Dinosaur Beds

Dinosaur Beds
Stratigraphic range: Barremian–Aptian
Type Geological formation
Unit of Lupata Group
Sub-units Lower Member, Upper Member
Underlies Unconformity with Pliocene Chiwondo Beds
Overlies Precambrian Metamorphic Basement
Thickness Upper member is 210 m thick in vicinity of CD-9 locality
Lithology
Primary Sandstone, Siltstone, Mudstone
Location
Coordinates 10°17′S 34°02′E / 10.28°S 34.04°E / -10.28; 34.04
Region Northern Region
Country  Malawi
Extent Karonga District

The Dinosaur Beds is a geological formation in Malawi whose strata date back to the Early Cretaceous. The age of the deposit is poorly constrained, but is likely to date from the Barremian to Aptian.[1] Dinosaurs, turtles and crocodyliomorphs remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[2] It is correlated with the Galula Formation in Tanzania. It consists of two members, a lower unfossiliferous member consisting of deep red stained sandstones, and a upper fossiliferous member consisting of white sands and grey to red mudstones and siltstones. The upper member is 210 m thick in the vicinity of the CD-9 locality.[3]

Vertebrate paleofauna

  • Karongasaurus gittelmani - A lower mandible and a few teeth
  • Malawisaurus dixeyi - "Skull elements, teeth, vertebrae, limb elements osteoderms, of several individuals."[4]
  • Malawisuchus mwakasyungutiensis - A skeleton (almost complete articulated skeleton and skull)
  • Platycheloides nyasae - A partial shell
  • Theropoda indet.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Widlansky, Sarah J.; Clyde, William C.; O'Connor, Patrick M.; Roberts, Eric M.; Stevens, Nancy J. (2018-03). "Paleomagnetism of the Cretaceous Galula Formation and implications for vertebrate evolution". Journal of African Earth Sciences. 139: 403–420. doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2017.11.029. ISSN 1464-343X. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ↑ Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Early Cretaceous, Africa)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 571-573. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  3. ↑ WINKLER, DALE A.; GOMANI, ELIZABETH M.; JACOBS, LOUIS L. (2000). "COMPARATIVE TAPHONOMY OF AN EARLY CRETACEOUS SAUROPOD QUARRY, MALAWI, AFRICA". Paleont. Soc. Korea Special Publication. 4: 99–114.
  4. ↑ "Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 269.
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