Bahariya Formation
Bahariya Formation
Stratigraphic range : Early Cenomanian ~100–95 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Underlies El Heiz Fm., El Naqb Fm.
Thickness ≈100 m (330 ft)
Lithology
Location
Coordinates 28°24′20″N 28°48′20″E/28.40556°N 28.80556°E/ 28.40556; 28.80556
Type section
Named by Said
Year defined 1962
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 .
Extent Geological map The Bahariya Formation forms the base of the depression, the lower part of the enclosing escarpment and all of the small hills within. The type section for the formation is found at Gebel El-Dist, a hill at the northern end of the Bahariya depression.
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 Foraminifera of the Bahariya FormationGenus Species Charentia C. cuvillieri Favusella F. washitensis Mayncina M. orbignyi Rotalipora R. cushmani R. reicheli Thomasinella T. aegyptia T. fragmentaria T. punica Whiteinella W. archaeocretacea
Other microorganisms Other microorganisms of the Bahariya Formation Genus Species Images Botryococcus Botryococcus Pediastrum Scenedesmus Coronifera C. oceanica Cyclonephelium C. edwardsii C. vannophorum Dynopterigium D. cladoides Exochosphaeridium Florentinia F. cooksoniae F. mantlii Kallosphaeridium Mudrongia M. simplex Palaeoperidinium P. cretaceum Pediastrum Pseudoceratium P. anaphrisum P. securigerum Scenedesmus Spiniferites Subtilisphaera S. perlucida S. senegalensis Xiphophoridium X. alatum
Invertebrates Molluscs Molluscs of the Bahariya FormationGenus Species Notes Images Baculites A heteromorph ammonite with a nearly straight shell. Baculites .Cardium A cockle . Exogyra A reef -forming true oyster associated with solid substrates and warm temperatures. Gastrochaena A saltwater clam . Neolobites N. vibrayeanus A typical rolled ammonite. Nucula A small saltwater clam. Ostrea O. flabeata An edible oyster.
Crustaceans (Ostracoda) Crustaceans of the Bahariya FormationGenus Species Notes Images Amphicytherura A. sexta Anticythereis A. gaensis Bairdia B. bassiounii B. elongata Brachycythere B. ledaforma porosa Bythoceratina B. avnonensis B. tamarae Bythocypris B. eskeri Cythereis C. algeriana C. bicornis levis C. canteriolata Cytherella C. ovata C. paenovata C. parallela C. sulcata Fabanella Looneyella L. sohni Loxoconcha L. clinocosta L. fletcheri Metacytheropteron M. berbericum Ovocytheridea O. caudata O. producta O. reniformis Paracypris P. acutocaudata P. angusta P. mdaouerensis P. triangularis 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 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.Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Chondrichthyes of the Bahariya FormationGenus Species Abundance Notes Images Aegyptobatus A. kuehnei A sclerorhynchiform . Modern Gymnura Onchopristis Rhinoptera Scapanorhynchus Squalicorax Squatina Asteracanthus A. aegyptiacus A hybodont shark . 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 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 A batoid ray . Scapanorhynchus S. subulatus A mitsukurinid similar to the modern goblin shark . Schizorhiza S. stromeri Specimens are actually from the younger Ain Giffara Formation. Squalicorax S. baharijensis Abundant. A large shark. Squatina An angelshark . Tribodus T. aschersoni A hybodont.
Bony fish 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.Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Osteichthyes of the Bahariya FormationGenus Species Abundance Notes Images Bawitius B. bartheli A giant bichir . Ceratodus Enchodus Lepidotes Mawsonia Neoceratodus Saurodon Concavotectum C. moroccensis Possibly synonymous with Paranogmius doederleini . Ceratodus A lungfish . Coelodus A pycnodontid . Enchodus One tooth. A predatory fish. Lepidotes Isolated scales. Possibly misidentified from Bawitius bartheli Mawsonia M. lybica Considered a "signature taxon" of the formation. A giant freshwater coelacanth . Species assignation deemed provisional due to the lack of neotype . Neoceratodus N. africanus A lungfish related to the living Australian species. Obaichthys O. africanus An obaichthyid lepisosteiform . Remains formerly attributed to "Stromerichthys ". Palaeonotopterus P. greenwoodi Nomen conservandum Plethodus species previously described.Paranogmius Paranogmius doederleini One vertebra. Holotype lost in World War II . Could be synonymous with Concavotectum moroccensis .Plethodus P. libycus P. tibniensis Holotypes destroyed in World War II, but now believed to have been misidentified Palaeonotopterus greenwoodi . Retodus R. tuberculatus A lungfish species identified from remains previously assigned to Neoceratodus Saurodon Identified by Stromer in 1936, but now rejected due to this genus appearing only in post-Cenomanian Europe and North America. Now listed as Ichthyodectidae incertae sedis Stromerichthys S. aethiopicus A fish initially identified as a bowfin relative, but now thought to be a chimera consisting of remains assignable to Bawitius Obaichthys
Testudines Testudines of the Bahariya FormationGenus Species Abundance Notes Images Apertotemporalis A. baharijensis A small pleurodiran turtle, likely belonging to Bothremydidae . Other unnamed species are also present. cf. Araripemydidae indeterminate cf. Bothremydidae indeterminate cf. Chelonioidea indeterminate
Squamates Squamates of the Bahariya FormationGenus 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 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.Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Plesiosaurs of the Bahariya FormationGenus Species Abundance Notes Images Leptocleidus 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 Leptocleidus
Crocodyliformes 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.Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Crocodyliformes of the Bahariya FormationGenus Species Abundance Notes Images Aegyptosuchus A. peyeri A poorly known, possibly stomatosuchid crocodile. Hamadasuchus Stomatosuchus Hamadasuchus H. rebouli A terrestrial, dog-like peirosaurid . It is possible that some material previously attributed to Libycosuchus 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. Stromerosuchus S. aegyptiacus Fragmentary remains Nomen dubium Germany for study. Some material may belong to Aegyptosuchus Stomatosuchus
Pterosaurs 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.Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Pterosaurs of the Bahariya FormationGenus Species Material Notes Images Pterosauria indet.Indeterminate Left first wing phalanx A medium-sized pterosaur. The first record of a pterosaur from Egypt.
