The Continental intercalaire, sometimes referred to as the Continental intercalaire Formation, is a term applied to Cretaceous strata in Northern Africa.A. F. de Lapparent, (1960), "Les Dinosauriens du "Continental intercalaire" du Sahara central", Mémoires de la Société géologique de France, nouvelle série 39(88A): 1-57 It is the largest single stratum found in Africa to date, being between thick in some places. Fossils, including dinosaurs, have been recovered from this formation.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. . The Continental intercalaire stretches from Algeria, Tunisia and Niger in the west to Egypt and Sudan in the east.
History Fernand Foureau was the first to excavate fossils from the Continental intercalaire in Djoua, Algeria in 1893, and Léon Pervinquière studied the Continental intercalaire in Tataouine, Tunisia in 1912.Rapport sur une mission scientifique dans l'extrême-sud tunisien (frontière tuniso tripolitaine), (1912) - Discussion on the scientific mission to extreme southern Tunisia (Frontier Tunisia-Tripolitania).Études de paléontologie tunisienne 2, Gastropodes et lamellibranches des terrains crétacés, (1912) - Studies of Tunisian paleontology II, Cretaceous gastropods and lamellibranchs.
The Continental intercalaire was later identified during the course of several expeditions to the Sahara from 1946 to 1959 which were led by the French paleontologist Albert-Félix de Lapparent.De Broin, France; Taquet, Philippe (1966). "Découverte d'un Crocodilien nouveau dans le Crétacé inférieur du Sahara". C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris (in French). 262 (D).
Description The Continental intercalaire is most often likened to the Kem Kem Group in Morocco."Continental intercalaire." Weishampel, et al. (2004). Pg. 571-572. It likely represents fluviatile facies, suggesting an environment with many rivers and streams.
Fossil content
Archosaurs Dinosaurs +Dinosaurs of the Continental intercalaire Genus Species Location Material Notes ImagesAegyptosaurusA. baharijensis Egypt Iguallala, NigerVertebrae, thoracic rib fragment, and two metatarsals (Niger); caudal vertebrae (Egypt)BahariasaurusB.ingensNigerSix vertebrae"Brachiosaurus""B" nougarediTaouratine, AlgeriaPartial sacrum and left forelimb Previously believed to be discovered from the Late Jurassic-age Taouratine Series. Likely does not belong as a species of Brachiosaurus and may represent multiple sauropod species.CarcharodontosaurusC. saharicus Timimoun, Algeria El Rhaz, Niger In Abangarit, Niger Guermessa, Tunisia164 teeth, several vertebrae, partial humerus, and a metatarsalCollection of multiple specimens with teeth found at all four localities.cf.C.spFragmentary remainsCoelurosauriaCoelurosauria indet.MoroccoLeft tibia and a "large" femurSimilar to cf. Elaphrosaurus from Egypt. In Abangarit, Niger In Tedreft, Niger16 vertebrae, left humerus, right ulna, left pubis, femur, right tibia (In Abangarit material); 3 damaged vertebrae, sacrum, 3 hand claws, right tibia, isolated tibia, metatarsal, 4 phalanges (In Tedreft material)Previously known as Elaphrosaurus gautieri and is a collection of multiple specimens. Ebrechko, Niger El Rhaz, Niger Ifayen Ignère, Niger In Abangarit, Niger49 teeth, 8 caudal vertebrae, a hand claw, a damaged right femur, and a tibiaPreviously known as Elaphrosaurus iguidensis and is a collection of multiple specimens.DinosauriaW., R. DeC., Foureau, F. (1904) Documents scientifiques de la Mission Saharienne. Mission Foureau-Lamy d'Alger au Congo par le Tchad. Bulletin of the American Geographical Society, 36 (9). 