the continent. Ajnabia is relatively small and similar in size to its contemporary relative Minqaria, which is estimated to have reached 3.5 metres (11 ft) in total body length. Assuming that the holotype represents an adult, Ajnabia would be one of the smallest if not the smallest known hadrosaurids.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arenysaurini</span> Extinct tribe of dinosaurs

Arenysaurini is a proposed tribe of primitive lambeosaurine hadrosaurs. It is composed of genera found in Europe and North Africa during the end of the Cretaceous period, and has been suggested to unite all lambeosaurs from the former continent into a singular monophyletic group.

<i>Gavialimimus</i> Extinct genus of lizards

Gavialimimus is an extinct genus of plioplatecarpine mosasaur from the Maastrichtian of Morocco. The holotype MHNM.KHG.1231, an articulated skull and associated fragmentary postcrania, was found in the Ouled Abdoun Basin.

<i>Thalassotitan</i> Large bodied African mosasaur

Thalassotitan is an extinct genus of large mosasaurs that lived during the late Maastrichtian of the Cretaceous period in what is now Morocco, around 66 million years ago. The only known species is T. atrox, described in 2022 from fossils discovered in the Ouled Abdoun Basin, where many other mosasaurs have been found. It was assigned to the tribe Prognathodontini alongside other mosasaurs like Prognathodon and Gnathomortis. The prognathodontines are separated from other mosasaurs based on their massive jaws and robust teeth.

<i>Stelladens</i> Extinct genus of mosasaurine

Stelladens is an extinct genus of mosasaurine. Fossils of Stelladens have been recovered from the Late Cretaceous Ouled Abdoun Basin of Morocco. The genus contains a single species, S. mysteriosus. It was a medium-sized mosasaur, measuring about 5 metres (16 ft) long.

<i>Minqaria</i> Extinct genus of hadrosaurid dinosaurs

Minqaria is a genus of arenysaurinin lambeosaurine hadrosaur from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Ouled Abdoun Basin of Morocco. The genus contains a single species, M. bata, known from a partial skull.

Khinjaria is an extinct genus of plioplatecarpine mosasaurid from the Late Cretaceous Ouled Abdoun Basin of Morocco. The genus contains a single species, K. acuta, known from a partial skull and vertebra. Khinjaria was likely an apex predator in its environment, as its large body size, blade-like teeth, and unusual skull morphology would have allowed it to attack large prey animals.

Grand Daoui is a quarry in the Ouled Abdoun Basin of Morocco known for its fossils. It is the discovery place of Phosphatherium escuilliei, the earliest known proboscidean. It was the location for several field parties between 1997 and 2001, which allowed survey of the geological and paleontological context of Phosphatherium localities. It is also rich in marine vertebrae fossils. All Phosphatherium remains to date have been found in the quarry. The discovery of fossils there has aided in the study of early African placental fauna. The marine snake Palaeophis maghrebianus is also known from the locality, as well as the primitive gavialoid Argochampsa krebsi.

References

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