The Baynunah Formation is a palaeontological formation located in the western region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. It dates to the Upper Miocene epoch of the Neogene period in the Cenozoic Era.

Geology

Fauna Fossils of the hippopotamus genus Archaeopotamus have been found in the formation.Bibi, F., Hill, A., Beech, M., & Yasin, W. (2013). Late Miocene Fossils from the Baynunah Formation, United Arab Emirates. Fossil Mammals of Asia, 583–594. https://doi.org/10.7312/COLUMBIA/9780231150125.003.0027Antoine Louchart, Faysal Bibi, John Stewart. Birds from the Baynunah Formation. Sands of Time, Springer International Publishing; Springer International Publishing, pp.125-139, 2022, Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology, ⟨10.1007/978-3-030-83883-6_9⟩. ⟨hal-04025279⟩Bibi, Faysal. (2022). Bovidae and Giraffidae from the Baynunah Formation. 10.1007/978-3-030-83883-6_14.

Birds Taxa Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes ImagesDiamantornisD. laini Jaw al Dibsa (DBS 2), Hamra (HMR 1, 3, 5), Hadwaniyya (HAD 4, 5, 6), Harmiyyah (HAR 3, 4), Jebel Barakah (JBR 2), Kihal (KIH 3), Ras al Qal’a (RAQ 1, 2), Gerain al Aysh (GAA 3, 4, 8), Ras Dubay’ah (RDB 4), Ruwais (RUW), Shuwaihat (SHU 2, 3, 4, 8), and Umm Al Khabir (UAK 1) Multiple collected specimens. An extinct ratite birdStruthioS. cf. karatheodoris Kihal 2 A pelvis, almost complete except for the pubic symphysis region. PhalacrocoraxP. sp. A proximal left carpometacarpus, distal right tarsometatarsus, and a tentatively referred proximal right humerus fragment.

Mammals Artiodactyls Bovids Taxa Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes ImagesAfrotragusA. libycus GAA2 and HAD3.Right frontlet with horn core and left frontlet with horn core.MiotragocerusM. cyrenaicus GAA2, JBR2, GAA7, HMR1, HMR5, and SHU4. A partial cranium, horn cores, partial vertebra, partial left lower m1 or m2, and upper molar or premolar fragment. An early bovinae. Pachyportax P. latidens GAA2, GAA7, HMR5, and SHU4.ProstrepsicerosP. vinayaki SHU2 A basal left horn core.

Giraffids Taxa Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes ImagesPaleotragusP. aff. germaini locality SHU4 A partial skeleton with partial left maxilla. An early Opaki-like giraffid.SamotheriumS. cf. sp. An upper molar fragment. An early giraffid.

Hippotamids Taxa Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes ImagesArchaeopotamusA. lothagamensis A. qeshta

Suidae Taxa Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images Nyanzachoerus N. syrticus PropotamochoerusP. hysudricus

Carnivorans Taxa Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images Plesiogulo P. praecocidens

Perissodactyls Taxa Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes ImagesHipparionH. abudhabiense

Primates Taxa Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images

Proboscideans Taxa Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes ImagesStegotetrabelodon S. emiratus A primitive elephantid.TetralophodonIndeterminate A gomphothere.Gomphotheriidae Indeterminate. A gomphothere.DeinotheriumD. aff. bozasiA deinotheriid

Rodents Taxa Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes ImagesAbudhabiaA. baynunensisDendromusD. sp Jebelus J. rexMyocricetodonM. spParapelomysP. cf. charkhensisProtohummusP. dango

Fish Taxon Notes Image Bagrus Clarias At least two species (possibly 3) Labeobarbus Cyprinid ?Capoeta Probably Capoeta Cichlidae "African chichlid" (at least one species) Percomorpha Intermediate Pristidae Dasyatidae

Stegotetrabelodon footprints Footprints attributed to Stegotetrabelodon have been found in the formation.

See also

History of the United Arab Emirates List of fossil sites

References

Further reading (1993); Wildlife of Gondwana. Reed.