Bahariya Formation
{{Short description|Fossiliferous beds in North Africa}}
{{Infobox rockunit
| name = Bahariya Formation
| image = Bahariya Formation McAfee.jpg
| caption = Restoration of the environment and animals of the formation
| type = Geological formation
| period = Cenomanian
| age = Early Cenomanian
~{{fossil range|100|95}}
| prilithology = Sandstone
| otherlithology = Mudstone, siltstone
| namedfor = Bahariya Oasis
| namedby = Said
| year_ts = 1962
| region = Western Desert
| country = {{EGY}}
| coordinates = {{coord|28|24|20|N|28|48|20|E|region:EG_source:kolossus-frwiki|display=title}}
| underlies = El Heiz Fm., El Naqb Fm.Catuneany et al., 2006, p.122
| overlies = Basement
| thickness = ≈{{convert|100|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| map = {{Location map+ | Egypt
| relief = 1
| width = 250
| float = center
| places =
{{Location map~ | Egypt
| lat_deg = 28.405556
| lon_deg = 28.805556
| mark = Lightgreen pog.svg
| marksize = 12
}}
}}
}}
The Bahariya Formation (also transcribed as Baharija Formation) is a fossiliferous geologic formation dating back to the early Cenomanian, which outcrops within the Bahariya depression in Egypt, and is known from oil exploration drilling across much of the Western Desert where it forms an important oil reservoir.{{cite journal | url=http://www.wuestenschiff.de/dateien/bahariya.pdf | title=Sequence stratigraphy of the Lower Cenomanian Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt | author=Catuneanu O., Khalifa M.A. & Wanas H.A. | journal=Sedimentary Geology | year=2006 | volume=190 | issue=1–4 | pages=121–137 | doi=10.1016/j.sedgeo.2006.05.010| bibcode=2006SedG..190..121C }}Weishampel, David B; et al (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Cretaceous, Africa)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 604. {{ISBN|0-520-24209-2}}.{{cite book | chapter-url=http://sp.lyellcollection.org/content/132/1/201.abstract | title=Petroleum geology of North Africa|chapter=Mesozoic and Cenozoic petroleum systems of North Africa | publisher=Geological Society | author=Macgregor D.S. & Moody R.T.G. |series=Special Publications|volume=132|editor=Macgregor D.S. |editor2=Moody R.T.G. |editor3=Clark-Lowes D.D.| year=1998 | pages=201–216 | isbn=9781862390041}}
Extent
File:Geological map of the Bahariya Oasis.PNG
The Bahariya Formation forms the base of the depression, the lower part of the enclosing escarpment and all of the small hills within.{{cite journal | title=Sedimentology of the fluvial and fluvio-marine facies of the Bahariya Formation (Early Cenomanian), Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt | author=Khalifa M.A. & Catuneanu O. | journal=Journal of African Earth Sciences | year=2008 | volume=51 | issue=2 | pages=89–103 | doi=10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2007.12.004| bibcode=2008JAfES..51...89K }} The type section for the formation is found at Gebel El-Dist, a hill at the northern end of the Bahariya depression.{{cite journal|title=Origin of ferricretes in fluvial-marine deposits of the Lower Cenomanian Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt |author=Tanner L.H. & Khalifa M.A. |journal=Journal of African Earth Sciences |year=2010 |volume=56 |issue=4–5 |pages=179–189 |doi=10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2009.07.004 |bibcode=2010JAfES..56..179T }}
Stratigraphy and sedimentology
Four depositional sequences have been recognised in the Bahariya Formation in the Bahariya depression, separated by three sub-aerial unconformities. The formation was deposited during a period of relative rise in sea level, with each unconformity representing a relative fall in sea level. Each of the individual sequences contains sediments deposited under fluvial, shoreline and shallow marine conditions.
