Quseir Formation

Last updated
Quseir Formation
Stratigraphic range: Campanian
~80–72  Ma
Type Geological formation
Sub-unitsMut & El Hindaw Members
Underlies Duwi Formation
OverliesUnconformity with Taref Formation
Thicknessat least 250 metres (820 ft)
Lithology
Primary Shale
Other Sandstone, siltstone, phosphorite
Location
Location Al Wadi al Jadid, New Valley
Coordinates 25°36′N29°06′E / 25.6°N 29.1°E / 25.6; 29.1
Approximate paleocoordinates 9°18′N24°54′E / 9.3°N 24.9°E / 9.3; 24.9
Region Kharga Oasis
CountryFlag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
Egypt relief location map.jpg
Lightgreen pog.svg
Quseir Formation (Egypt)

The Quseir Formation is a geological formation in the vicinity of the Kharga Oasis in Egypt. [1] It is Campanian in age. [2] The lithology largely consists of soft shale with hard bands of sandstone, siltstone and phosphorite. [3] The environment of deposition was nearshore to freshwater fluvio-lacustrine characterized by moist and aquatic habitats with a tropical warm-humid climate. It is conformably overlain by the marine late Campanian-Maastrichtian Duwi Formation, and unconformably overlies the Turonian Taref Formation. The sauropod dinosaurs Mansourasaurus and Igai are known from the formation, [4] [5] as well as the proximal fibula of an indeterminate theropod [6] and possible remains tentively assigned to Spinosaurus. [7] [8] Additionally the lungfish genera Lavocatodus and Protopterus , [9] the crocodyliform Wahasuchus [10] and the bothremydid turtle Khargachelys are also known. [11]

Contents

Fossil content

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.

Dinosaurs

Theropods including a proximal fibula and specimens tentatively assigned to Cenomanian theropod genera Spinosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus are now classified as Theropoda indet. [6] [12]

Sauropods

Sauropods of the Quseir Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMaterialNotesImages
Mansourasaurus [13] M. shahinaea fragment of the skull roof, a part of the lower braincase, the dentaries of the lower jaws, three neck vertebrae, two back vertebrae, eight ribs, the right scapula, the right coracoid, both humeri, a radius, a third metacarpal, three metatarsals, and parts of osteoderms.A lithostrotian sauropod
Mansourasaurus NT.jpg
Igai [14] I. semkhuA saltosaurid titanosaur
Igai semkhu.png

Fish

Boney Fish

Fish of the Quseir Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMaterialNotesImages
Lavocatodus [9] L. giganteus
L.? humei
L.? protopteroides
Protopterus [9] P. nigeriensis
Protopterus_dolloi_Boulenger2 Protopterus dolloi Boulenger2.jpg
Protopterus_dolloi_Boulenger2
A modern Protopterus species

Cartilaginous Fish


Crocodyliformes

Crocodyliformes of the Quseir Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMaterialNotesImages
Wahasuchus [15] W. egyptensisFossils of skull and jaw fragments, dorsal vertebrae, and fragmentary appendicular remainsA mesoeucrocodylian

Turtles

Turtles of the Quseir Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMaterialNotesImages
Khargachelys [11] K. caironensisA bothremydid turtle

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. Quseir Formation at Fossilworks.org
  2. Mahmoud, Magdy S. (April 2003). "Palynology and palaeoenvironment of the Quseir Formation (Campanian) from central Egypt". Journal of African Earth Sciences. 36 (3): 135–148. Bibcode:2003JAfES..36..135M. doi:10.1016/s0899-5362(03)00047-2. ISSN   1464-343X.
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  14. Gorscak, Eric; Lamanna, Matthew C.; Schwarz, Daniela; Díaz, Verónica Díez; Salem, Belal S.; Sallam, Hesham M.; Wiechmann, Marc Filip (2022-12-14). "A new titanosaurian (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Quseir Formation of the Kharga Oasis, Egypt". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 42 (6). doi: 10.1080/02724634.2023.2199810 . ISSN   0272-4634.
  15. Saber, Sara; Sertich, Joseph J.W.; Sallam, Hesham M.; Ouda, Khaled A.; O'Connor, Patrick M.; Seiffert, Erik R. (2018). "An enigmatic crocodyliform from the Upper Cretaceous Quseir Formation, central Egypt". Cretaceous Research. 90: 174–184. Bibcode:2018CrRes..90..174S. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2018.04.004.