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Ouled Abdoun Basin
Phosphate basin in Morocco

The Oulad Abdoun Basin (also known as the Ouled Abdoun Basin or Khouribga Basin) is a phosphate sedimentary basin located in Morocco, near the city of Khouribga. It is the largest in Morocco, comprising 44% of Morocco's phosphate reserves, and at least 26.8 billion tons of phosphate. It is also known as an important site for vertebrate fossils, with deposits ranging from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) to the Eocene epoch (Ypresian), a period of about 25 million years.

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Geography

The Oulad Abdoun is located west of the Atlas Mountains, near the city of Khouribga. The Oulad Abdoun phosphate deposits encompass some 100 by 45 kilometres (62 by 28 mi), an area of 4,500 square kilometres (1,700 sq mi).4 The Oulad Abdoun is the largest and northernmost of Morocco's major phosphate basins, which from northeast to southwest, include the Ganntour, Meskala, and Oued Eddahab (Laayoune-Baa) basins.56

Paleobiota

Color key
TaxonReclassified taxonTaxon falsely reported as presentDubious taxon or junior synonymIchnotaxonOotaxonMorphotaxon
Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

The Oulad Abdoun Basin stretches from the late Cretaceous to the Eocene and contains abundant marine vertebrate fossils, including sharks, bony fish, turtles, crocodilians, and other reptiles, as well as sea birds and a small number of terrestrial mammals.78

Molluscs

Mollusca from the Khouribga Phosphates9
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Cucullaea (Idonearca)C. (I.) thevestensisA false ark shell.
HeligmopsisH. wegmanianusMaastrichtianA feather oyster also present in Ganntour basin.
VenericardiaV. coquandiDanianA carditid clam also present in Ganntour basin.
BaculitesB. sp.MaastrichtianA straight-shelled ammonite, also present in Ganntour basin.
CimomiaC. aff. sudanensisYpresianA nautiloid also present in Ganntour basin.
AmpullinopsisA. crassatinaAn ampullinid gastropod.
HemithersiteaH. choubertiLutetianA thersiteid gastropod.

Fish

Bony fish

Bony fish from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Acipenseridae10IndeterminateMaastrichtianFirst record of a sturgeon on the continent of Africa.
EnchodusE. libycusMaastrichtianAn enchodontid aulopiform.
E. bursauxiMaastrichtian
E. elegansMaastrichtian
Eoserrasalmimus11E. cattoiMaastrichtianA pycnodontiform.
Mawsoniidae12IndeterminateMaastrichtianA giant mawsoniid coelacanth measuring 3.65–5.52 metres (12.0–18.1 ft) long.
Phacodus13P. punctatus var. africanusMaastrichtianA pycnodontiform.
Plethodidae14IndeterminateMaastrichtianYoungest occurrence of plethodid fish.
PycnodontidaeIndeterminateMaastrichtian
PseudoegertoniaP. sp.Maastrichtian
Serrasalmimus15S. secansThanetianA carnivorous pycnodontiform.
StephanodusS. libycusMaastrichtian
StratodusS. apicalisMaastrichtianAn alepisauroform.
MacroprosoponM. hiltoni16YpresianA marine osteoglossid.

Sharks

Sharks from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Abdounia17A. africanaSelandianA requiem shark.
BrachycarchariasB. atlasi18Ypresian
CasieriaC. maghrebianaSelandian
ChiloscylliumC. salvani.SelandianA carpet shark.
CretalamnaC. appendiculataMaastrichtian
C. maroccanaMaastrichtian
DelpitoscylliumD. africanumSelandian
EostegostomaE. sp.SelandianA carpet shark.
FoumtiziaF. abdouniSelandian
GaleorhinusG. mesetaensisSelandian
GinglymostomaG. chenaneiSelandian
G. khouribgaenseSelandian
HologinglymostomaH. jaegeriSelandian
KhouribgaleusK. gomphorhizaSelandian
MetlaouiaM. delpitiSelandian
MicroscyliorhinusM. simplexSelandian
PalaeogaleusP. laracheiSelandian
PalaeorhincodonP. daouiiSelandianA carpet shark.
PorodermoidesP. spaniosSelandian
PremontreiaP. peypouquetiSelandian
P. subulidensSelandian
ScyliorhinusS. ptychtusSelandian
S. entomodonSelandian
S. sulcidensSelandian
SerratolamnaS. serrataMaastrichtian
S. khderiiMaastrichtian
SqualicoraxS. pristodontusMaastrichtian
S. bassaniiMaastrichtian
S. africanusMaastrichtian
S. microserratusMaastrichtian
S. benguerirensisMaastrichtian
TriakisT. antunesiSelandian

Other cartilaginous fish

Other cartilaginous cish from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
ArchaemantaA. priemiSelandianA ray.
BurnhamiaB. cf. davisiSelandianA devil ray
CoupateziaC. lariveiSelandianA ray.
C. fallaxMaastrichtian
C. elevataMaastrichtian
DasyatisD. ponsiSelandianA stingray. An indeterminate species found in Maastrichtian deposits of Ganntour Basin.
DelpitiaD. reticulataSelandianA ray.
GymnuraG. delpitiSelandianA ray.
HeterobatisH. talbaouiiSelandianA ray.
HeterotorpedoH. brahimiSelandianA ray.
HypolophodonH. sp.SelandianA ray.
RhombodusR. binkhorstiMaastrichtianA ray.
R. microdusMaastrichtian
R. meridionalisMaastrichtian
SchizorhizaS. stromeriMaastrichtianA sclerorhynchoid skate which resembled a sawfish.