[[Microfauna]] and [[Meiofauna]]
= Foraminifera =
class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%" |
colspan="7" align="center" |Foraminifera of the Bahariya Formation |
---|
Genus
! Species |
Charentia
| C. cuvillieri |
Favusella
| F. washitensis |
Mayncina
| M. orbignyi |
Rotalipora
| R. cushmani |
Thomasinella
| T. aegyptia |
Whiteinella
| W. archaeocretacea |
= Other microorganisms =
class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%" |
colspan="7" align="center" |Other microorganisms of the Bahariya Formation |
---|
Genus
! Species ! Images |
Botryococcus
| | rowspan="15" |File:Botryococcus_braunii.jpg]]File:Pediastrum_duplex_wagner.jpg]] |
Coronifera
| C. oceanica |
Cyclonephelium
| C. edwardsii |
Dynopterigium
| D. cladoides |
Exochosphaeridium
| |
Florentinia
| F. cooksoniae |
Kallosphaeridium
| |
Mudrongia
| M. simplex |
Palaeoperidinium
| P. cretaceum |
Pediastrum
| |
Pseudoceratium
| P. anaphrisum |
Scenedesmus
| |
Spiniferites
| |
Subtilisphaera
| S. perlucida |
Xiphophoridium
| X. alatum |
Invertebrates
= Molluscs =
class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%" |
colspan="7" align="center" |Molluscs of the Bahariya Formation |
---|
Genus
! Species ! Notes ! Images |
Baculites
| | A heteromorph ammonite with a nearly straight shell. | rowspan="7" | File:Baculites_grandis_shell.JPG.]] |
Cardium
| | A cockle. |
Exogyra
| | A reef-forming true oyster associated with solid substrates and warm temperatures. |
Gastrochaena
| |
Neolobites
| N. vibrayeanus | A typical rolled ammonite. |
Nucula
| | A small saltwater clam. |
Ostrea
| O. flabeata | An edible oyster. |
= Crustaceans (Ostracoda)=
class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%" |
colspan="7" align="center" |Crustaceans of the Bahariya Formation |
---|
Genus
! Species ! Notes ! Images |
Amphicytherura
| A. sexta | |
Anticythereis
| A. gaensis | |
Bairdia
| B. bassiounii | |
Brachycythere
| B. ledaforma porosa | |
Bythoceratina
| B. avnonensis | |
Bythocypris
| B. eskeri | |
Cythereis
| C. algeriana | |
Cytherella
| C. ovata | |
Fabanella
| | |
Looneyella
| L. sohni | |
Loxoconcha
| L. clinocosta | |
Metacytheropteron
| M. berbericum | |
Ovocytheridea
| O. caudata | |
Paracypris
| P. acutocaudata | |
Pterygocythere
| P. raabi | |
Veeniacythereis
| V. jezzineensis | |
Xestoleberis
| X. obesa | |
= Insects =
Direct fossils are sparse, though plant leaves with extensive damage from folivorous insects have been documented.
Vertebrates
= Cartilaginous fish =
{{paleobiota-key-compact}}
class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%" |
colspan="5" align="center" |Chondrichthyes of the Bahariya Formation |
---|
Genus
! Species ! Abundance ! Notes ! Images |
Aegyptobatus
| A. kuehnei | | A sclerorhynchiform. | rowspan="20" |File:Gymnura_aaustralis_csiro-nfc.jpg.]] |
Asteracanthus
| A. aegyptiacus | |
Baharipristis
| B. bastetiae | | A sclerorhynchiform. |
Cretodus
| C. longiplicatus | | A shark. |
Cretolamna
| C. appendiculata | | A mackerel shark. |
Distobatus
| D. nutiae | | A sclerorhynchiform. |
Gymnura
| G. laterialata | | A butterfly ray. |
Haimirichia
| H. amonensis | | A shark previously classified in the genera Odontaspis, Serratolamna, and Carcharias. |
Isidobatus
| I. tricarinatus | | A sclerorhynchiform. |
Marckgrafia
| M. lybica | | A sclerorhynchiform. |
Onchopristis
| O. numida | One complete cranium and associated vertebrae. | A sclerorhynchid rajoid. |
Peyeria
| P. libyca | | A sclerorhynchiform. |
Ptychotrygon
| P. henkeli | | A sclerorhynchiform. |
Renpetia
| R. labiicarinata | | A sclerorhynchiform. |
Rhinoptera
| | |
Schizorhiza
| S. stromeri | | An unusual sclerorhynchid sawfish that retained its rostral teeth after they were replaced. |
Squalicorax
| S. baharijensis | | A large shark. |
Scapanorhynchus
| S. subulatus | | A mitsukurinid similar to the modern goblin shark. |
Squatina
| | | An angelshark. |
Tribodus
| T. aschersoni | | A hybodont. |
= Bony fish =
{{paleobiota-key-compact}}
= Testudines =
class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%" |
colspan="5" align="center" |Testudines of the Bahariya Formation |
---|
Genus
