The Bakate Formation is a geological formation in northwest Kenya and the nearby Fejej region of Ethiopia. It dates to the Early Miocene. Fossils of animals such as proboscideans and crocodilians have been recovered from the formation.
Description The formation was depositied during the Early Miocene. With the Buluk Member specifically being deposited during the Miocene Climatic Optimum (MCO) (~). With a warmer, though not hotter, climate than today.
The Buluk member was deposited in a fluvial lacustrine environment with sillicified tree trunks showing that the formation was a partially wooded, seasonally dry forest with higher than-present rainfall and was dominated by C3 plants, though in some localities C4 plants, such as grasses, were more prevelent.
The Buluk Member outcrops at the uplift of the Suregai-Asille plateau.
Geology The primary lithology of the Buluk Member is sandstone and claystone with tuff, siltstone and basalt also present. The Irle Member is primarily made up of basaltic lava, while the lithology of the Il Jimma Member is primarily made up of igneous rocks.
Palaeobiota
Fauna
Mammals Afrotheres Afrotheres of the Batake Formation Genus Species Location Material Notes ImagesAfrochoerodon A. kisumuensisBuluk MemberMultiple specimensFormerly classified as a species of Platybelodon as P. kisumuensisAfrohyraxA. championiFormerly classified as a species Megalohyrax as M. championiArchaeobelodonA. tassyiA cranium and several isolated lower tusks An amebelodontid proboscideanGomphotheriumG. sp. indet.A few molars.A gomphotheriid proboscideanProdeinotheriumP. hobleyiMultiple specimensA deinotheriid proboscideanProtanancusP. presbytatosMultiple teeth and maxillary fragmentsAn amebelodontid proboscideanZygolophodonZ. microgigasMultiple teethA mammutid proboscidean
Artiodactyla Artiodactyls of the Batake Formation Genus Species Location Material Notes ImagesDiamantohyusD. africanusA sanitheriid artiodactyl. DorcatheriumD. chappuisiA chevrotain.D. pigottiCanthumeryxC. cf. stirtensisA giraffid.NamachoerusN. cf. moruorotiFormerly included in the genus Lopholistriodon as L. cf. moruoroti.SivameryxS. sp.Formerly included in the junior synonym Hyboops as H. sp.LibychochoerusL. massaiA suid.ListriodonL. sp.A suid
Perissodactyls Perissodactyls of the Batake Formation Genus Species Location Material Notes ImagesAceratheriumA. acutirostratumA rhinoceros. ChilotheridiumC. pattersoniA rhinocerotoidC. sp.RusingacerosR. leakeyiFormerly classified as a species of Dicerorhinus as D. leakeyi
Primates Primates of the Batake Formation Genus Species Location Material Notes ImagesAfropithecusA. turkanensis A partial skullA Homonidcf. Kenyapithecuscf. K. walkeriHominoideaIndeterminateProhylobatesP. sp. An old world monkeySimilolusS. enjiessiNoropithecusN. bulukensisAn old world monkey.cf. Micropithecuscf. M. clarkiAn old world monkey.
Feraes Feraes of the Batake Formation Genus Species Location Material Notes ImagesHyainailourosH. nyanzaeA hyaenodont.Creodonta indet.IndeterminateA creodont.AmphicyonidaeIndeterminateA very large species of amphicyonid.
Reptiles Reptiles of the Batake Formation Genus Species Location Material Notes ImagesCheloniaIndeterminateBuluk memberA relative of the modern green sea turtleTrionychidaeIndeterminateA softshell turtle.PelomedusidaeIndeterminateAn African side-necked turtle.Crocodylia indet.IndeterminateA crocodilian.CrocodylusC. cf. niloticusTomistomaT. sp.A relative of the modern False Gharial.
Fish Fish of the Batake Formation Genus Species Location Material Notes ImagesProtopterusP. sp.Buluk MemberA lungfish.ClariidaeIndeterminateAn airbreathing catfish.
Flora Multiple indeterminate remains of fruits, twigs, seeds and leaves have also been found in the formation.
Angiosperms Angiosperms of the Batake Formation Genus Species Location Material Notes Imagescf. Anonaspurmumcf. A. sp.Seeds and fruits.A custard apple.AnonaspurmumA. elegansA. quadralobatumAntrocaryonA. paramicrasterA cashew tree relative.CynometroxylonC. sp.WoodA legume.cf. Acaciacf. A. sp.An acacia tree.StereospermoxylonS. eoacuminatissumumA begonia.SapotoxylodonS. sp. 1A member of sapotaceaeS. sp. 2AngeospermaeIndeterminateMultiple species.OleacaeIndeterminateA member of oleacae. RutaceaeIndeterminateA member of rutaceae.SapindaceaeIndeterminateA member of sapindaceae.ParinariP. antiquumA chrysobalanacene tree
References