The Lapurr Sandstone, also spelled Lapur Sandstone, previously considered part of the informal "Turkana Grits", is a geological formation in Kenya (Turkana County). It is the oldest unit in the Turkana Basin. The strata date back to the Late Cretaceous, likely Campanian to Maastrichtian, based on palynology and the presence of dyrosaurs and mosasaurs, the upper part of the unit likely extends into the Palaeogene, based on zircon dating. It predominantly consists of fine-coarse arkosic sandstone, which has been interpreted as either been deposited in fluvial or shallow marine conditions. Dinosaur remains among other vertebrates have been recovered from it around Lokitaung Gorge, though these mostly consist of heavily abraded, isolated bones of robust morphology like sauropod limb bones and caudal vertebrae.Weishampel, et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution" Pp. 517-607. in Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. 861 pp. . " Pp. 517-607.
Vertebrate paleofauna Dinosaurs Taxa Presence Notes Images SauropodaGorscak E. 2016. Descriptive and comparative morphology of African titanosaurian sauropods: new information on the evolution of Cretaceous African continental faunas: In College of Arts and Sciences, Vol. Ph.D., pp. 470. Ohio University. Rift Valley Province, Kenya At least 3 distinct taxa, at least some of which represents titanosaurs with affinities to Saltasauria, while others represent more basal TitanosauriformesSertich, Joe (December 2020) Science Division Live: Rafting Dinosaurs, New discoveries from Gondwana Denver Museum of Nature & Science (section discussing Lapurr Sandstone begins around 18:40 and ends around 22:30) Giant titanosaurs are also represented by dermal elements. Iguanodontia indet Two distinct taxa ?Ornithopoda indet. Rift Valley Province, Kenya AbelisauridaeSertich, J., O’Connor, P., Seiffert, E. & Manthi, F. 2013. A giant abelisaurid theropod from the latest Cretaceous of Northern Turkana, Kenya. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, SVP Program and Abstracts Book, 2013, pp211. Rift Valley Province, Kenya An unnamed giant abelisaurid, known from partial cranial and post cranial remains. Another smaller abelisaurid is also known. Theropoda indet Distinct from the abelisaurid, suggested to be large in size. Other reptiles Taxa Presence Notes ImagesMosasauria indetCaudal vertebra, initially misidentified as the vertebra of a pterosaurO'Connor PM, Sertich JJW, Manthi FK (2011) A pterodactyloid pterosaur from the Upper Cretaceous Lapurr sandstone, West Turkana, Kenya. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências 83: 309–315.NeosuchiaKnown from skull and lower jaw material showing large crushing teeth, initially misidentified as a spinosaurDyrosauridaeAbundant remainsTestudines
See also List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations
References