Reptiles

Crocodylomorphs

Crocodylomorphs from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Arambourgisuchus19A. khouribgaensisThanetianA dyrosaurid.
AtlantosuchusA. coupateziDanianA dyrosaurid.
ChenanisuchusC. lateroculiThanetianThe most basal known dyrosaurid.
DyrosaurusP. maghribensisYpresianA dyrosaur.
Maroccosuchus20M. zennaroiYpresianA tomistomine crocodylian.
Ocepesuchus21O. eoafricanusMaastrichtianA gavialoid crocodylian.

Lepidosaurs

Mosasaurs
Mosasaurs from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Carinodens2223C. acrodonMaastrichtianA small mosasaurine mosasaur with crushing teeth.
C. belgicus
C. minalmamar
EremiasaurusE. heterodontusMaastrichtianA mosasaurine mosasaur with unusual cutting dentition.
Gavialimimus24G. almaghribensisMaastrichtianAn unusual longirostrine plioplatecarpine mosasaur.
GlobidensG. phosphaticusMaastrichtianA mosasaurine mosasaur with specialized crushing teeth.
G. simplexMaastrichtian
G. aegyptiacusMaastrichtianNow referred to its own genus, Igdamanosaurus.
HalisaurusH. arambourgiMaastrichtianA halisaurine mosasaur.
IgdamanosaurusI. aegyptiacusMaastrichtian
Khinjaria25K. acuta
  • Sidi Chennane
Maastrichtian
  • a partial skull and vertebra
A plioplatecarpine mosasaur.
MosasaurusM. beaugeiMaastrichtianA large mosasaurine mosasaur.
PachyvaranusP. crassispondylusMaastrichtianA pachyvaranid
PlatecarpusP. ptychodonMaastrichtianPossibly a senior synonym of Gavialimimus.
Pluridens26P. serpentisMaastrichtianA large halisaurine mosasaur, also known from Niger and Nigeria.
PrognathodonP. curriiMaastrichtianA large mosasaurine mosasaur.
P. giganteusMaastrichtian
Stelladens27S. mysteriosusMaastrichtianA medium-sized mosasaurine with distinct, unique teeth structure.
Thalassotitan28T. atroxMaastrichtianA large-bodied mosasaurine with powerful jaws, similar to P. currii.
Xenodens29X. calminechariMaastrichtianA small mosasaurine mosasaur with unusual, shark-like teeth. The holotype is a forged specimen and is potentially a nomen dubium and a chimera.30
Serpentes
Snakes from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Palaeophis31P. maghrebianusMaastrichtian?–YpresianMultiple fossilized vertebrae.A palaeophiid marine snake.

Plesiosaurs

Plesiosaurs from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
ZarafasauraZ. oceanisSidi DaouiMaastrichtianParatype specimens with complete skull and partial postcranial skeleton.An elasmosaurid plesiosaur with an unusually short skull.

Turtles

Turtles from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Alienochelys32A. selloumiSidi DaouiMaastrichtianA sea turtle with crushing jaws.
Araiochelys33A. hirayamaiSidi DaouiMaastrichtianA skull, lower jaws, partial disarticulated shell, including a few carapace fragments (left first and fifth costals, left third, seventh, and eighth peripherals and other fragments), nearly complete plastron and limb bones.A bothremydid pleurodiran turtle.
Argillochelys34A. africanaYpresianA pancheloniid sea turtle.
Bothremys35B. kellyiDanian-ThanetianA bothremydid pleurodiran turtle.
B. maghrebiana
BrachyopsemysB. tingitanaDanianA sandownid sea turtle
EuclastesE. acutirostrisDanian-ThanetianA pancheloniid sea turtle. An indeterminate species also present in the Maastrichtian deposits of Ganntour Basin.36
E. wielandiDanian
Labrostochelys37L. galkiniOued ZemDanianA nearly complete skull.A bothremydid pleurodiran turtle
Ocepechelon38O. bouyaiSidi ChennaneMaastrichtianA complete but isolated 70-cm-long skull.A giant protostegid sea turtle with an unusual pipette-like snout.
PuppigerusP. camperiYpresianA Pancheloniidae sea turtle.
Rhothonemys39R. brinkmaniDanianA bothremydid pleurodiran turtle.
TasbackaT. ouledabdounensisDanianA Cheloniidae sea turtle.
TaphrosphysT. ippolitoiDanianA bothremydid pleurodiran turtle.
UmmulisaniU. rutgersensisMrah IareshYpresianA skull without a palate.A bothremydid pleurodiran turtle.

Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
AlcioneA. elainus40Sidi DaouiMaastrichtianA nyctosaurid which shows possible adaptations towards diving behaviour.
BarbaridactylusB. grandis41Sidi DaouiMaastrichtianA nyctosaurid.
SimurghiaS. robusta42Sidi DaouiMaastrichtianA nyctosaurid related to Alcione.
PhosphatodracoP. mauritanicus43Sidi DaouiMaastrichtianAn azhdarchid.
cf Arambourgiania44A. sp?Sidi ChennaneMaastrichtianA giant azhdarchid, may belong to the Jordanian taxon Arambourgiania.
aff. Quetzalcoatlus45indet.Maastrichtian
TethydracoT. regalis46Sidi DaouiMaastrichtianA pterosaur of debated affinity; may be an azhdarchid47 or a pteranodontid.48

Dinosaurs

Bird fossils are common in the Basin, which includes the oldest birds in Africa.49 At least three orders and several families of sea birds are represented, including Procellariiformes (albatrosses and petrels, fossils assignable to Diomedeidae and Procellariidae), Pelecaniformes (pelicans and allies, fossils assignable to Phaethontidae, Prophaethontidae, Fregatidae and Pelagornithidae), and Anseriformes (waterfowl, including fossil Presbyornithidae).50

Ornithischians

Ornithischians from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Ajnabia51A. odysseus
  • Office Cherifien des Phosphates mines at Sidi Chennane
Maastrichtian
  • partial left maxilla with teeth
  • fragments of right maxilla
  • partial right dentary
A small lambeosaurine hadrosaur; the first known from Africa
Lambeosaurinae52Indeterminate
  • Mrah Lahrach
Maastrichtian
  • right femur
A lambeosaurine larger than Ajnabia and Minqaria
Lambeosaurinae53Indeterminate
  • Sidi Daoui
Maastrichtian
  • left humerus
A lambeosaurine larger than Ajnabia and Minqaria
Minqaria54M. bata
  • Sidi Chennane
Maastrichtian
  • right maxilla
  • left dentary
  • braincase
A lambeosaurine hadrosaur
Taleta55T. Taleta
  • Sidi Chennane
Maastrichtian
  • partial left and right maxilla with teeth
A lambeosaurine hadrosaur

Saurischians

Sauropods
Sauropods from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Titanosauria56Indeterminate
  • Sidi Daoui57
Maastrichtian
  • right femur, tibia, and fibula
  • undescribed material
A new titanosaurian taxon, currently unnamed.
Theropods
Abelisaurs
Abelisaurs from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Abelisauridae58Indeterminate
  • Sidi Chennane
Maastrichtianright tibiaProbably distinct from Chenanisaurus due to its smaller size (about 5 m (16 ft) long) despite being mature. Similar to South American abelisaurids. Possibly a member of Furileusauria.59
Abelisauridae60Indeterminate
  • Sidi Daoui
Maastrichtianright metatarsal IIA mature specimen but very small for an abelisaurid, about 2.6 m (8.5 ft) long
Chenanisaurus61C. barbaricus
  • Sidi Chennane
  • Sidi Daoui
Maastrichtian
  • anterior end of left dentary
  • 2 premaxillary teeth
  • a maxillary tooth
A large abelisaurid theropod.
Birds
Birds from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Dasornis62D. abdounSidi DaouiYpresianA holotype specimens consists of carpometacarpus, ulna, radius, tibiotarsus, and humerus.A pelagornithid, or pseudotooth bird.
D. emuinusSidi DaouiYpresianA partial skeleton with incomplete cranium.
D. tolapicaSelandianA parital skeleton.
Lithoptila63L. abdounensisSidi DaouiThanetianA neurocranium.A seabird related to modern tropicbirds.

Mammals

Afrotheres

Afrotheres from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
Abdounodus64A. hamdiiThanetian-YpresianA lower jaw.An early afrotherian mammal.
Daouitherium65D. rebouliYpresianlower jaws and associated cheek teethAn early proboscidean.
Eritherium66E. azzouzorumThanetianAn early proboscidean.
Hadrogeneios67H. phosphaticusSelandian-ThanetianAn early afrotherian mammal.
Ocepeia68O. daouiensisSelandianPartial skull consists of an upper jaw and dental fragmentsAn early afrotherian mammal.
O. grandisThanetianLower jaw and teeth.
PhosphatheriumP. escuillieiSelandianAn early proboscidean.
Stylolophus69S. minorYpresianAn embrithopod.
S. majorYpresian

Hyaenodonts

Hyaenodonts from the Khouribga Phosphates
GenusSpeciesLocationTimeMaterialNotesImages
BoualitomusB. marocanensisSelandianA hyaenodont.
Lahimia70L. selloumiSelandianA hyaenodont.

See also

  • Paleontology portal
  • Earth sciences portal
  • Morocco portal

References

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