Farak Formation

Farak Formation
Stratigraphic range: Cenomanian
~
TypeGeological formation
OverliesEchkar Formation
Location
Coordinates16°06′N 5°24′E / 16.1°N 5.4°E / 16.1; 5.4
RegionAfrica
CountryNiger
ExtentIullemmeden Basin
Farak Formation (Niger)

The Farak Formation is a geological formation in Niger, central Africa.

Its strata date back to the Early Cenomanian. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[1]

Vertebrate paleofauna

Dinosaurs
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Bahariasaurus B. ingens [1] An enigmatic theropod
Rebbachisaurus R. tamesnensis[1] A rebbachisaurid sauropod
Aegyptosaurus A. baharijensis[1] A titanosaurian sauropod
Spinosaurus S. mirabilis Fragmentary skull (right premaxilla, 4 maxillae, part of the right dentary, a complete right dentary and five maxillary teeth), 3 nasal crests, fragments of the cervical (neck) and dorsal (back) vertebrae, part of the left ischium, and part of the left femur. isolated teeth,partial dorsal and caudal (tail) vertebrae, a partial chevron, a left tibia, and pedal phalanges (toe bones) of multiple specimens A spinosaurid theropod[2]
Crocodylomorphs
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Fortignathus F. felixi[1] A possible itasuchid crocodylomorph[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Early Cretaceous, Africa)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 571-573. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  2. ^ Sereno, Paul C.; Vidal, Daniel; Myhrvold, Nathan P.; Johnson-Ransom, Evan; Ciudad Real, María; Baumgart, Stephanie L.; Sánchez Fontela, Noelia; Green, Todd L.; Saitta, Evan T.; Adamou, Boubé; Bop, Lauren L.; Keillor, Tyler M.; Fitzgerald, Erin C.; Dutheil, Didier B.; Laroche, Robert A. S.; Demers-Potvin, Alexandre V.; Simarro, Álvaro; Gascó-Lluna, Francesc; Lázaro, Ana; Gamonal, Arturo; Beightol, Charles V.; Reneleau, Vincent; Vautrin, Rachel; Bertozzo, Filippo; Granados, Alejandro; Kinney-Broderick, Grace; Mallon, Jordan C.; Lindoso, Rafael M.; Ramezani, Jahandar (19 February 2026). "Scimitar-crested Spinosaurus species from the Sahara caps stepwise spinosaurid radiation". Science. 391 (6787) eadx5486. doi:10.1126/science.adx5486.
  3. ^ Wilberg, Eric; Hill, Robert V.; Pascucci, Thomas R.; Roberts, Eric M.; Bouaré, Mamadou L.; O'Leary, Maureen A. "A new itasuchid (Crocodyliformes, Notosuchia) from the Early Cretaceous of Mali and the ancient Paleo-Tegama river system of Gondwana". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 0 (0) e2505473. doi:10.1080/02724634.2025.2505473. ISSN 0272-4634.

Bibliography

  • Young, Mark T.; Hastings, Alexander K.; Allain, Ronan; Smith, Thomas J. (2017), "Revision of the enigmatic crocodyliform Elosuchus felixi de Lapparent de Broin, 2002 from the Lower–Upper Cretaceous boundary of Niger: potential evidence for an early origin of the clade Dyrosauridae", Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 179: 377–403