! Species ! Abundance ! Notes ! Images |
Apertotemporalis
| A. baharijensis | | A small pleurodiran turtle, likely belonging to Bothremydidae. Other unnamed species are also present. | |
= Squamates =
class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%" |
colspan="5" align="center" |Squamates of the Bahariya Formation |
---|
Genus
! Species ! Abundance ! Notes ! Images |
Simoliophis
| | Abundant | First known sea snake, with functional hind legs. Now believed to include elements from different species and at least one of a different, unnamed genus. | |
= Plesiosaurs =
{{paleobiota-key-compact}}
class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%" |
colspan="5" align="center" |Plesiosaurs of the Bahariya Formation |
---|
Genus
! Species ! Abundance ! Notes ! Images |
style="background:#f3e9f3;"
| L. capensis | | A small plesiosaur that visited brackish or fresh water systems. Though known from both South Africa and England, the Egyptian material lacks diagnostic traits of the genus and is now referred as Polycotylidae incertae sedis. |
= Crocodyliformes =
{{paleobiota-key-compact}}
class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%" |
colspan="5" align="center" |Crocodyliformes of the Bahariya Formation |
---|
Genus
! Species ! Abundance ! Notes ! Images |
Aegyptosuchus
| A. peyeri | | A poorly known, possibly stomatosuchid crocodile. | rowspan="5" |File:August_1,_2012_-_Hamadasuchus_rebouli_Skull_on_Display_at_the_Royal_Ontario_Museum_(ROM_52620).jpg]] |
Hamadasuchus
|H. rebouli | | A terrestrial, dog-like peirosaurid. It is possible that some material previously attributed to Libycosuchus actually belongs to this species. |
Libycosuchus
| L. brevirostris | | A terrestrial crocodile of uncertain affinities, possibly related to Notosuchus. |
Stomatosuchus
| S. inermis | A complete cranium | A large, flat-headed stomatosuchid with multiple small conical teeth, and possibly a pelican-like throat pouch. The only remains were destroyed in World War II. |
style="background:lightgrey;"
| S. aegyptiacus | Fragmentary remains | Nomen dubium assigned to material found in 1911, that were badly damaged in 1922 while being shipped to Germany for study. Some material may belong to Aegyptosuchus and other to Stomatosuchus. |
= Pterosaurs =
{{paleobiota-key-compact}}
class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%" |
colspan="5" align="center" |Pterosaurs of the Bahariya Formation |
---|
Genus
! Species ! Material ! Notes ! Images |
Pterosauria indet.{{Cite journal |last1=Salem |first1=Belal S. |last2=Sallam |first2=Hesham M. |last3=El-Sayed |first3=Sanaa |last4=Thabet |first4=Wael |last5=Antar |first5=Mohammed |last6=Lamanna |first6=Matthew C. |date=October 2019 |title=NEW DINOSAUR, PTEROSAUR, AND CROCODYLIFORM FOSSILS FROM THE UPPER CRETACEOUS (CENOMANIAN) BAHARIYA FORMATION OF THE BAHARIYA OASIS, EGYPT |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344722122 |journal=Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia}}
| Indeterminate | Left first wing phalanx | A medium-sized pterosaur. The first record of a pterosaur from Egypt. |
= Dinosaurs =
== Sauropods ==
{{paleobiota-key-compact}}
class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%" |
colspan="5" align="center" |Sauropods of the Bahariya Formation |
---|
Genus
! Species ! Material ! Notes ! Images |
Aegyptosaurus
| Partial postcranial skeleton"Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 267. | A titanosaur of about 15 meters. All remains were destroyed in World War II. | rowspan="3" |File:Aegyptosaurus LM.png]] File:dicraeosaurus hansemanni22.jpg]] |
style="background:#f3e9f3;"
| D. hansemanni | Isolated scapula and vertebra | Identified by Stromer in 1932. Subsequently considered a rebbachisaurid, or a third, unnamed titanosaur. |
Paralititan
| Partial postcranial skeleton"Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 269. | One of the largest titanosaurs of the Cretaceous, with a 1.69 meters long humerus and an estimated total length of 26 meters. |
== Theropods ==
{{paleobiota-key-compact}}
In addition, there are isolated theropod teeth disputedly assigned to dromaeosaurids, or to abelisaurids.
