The Aridal Formation in the Sahara Desert of southwestern Morocco is a fossil formation with rocks dating to the Lutetian - Priabonian (47.8 - 33.9 million years ago), preserving a middle Eocene shallow coastal environment.
The formation represents the world's richest Bartonian archaic whale assemblage, including protocetids and basilosaurids.
Paleobiota
Birds Includes the earliest occurrence of the genus Pelagornis, extending its fossil record back by at least 10 million years. +TaxaRock UnitAgeImagePelagornis sp.GueranBartonianPelagornithidae indet.El Breij Unit IIBartonian
Mammals Alongside a rich assemblage of archaic whale taxa including two additional unnamed protocetid species, there are also possible remains of the earliest occurrence of Barytherium. +TaxaRock UnitAgeImagePappocetus lugardiGueran, Sabkha of LebreijBartonianEocetus schweinfurthiGueran, El Breij Unit II,
El Breij Unit IIIBartonianChrysocetus fouadassiiGueranBartonianAntaecetus aithaiGueranBartonian? Barytherium sp.GueranBartonian
Reptiles There are at least three indeterminate species of turtles: two marine cryptodires, a cheloniid, a dermochelyid, and a possible littoral pleurodire. Two species of longirostrine crocodylians are present, including a gavialoid similar to Eogavialis africanum (which is typically known from younger strata), and one too fragmentary to identify beyond being a crocodyliform. +TaxaRock UnitAgeImagePterosphenus schweinfurthiGueranBartonianPalaeophis africanusEl Breij, Unit ILutetianPalaeophiidae indet. Sabkha of LebreijBartonianCordichelys antiquaEl Breij, Unit ILutetianCheloniidae indet.GueranBartonianDermochelyidae indet.GueranBartonianPleurodira indet.GueranBartonianGavialoidea indet.GueranBartonianCrocodyliformes indet.GueranBartonianCrocodylia indet.El Breij Unit I, Sabkha of Lebreij Lutetian Bartonian
Cartilaginous Fish +TaxaRock UnitAgeImageGaleocerdo eaglesomeiGueranBartonianPristis lathamiGueranBartonianPropristis schweinfurthiGueranBartonianMacrorhizodus praecursorGueranBartonianHemipristis curvatusGueranBartonianCarcharias koertiGueranBartonianOtodus cf. sokolowiGueranBartonianTethylamna cf. twiggsensisGueranBartonianCarcharhinus sp.GueranBartonianAbdounia sp.GueranBartonianPhysogaleus sp.GueranBartonian
Bony Fish +TaxaRock UnitAgeImageCylindracanthus sp.Gueran, El Breij Unit IBartonian, Lutetian
References