566pp. doi:10.2307/198160Dinosauria indet.Djoua, AlgeriaFragmentsDiscovered by Fernand Foureau in 1893.DinosauriaBourcart, J. (1932). Le Sahara algérien, in La Géologie, et les Mines de la France d'outre-mer, p. 181-204.Tilemsi, Mali"Large bones"Only ever mentioned in passing.IguanodontiaIguanodontia indet.Kanboute, TunisiaUpper right maxillary toothPreviously described as belonging to Iguanodon mantelli. Discovered on 15 January 1951.InosaurusA. F. d. Lapparent. (1953). Gisements de Dinosauriens dans le "Continental intercalaire" d'In Abangarit (Sahara méridional) [Dinosaur localities in the "Continental Intercalaire" of In Abangarit (southern Sahara)]. Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences à Paris 236:1905-1906I. tedreftensisIn Tedreft, NigerTwo dorso-lumbar vertebrae, two smaller vertebrae, two fused sacral vertebrae, five middle or posterior caudal vertebrae, seven caudal vertebra fragments, left proximal tibia.Includes the holotype specimen.MegalosauroideaDepéret, C. & Savornin, J. (1925). Sur la découverte d'une faune de vertébrés albiens a Timimoun (Sahara occidental), Comptes Rendus, Académie des Sciences, Paris, volume 181, pp. 1108–1111.Depéret, C. & Savornin, J. (1927). La Faune de reptiles et de poissons albiens de Timimoun (Sahara algérien), Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France, volume 27, pp. 257–265.Megalosauroidea indet.Timimoun, AlgeriaTwo teethDiscovered by Captain Burté.NigersaurusN. taquetiParalititan?P. stromeri?May instead be AegyptosaurusRebbachisaurus?R.? tamesnensis Aoulef, Algeria Djoua, Algeria In Salah, Algeria Timimoun, Algeria Ebrechko, Niger El Rhaz, Niger Ifayen Ignère, Niger Iguallala, Niger In-Gall, Niger Tébéhic, Niger Ténéré, Niger Tiguidi, Niger Guermessa, TunisiaTwo humeri and two femora, and a second specimen composed of four isolated teeth, a dentary fragment with three teeth, over 100 vertebrae, six chevrons, 12 ribs, 5 scapulae, an ilium, two ischia, and numerous limb elementsMay not belong to Rebbachisaurus.OrnithopodaOrnithopoda indet.Multiple speciesSauropodaSauropoda indet.In Gall, NigerTwo vertebraePreviously referred to Astrodon.SauropodaPérébaskine, V. (1933). Contribution à l'étude géologique du Soudan oriental. Bull. Agence gén. des Col., n° 286, p. 19-54; n° 287, p. 246-281; n° 288, p. 448-483; 11 fig., 9 pl., 1 carte h. t. (Tirage à part : 1 volume in-8, 125 p., 11 fig. 9 pl., 1 carte h. t.) (Thèse).Ibelrane, MaliVertebraStegosauriaStegosauria indet.In Abangarit, NigerDermal plateSpinosaurusS. aegyptiacus Egypt MoroccoAbundant teeth and postcranial remainsUsed to help date the age of the Continental intercalaire; 94% of theropod teeth in the Continental intercalaire belong to Spinosaurus. Relatively rare in Algerian strata.cf. S. sp Kénadsa, Algeria Menaguir, Algeria Egypt Morocco TunisiaAbundant teeth and postcranial remainsTheropodaTheropoda indet.Zarzaïtine, AlgeriaTwo teethPreviously placed within Teratosaurus. May be referrable to ?Megalosauridae.TitanosauriaTitanosauria indet.MaliRepresents a distinct species current found only in Mali.
Reptiles +Reptiles of the Continental intercalaire Genus Species Location Material Notes ImagesReptiliaReptilia indet.Marandet, NigerIndeterminate remains
Crocodylomorphs +Crocodylomorphs of the Continental intercalaire Genus Species Location Material Notes ImagesSarcosuchusS. imperatorSissokosuchusS. maliensis A partial dentary tip, parts of the maxilla, and several cranial elements. A sebecian notosuchian.
Fish +Fish of the Continental intercalaire Genus Species Location Material Notes ImagesHybodontidaeHybodontidae indet.Menaguir, TunisiaFin spine fragmentMawsoniaMawsonia at Fossilworks.org Algeria Tunisia(several species)OnchopristisO. numida (or numidus)AlgeriaIncludes specimens previously known as Gigantichthys numidus.
Trace fossils +Trace fossils of the Continental intercalaire Genus Species Location Material Notes ImagesOphiomorphaOphiomorpha sp.Menaguir, TunisiaSkolithosSkolithos sp.Menaguir, TunisiaThalassinoidesThalassinoides sp.Menaguir, Tunisia
See also
List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations
References