Dinosaurs Sauropods 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.Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Sauropods of the Bahariya FormationGenus Species Material Notes Images Aegyptosaurus A. baharijensis Partial postcranial skeleton A titanosaur of about 15 meters. All remains were destroyed in World War II. Aegyptosaurus Dicraeosaurus Paralititan Dicraeosaurus D. hansemanni Isolated scapula and vertebra Identified by Stromer in 1932. Subsequently considered a rebbachisaurid , or a third, unnamed titanosaur. Paralititan P. stromeri Partial postcranial skeleton One of the largest titanosaurs of the Cretaceous, with a 1.69 meters long humerus and an estimated total length of 26 meters.
Theropods 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.Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Theropods of the Bahariya FormationGenus Species Abundance Notes Images Abelisauridae indet.Indeterminate "MUVP 477, an isolated caudal (tenth) cervical vertebra" A medium-sized abelisaurid, estimated around 5.77 meters (~18.9 feet) long. The first unambiguous abelisaurid known from the Bahariya Formation. Abelisauridae indet. Bahariasaurus Tameryraptor Spinosaurus Bahariasaurus B. ingens A large-sized theropod known from several fragmentary skeletons, all of which are now lost. The affinities of this genus are unknown, though it may be a megaraptoran , ornithomimosaur , ceratosaur , or other form of theropod. Deltadromeus may be a synonym of Bahariasaurus , though this is unclear. Deltadromeus Deltadromeus agilis A genus only definitively known from the Kem Kem Beds of Morocco, however some studies have assigned fossils of Bahariasaurus ingens to D. agilis or consider it a junior synonym of B. ingens . However, the classification of the two genera remains uncertain. Ceratosauria? Elaphrosaurus E. bambergi or aff Material now considered to be indeterminate theropod remains. Erectopus Erectopus sauvagei? Sigilmassasaurus S. brevicollis Previously considered a species of Spinosaurus , or a synonym of S. aegyptiacus . Spinosaurus S. aegyptiacus Most common dinosaur of the formation. A large spinosaurid . Tameryraptor T. markgrafi A large carcharodontosaurid theropod, originally assigned to Carcharodontosaurus
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. Other taxa include Sapindales , Piperaceae , Lauraceae , Platanaceae , Magnoliopsida , Nymphaeaceae , Cornaceae , Proteaceae and Vitaceae not identified at genus level; and miospore and pollen species.
Vascular Plants Genus Species Abundance Notes Images Agathis A/W spp. Few Specimens An Araucarian conifer , now restricted to Australasia . Cladophlebis Sapindopsis Weichselia Araliaephyllum ?Indeterminate ("Morphotype-14") Few Specimens Suggested to be related with Lauraceae Cladophlebis C. spp. Few Specimens Fern Laflets Cornophyllum C. distense Few Specimens Suggested to be related with Cornaceae Cinnamophyllum ?Indeterminate ("Morphotype-12") Few Specimens Suggested to be related with Lauraceae Eucalyptolaurus /"Myrtophyllum "(?)Indeterminate ("Morphotype-08") Few Specimens Specimens of the family Lauraceae Laurophyllum L. africanum Few Specimens Specimens of the family Lauraceae Liriophyllum L. farafraense Few Specimens Specimens of the family Magnoliaceae Marsilea aff. Marsilea spp. Few Specimens Water fern. Magnoliid "Morphotype-01" "Morphotype-04" "Morphotype-09" "Morphotype-11" "Morphotype 21"? "Morphotype 24"? Few Specimens Shows festooned brochidodromous venation Magnoliaephyllum M. auriculatum M. bahariyense M. isbergiana Few Specimens Possible affinities with Lauraceae Monocotyledon "Morphotype 26" Few Specimens Flowering Plant Nelumbites N. schweinfurthi N. giganteum Common occurrence in the lower shale bed Typical leaves of the faimily Nelumbonaceae Nymphaeales Indeterminate ("Morphotype-22") Few Specimens Aquatic Flowering Plant Paradoxopteris P. stromeri Co-Dominant plant Xerophytic tree fern suggestive of a dry tropical climate.Plumafolium ?Indeterminate ("Morphotype-18") Few Specimens A Monocot, probably related with Liliopsida Podozamites Indeterminate ("Morphotype-27") Few Specimens Coniferophyte Pteridophyte Indeterminate ("Morphotype-28") Few Specimens Fern clearly distinct from Weichselia Rodgersia R. longifolia Few Specimens Likely lobes of a much bigger leaf of Sapindopsis Trochodendroides Indeterminate ("Morphotype-23") Few Specimens Probably related to Cercidiphyllaceae Typhaephyllum cf. T. sp. Few Specimens Interpreted as a monocot, probably related to Typhaceae Vitiphyllum V. aff. multifidum Few Specimens Some similarities with Pabiania of the family Lauraceae Weichselia W. reticulata Dominant plant Xerophytic tree fern suggestive of a dry tropical climate.
See also 