Flora
Thirty different genera are known from Bahariya, including megaflora. Much of the material is yet to be described.{{Cite journal |last1=Lejal-Nicol |first1=A |last2=Dominik |first2=W. |date=1990 |title=Sur la paleoflore a Weichseliaceae et a angiospermes du Cenomanien de la region de Bahariya (Egypte du Sud-Ouest) |journal=Berliner geowissenschaftliche Abhandlungen A |volume=120 |issue=5 |pages=957–991}}Ijouhier, Jamale (2016) A reconstruction of the palaeoecology and environmental dynamics of the Bahariya Formation of Egypt. PeerJ Preprints, https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.2470v1 Other taxa include Sapindales, Piperaceae, Lauraceae, Platanaceae, Magnoliopsida, Nymphaeaceae, Cornaceae, Proteaceae and Vitaceae not identified at genus level; and miospore and pollen species.{{Cite journal |last1=El Atfy |first1=Haytham |last2=Coiffard |first2=Clément |last3=El Beialy |first3=Salah Y. |last4=Uhl |first4=Dieter |date=2023-01-30 |title=Vegetation and climate change at the southern margin of the Neo-Tethys during the Cenomanian (Late Cretaceous): Evidence from Egypt |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=e0281008 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0281008 |doi-access=free |pmid=36716334 |pmc=9886267 |bibcode=2023PLoSO..1881008E |issn=1932-6203}}{{Cite journal |last1=El Atfy |first1=Haytham |last2=Coiffard |first2=Clément |last3=Uhl |first3=Dieter |last4=Spiekermann |first4=Rafael |last5=El Khoriby |first5=Essam M. |last6=Aleraky |first6=Heba |last7=Mohamed |first7=Ahmed |date=2023 |title=A new florula dominated by angiosperms from the Cenomanian of Egypt |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2023.105554 |journal=Cretaceous Research |volume=149 |pages=105554 |doi=10.1016/j.cretres.2023.105554 |bibcode=2023CrRes.14905554E |issn=0195-6671}}
class="wikitable" align="center" | ||||
colspan="7" align="center" | Vascular Plants | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Abundance | Notes | Images |
style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Agathis{{Cite journal |last1=Lyon |first1=M. A. |last2=Johnson |first2=K. R. |last3=Wing |first3=S. L. |last4=Nichols |first4=D. J. |last5=Lacovara |first5=K. J. |last6=Smith |first6=J. B. |date=2001 |title=Late Cretaceous equatorial coastal vegetation: new megaflora associated with dinosaur finds in the Bahariya Oasis, Egypt |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235708368 |journal=Geological Society of America, Annual Meeting |pages=198}}
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" |A/W spp. |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Few Specimens |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | An Araucarian conifer, now restricted to Australasia. | rowspan="18" style="background:#D1FFCF;" | File:Cladophlebis_asiatica_IMG_5157_Beijing_Museum_of_Natural_History.jpg]] | ||||
style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Araliaephyllum?
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Indeterminate ("Morphotype-14") |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Few Specimens |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Suggested to be related with Lauraceae | ||||
style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Cladophlebis
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" |C. spp. |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Few Specimens |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Fern Laflets | ||||
style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Cornophyllum
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" |C. distense |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Few Specimens |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Suggested to be related with Cornaceae | ||||
style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Cinnamophyllum?
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Indeterminate ("Morphotype-12") |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Few Specimens |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Suggested to be related with Lauraceae | ||||
style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Eucalyptolaurus/"Myrtophyllum”(?)
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Indeterminate ("Morphotype-08") |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Few Specimens |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Specimens of the family Lauraceae | ||||
style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Laurophyllum
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" |L. africanum |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Few Specimens |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Specimens of the family Lauraceae | ||||
style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Liriophyllum
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" |L. farafraense |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Few Specimens |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Specimens of the family Magnoliaceae | ||||
style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Marsilea
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" |aff. Marsilea spp. |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Few Specimens |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Water fern. | ||||
style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Magnoliid
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" |
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Few Specimens |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Shows festooned brochidodromous venation | ||||
style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Magnoliaephyllum
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" |
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Few Specimens |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Possible affinities with Lauraceae | ||||
style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Nelumbites
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" |
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Common occurrence in the lower shale bed |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Typical leaves of the faimily Nelumbonaceae | ||||
style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Paradoxopteris
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" |P. stromeri |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Co-Dominant plant |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Xerophytic tree fern suggestive of a dry tropical climate. | ||||
style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Plumafolium?
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Indeterminate ("Morphotype-18") |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Few Specimens |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |A Monocot, probably related with Liliopsida | ||||
style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Rogersia
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" |R. longifolia |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Few Specimens |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Likely lobes of a much bigger leaf of Sapindopsis type | ||||
style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Typhaephyllum
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" |cf. T. sp. |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Few Specimens |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Interpreted as a monocot, probably related to Typhaceae | ||||
style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Vitiphyllum
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" |V. aff. multifidum |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Few Specimens |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Some similarities with Pabiania of the family Lauraceae | ||||
style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Weichselia
|style="background:#D1FFCF;" | W. reticulata |style="background:#D1FFCF;" |Dominant plant |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Xerophytic tree fern suggestive of a dry tropical climate. |