The Dukamaje Formation is a geological formation in Niger and Nigeria whose strata date back to the Late Cretaceous. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation. A wealth of Mosasaur fossils have also been recovered from this formation, particularly from the area around Mt. Igdaman.

Fossil content

Dinosaurs of the Dukamaje Formation
TaxaPresenceDescriptionImages
Genus: ?Bahariasaurus ?B. ingens.Geographically present in Département De Tahoua, Niger.
Mosasaurs of the Dukamaje Formation
TaxaPresenceDescriptionImages
Genus: Igdamanosaurus I. aegyptiacusGeographically present on Mt. Igdaman, near the village of Igdaman (or In Daman).Mid-sized globidensine mosasaur. Originally described as a plioplatecarpine. Durophagous.Goronyosaurus and juvenile elasmosaurs
Genus: Goronyosaurus G. nigeriensis G. sp.Type locality unknown. From the portion of the Dukamaje Formation located in Nigeria. Geographically present on Mt. Igdaman. From the portion of the Dukamaje Formation located in Niger.Large mosasaur of uncertain affiliations. High number of foramina on the snout and small eyes indicate a murky-water hunter.
Genus: ?Angolasaurus ?A. sp.Geographically present on Mt. Igdaman.Represented here by four vertebrae, one from a juvenile. Fragmentary state makes identification difficult.
Genus: Halisaurus H. sp.Geographically present on Mt. Igdaman.Mid-sized mosasaur. Represented here by four vertebrae.
Genus: Plioplatecarpus P. sp.Geographically present on Mt. Igdaman.Mid-sized plioplatecarpine mosasaur. Represented here by several vertebrae.
Genus: Platecarpus P. sp.Geographically present on Mt. Igdaman.Mid-sized plioplatecarpine mosasaur. Represented here by a single fragmentary vertebrae.
Genus: Mosasaurus cf. M. hoffmanniiGeographically present on Mt. Igdaman.Massive mosasaurine mosasaur. Represented here by a fragmentary tooth crown. The first example of Mosasaurus from Niger and Nigeria.

Other reptiles

Fishes

See also

Further reading

  • R. T. J. Moody and P. J. C. Suttcliffe. 1991. The Cretaceous deposits of the Iullemmeden Basin of Niger, central West Africa. Cretaceous Research 12:137-157