Dakhla Formation

The Dakhla Formation, also called the Dakhla Shale,^[5] is a Maastrichtian-Danian geologic formation in the Western Desert, Egypt.^[4][6] Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation, although none have yet been referred to a specific genus.^[7]

Dakhla Formation
Stratigraphic range: Maastrichtian-Danian ~71–63 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Type	Geological formation
Sub-units	Ammonite Hill Member[1] Baris Oyster Mudstone Member[2] Beida Shale Member[3] Kharga Shale Member[2]
Underlies	Tarawan Formation[4]
Overlies	Duwi Formation[4]
Thickness	230 meters[4]
Lithology
Primary	Shale[4]
Other	Marl, Phosphorite
Location
Country	Egypt

Fossil content

Color key Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon		Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Reptiles

Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs reported from the Dakhla Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Sauropoda		Ammonite Hill Member[8]	A left femur (Vb-646).[8]	Most similar to femurs of Brachiosaurus or Saltasaurus.[8]

Turtles

Turtles reported from the Dakhla Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Arenila	A. krebsi	Ammonite Hill Member[9]	Partial skull.[9]	A bothremydid turtle.
	?Cf. A. krebsi	Ammonite Hill Member[9]	Partial dorsal shell & right pelvis.[9]	A bothremydid turtle.
Bothremydidae	Undetermined large forms	Ammonite Hill Member[9]	Nuchal bone, left pleuron & partial plastron of one individual.[9]	A large bothremydid turtle, with a shell length of 70 to 80 centimeters.[9]
Panchelonioidea	Gen. et. sp. indet.	Ammonite Hill Member[10]	Humerus (NVP010).[10]	A giant marine turtle.
Taphrosphys	T. cf. sulcatus	Ammonite Hill Member[9]	Anterior part of dorsal shell & partial dorsal shell with partial anterior plastral lobe.[9]	A bothremydid turtle.
	Cf. T. sp.	Ammonite Hill Member[9]	Left first pleural.[9]	A bothremydid turtle.
?Aff. Tasbacka	?Aff. T. sp.	Ammonite Hill Member[9]	Left humerus.[9]	A chelonioid sea turtle.
Zolhafah	Z. bella	Ammonite Hill Member[9]	Skull.[9]	A bothremydid turtle.

Mosasaurs

Mosasaurs reported from the Dakhla Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Globidens	G. phosphaticus	Beris Oyster Mudstone Member[2]	A single tooth crown (CUNV0011).[2]	A mosasaurine.
Halisaurus	H. hebae	Beris Oyster Mudstone Member[11]		A halisaurine
Mosasaurinae	Indeterminate	Beris Oyster Mudstone Member[2]	A fragmentary small dentary with a single tooth (CUNV0012).[2]	A mosasaurine.
Prognathodon	P. sp.	"Lower part"	Two tooth crowns, three cervical, nine dorsal, three caudal vertebrae, and ribs, found in association (NVP025).[5]	Most similar to P. overtoni, possibly a member of that species

Fish

Fish reported from the Dakhla Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Anomoeodus	A. aegypticus	Lower Beris Member[12]	A single specimen (NVP023).[12]	A pycnodont.
Diastemapycnodus	D. tavernensis	Beris Member[13]	"A single vomer with partial dentition".[13]	A pycnodont.
Sclerorhynchus	S. cf. leptodon[14]	Beris Member	Four fragmentary rostral denticles originally attributed to Onchopristis sp.[15]	A sawskate.
Sclerorhynchoidei	Indeterminate[14]	Beris Member	An exceptionally large, 1.46 metres (4.8 ft) long rostrum originally attributed to Onchopristis sp.[15]	A sawskate.

Invertebrates

Bivalves

Bivalves reported from the Dakhla Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Apectoichnus	A. longissimus	Ammonite Hill Member[1]	Borings in Nypa fruits.[1]	Bivalve borings.
Teredolites	T. clavatus	Ammonite Hill Member[1]	32 moderately preserved borings (TBT02-33) & two badly preserved specimens (TBT44-45) in Nypa fruits.[1]	Bivalve borings.

Plants

Plants reported from the Dakhla Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Nypa	N. burtinii		Fruits & seed casts.[16]	A mangrove palm
	N. sp.	Ammonite Hill Member[1]	Fruits with bivalve borings.[1]	A mangrove palm.

See also

• Geology portal
• Paleontology portal
• Dinosaurs portal

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