The Tamaguélelt Formation is an Early Eocene-aged geological formation in Mali. It comprises phosphorite sediments deposited within the Trans-Saharan seaway. Many of the preserved fossils of the formation indicate that it was a marginal marine habitat. In addition to these marine fossils, fossils of freshwater and terrestrial animals are also common in the formation, due to a vast freshwater network that regularly deposited fossils into the seaway.
Fossil content
Reptiles
Squamata + Squamates from the Tamaguélelt Formation Genus Species Material Notes MemberImagesPalaeophisP. colossaeusVertebraeA giant palaeophiid marine snakeSerpentesSerpentes indet.
Crocodylomorpha + Crocodylomorphs from the Tamaguélelt Formation Genus Species Material Notes MemberImagesTilemsisuchusT. lavocati A dyrosaurid crocodylomorphPhosphatosaurusP. gavialoidesA dyrosaurid crocodylomorph.
Ray-finned fish +Ray-finned fish from the Tamaguélelt FormationGenusSpeciesMaterialNotesMemberImagesBrychaetusB. sp.A marine bonytongue.ClaroteidaeClaroteidae indet.A freshwater claroteid catfish.CylindracanthusC. sp.A marine actinopterygian of uncertain affinities.MaliamiaM. gigasA large marine vidalamiine amiid.NigeriumN. tamaguelenseA freshwater claroteid catfish.PycnodusP. zeaformisA marine pycnodont.P. maliensisP. spStratodusS. apicalis A giant marine dercetid aulopiform.
Lobe-finned fish + Lungfish from the Tamaguélelt Formation Genus Species Material Notes MemberImagesLavocatodusL. giganteusA freshwater lavocatodid lungfishProtopterus P. elongusA freshwater protopterid lungfish
Mammals
Proboscidea + Proboscideans from the Tamaguélelt Formation Genus Species Material Notes MemberImagesProbscideaProbscidea indetNumidotheriidae Numidotheriidae indet. Plesielephantiformes Plesielephantiformes indet.
Hyracoidea + Hyraxes from the Tamaguélelt Formation Genus Species Material Notes MemberImagesPliohyracidae Pliohyracidae indet.
Mollusca
Bivalvia + Bivalves from the Tamaguélelt Formation Genus Species Material Notes MemberImagesPholadidaePholadidae indet.Gastrochaenolites G. sp.
Cephalopoda Cephalopods from the Tamaguélelt Formation Genus Species Material Notes MemberImagesCimomiaC. ogbeiA hercoglossid nautiloid.
References