The Dakhla Formation, also called the Dakhla Shale, is a Maastrichtian-Danian geologic formation in the Western Desert, Egypt. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation, although none have yet been referred to a specific genus.Weishampel, et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution." Pp. 517–607.

One of the younger Danian-aged localities of the formation, the Qreiya 3 site, is a lagerstätte preserving the earliest known records of numerous modern fish groups.

Fossil content

Reptiles Dinosaurs Dinosaurs reported from the Dakhla Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images Sauropoda Ammonite Hill MemberA left femur (Vb-646). Comparable to femurs of Brachiosaurus and Saltasaurus

Turtles Turtles reported from the Dakhla Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesArenilaA. krebsiAmmonite Hill MemberPartial skullA bothremydid turtle?Cf. A. krebsiAmmonite Hill MemberPartial dorsal shell and right pelvisA bothremydid turtleBothremydidaeUndetermined large formsAmmonite Hill MemberNuchal bone, left pleuron, and partial plastron of one individualA large bothremydid turtle, with a shell length of GigantochelysG. aegyptiacusBeris MemberPelvic girdleA large dermochelyid turtle PanchelonioideaGen. et. sp. indet. Ammonite Hill MemberHumerus (NVP010) A giant marine turtle TaphrosphysT. cf. sulcatusAmmonite Hill MemberAnterior part of dorsal shell and partial dorsal shell with partial anterior plastral lobeA bothremydid turtlecf. T. sp.Ammonite Hill MemberLeft first pleuralA bothremydid turtle?aff. Tasbacka?aff. T. sp.Ammonite Hill MemberLeft humerusA chelonioid sea turtleZolhafahZ. bellaAmmonite Hill MemberSkullA bothremydid turtle

Squamates Squamates reported from the Dakhla Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesGlobidensG. phosphaticusBeris Oyster Mudstone MemberA single tooth crown (CUNV0011)A mosasaurine.HalisaurusH. auriculatusBeris Oyster Mudstone MemberA halisaurineH. hebaeMosasaurinaeIndeterminateBeris Oyster Mudstone MemberA fragmentary small dentary with a single tooth (CUNV0012)A mosasaurinePalaeophiidaeIndeterminateQreiya 3A marine snake.PrognathodonP. sp.Lower partTwo tooth crowns, three cervical, nine dorsal, three caudal vertebrae, and ribs, found in association (NVP025)Most similar to P. overtoni, possibly a member of that species

Cartilaginous fish Fish reported from the Dakhla Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesHexanchidaeQreiya 3TeethA cow shark.OdontaspididaeQreiya 3TeethA sand shark. Sclerorhynchus S. cf. leptodon Beris Member Four fragmentary rostral denticles originally attributed to Onchopristis sp.A sawskate Sclerorhynchoidei Indeterminate Beris Member An exceptionally large, long rostrum originally attributed to Onchopristis sp.A sawskate

Ray-finned fish Fish reported from the Dakhla Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesAnomoeodusA. aegypticusLower Beris MemberA single specimen (NVP023)A pycnodont.A. teneidaensisA single specimen (NVP024)AulostomoideaIndeterminateQreiya 3Articulated skeletonA trumpetfish and cornetfish relative.CarangidaeIndeterminateQreiya 3Articulated skeletonA relative of jacks.ClupeoideiIndeterminateQreiya 3Articulated skeletonA herring relative. DiastemapycnodusD. tavernensis Beris MemberA single vomer with partial dentition A pycnodontMenesp.Qreiya 3Articulated skeletonA moonfish.cf. NursalliaIndeterminateQreiya 3Articulated skeletonA pycnodont.OsteoglossidaeIndeterminateQreiya 3Articulated skeletonA bonytongue.Scombrinae (Eocoelopomini)IndeterminateQreiya 3Articulated skeletonA scombrid.SyngnathidaeIndeterminateQreiya 3Articulated skeletonA pipefish.VeliferidaeIndeterminateQreiya 3Articulated skeletonA sailfin velifer.TrichiuroideaIndeterminateQreiya 3Articulated skeletonA relative of cutlassfish and snake mackerels. Wadiichthys W. anbaawyi Beris Member A saurodontid ichthyodectiformZeiformesIndeterminateQreiya 3Articulated skeletonA zeiform.

Invertebrates Bivalves Bivalves reported from the Dakhla Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesApectoichnusA. longissimusAmmonite Hill MemberBorings in Nypa fruitsBivalve boringsTeredolitesT. clavatusAmmonite Hill Member32 moderately preserved borings (TBT02-33) and two badly preserved specimens (TBT44-45) in Nypa fruitsBivalve borings

Plants Plants reported from the Dakhla Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesNypaN. burtiniiFruits and seed castsA mangrove palmN. sp.Ammonite Hill MemberFruits with bivalve boringsA mangrove palm

See also

List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations List of stratigraphic units with indeterminate dinosaur fossils

References

Bibliography Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. 861 pp. .