Kem Kem Group Explained

Kem Kem Group
Type:Geological group
Age:Cenomanian
~
Period:Cenomanian
Prilithology:Sandstone
Underlies:Cenomanian-Turonian limestone platform
Region:Er Rachidia, Tafilalt
Country: Morocco
Coordinates:32.8333°N -54°W
Paleocoordinates:18.8°N -4.1°W
Subunits:Douira Formation, Gara Sbaa Formation
Extent:central and eastern Morocco north and south of the Pre-African Trough

The Kem Kem Group (commonly known as the Kem Kem beds[1] ) is a geological group in the Kem Kem region of eastern Morocco, whose strata date back to the Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous. Its strata are subdivided into two geological formations, with the lower Ifezouane Formation and the upper Aoufous Formation used for the strata on the eastern side of the Atlas Mountains (Tinghir), with the Gara Sbaa Formation and Douira Formation used in the southern Tafilalt region.[2] It is exposed on an escarpment along the Algeria–Morocco border.

The unit unconformably overlies Paleozoic marine units of Cambrian, Silurian and Devonian ages and is itself capped by limestone platform rock of Cenomanian-Turonian age. It primarily consists of deltaic deposits. The lower Gara Sbaa Formation primarily consists of fine and medium grained sandstone, while the Douira Formation consists of fining-upward, coarse-to-fine grained sandstones intercalated with siltstones, variegated mudstones, and occasional thin gypsiferous evaporites.

Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the group.[3] Recent fossil evidence in the form of isolated large abelisaurid bones and comparisons with other similarly aged deposits elsewhere in Africa indicates that the fauna of the Kem Kem Group (specifically in regard to the numerous predatory theropod dinosaurs) may have been mixed together due to the harsh and changing geology of the region, when in reality they would likely have preferred separate habitats and likely would have been separated by millions of years.

Vertebrate paleofauna

Cartilaginous fish

Cartilaginous fish
Genus Species Location Material Notes Images
Acrodontidae indet.IndeterminateMembers of Hybodontoidea
BahariyodonB. bartheliA member of Hybodontoidea
CenocarchariasC. tenuiplicatusOne toothA member of the family Cretoxyrhinidae
DistobatusD. nutiaeA member of Hybodontoidea
HaimirichiaH. amonensisOne toothA mackerel shark
MarckgrafiaM. lybica13 teethA member of Batoidea
OnchopristisO. numida[4] A rajiform ray[5]
PeyeriaP. libycaThree teethA sawfish. Might be a junior synonym of Onchopristis numida.
TribodusT. sp.A member of Hybodontoidea

Ray-finned fish

Ray-finned fish
Genus Species Location Material Notes Images
AdrianaichthysA. pankowskiiIsolated scales[6] and two skulls[7] A member of Lepisosteiformes. Originally described as a species of Lepidotes, but subsequently transferred to a separate genus.[8]
Afrocascudo[9] A. saharaensisA neopterygiian fish, either an ancient loricariid catfish or a juvenile obaichthyid lepisosteiform.[10]
Agassizilia[11] A. erfoudinaPossibly a member of the family Pycnodontidae.
AgoultichthysA. chattertoniA long-bodied member of Actinopterygii of uncertain phylogenetic placement. Might be a member of the family Macrosemiidae[12] or Ophiopsiellidae.[13]
AidacharA. pankowskiiA member of Ichthyodectiformes
BartschichthysB. sp.Isolated pinnulae (spines that support each dorsal finlet)A cladistian
Bawitius cf. B. sp.Isolated scales and jaw fragmentsA cladistian
CalamopleurusC. africanusA partial skullA member of Amiiformes
ConcavotectumC. moroccensisA member of Tselfatiiformes
DentilepisosteusD. kemkemensisA member of Lepisosteiformes
DiplomystusD. sp.A deep-bodied teleost belonging to the group Clupeomorpha
DiplospondichthysD. moreauiA member of Actinopterygii of uncertain phylogenetic placement, possibly a teleost
ErfoudichthysE. rosaeIsolated skullA small-bodied teleost of unknown affinity
NeoproscinetesN. africanusA member of the family Pycnodontidae
ObaichthysO. africanusIsolated scalesA member of Lepisosteiformes
OniichthysO. falipouiNear complete skeleton including skullA member of Lepisosteiformes
PalaeonotopterusP. greenwoodiA member of Osteoglossomorpha
SerenoichthysS. kemkemensisSeveral articulated skeletonsA small cladistian
SpinocaudichthysS. oumtkoutensisAn elongate freshwater acanthomorph
StromerichthysS. aethiopicus
SudaniaS. sp.An isolated pinnulaA cladistian

Lobe-finned fish

Lobe-finned fish
Genus Species Location Material Notes Images
ArganodusA. tiguidiensisA lungfish
Axelrodichthys[14] A.? lavocatiA mawsoniid coelacanth; this species was previously assigned to Mawsonia, and its generic assignment is still not certain[15]
NeoceratodusN. africanusA lungfish

Amphibians

Amphibians
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Anura indet.IndeterminateDouira FormationIncomplete left ilium
Cretadhefdaa[16] C. taouzensisDouira FormationPosterior portion of the skull, incomplete squamosal, incomplete maxilla, three incomplete presacral vertebrae, one incomplete sacral vertebraA neobatrachian frog with possible hyloid affinities.
cf. KababishaIndeterminateA salamander belonging to the family Sirenidae
?Neobatrachia indet.IndeterminateDouira FormationIncomplete humerusA frog, possibly a member of Ranoidea.
Oumtkoutia[17] O. anaeA frog belonging to the family Pipidae

Lizards and snakes

Lizards and snakes reported from the Continental Red Beds
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
BicuspidonB. hogreli[18] A polyglyphanodontid lizard.
Jeddaherdan[19] J. aleadontaPartial mandible with teeth.An iguanian belonging to the group Acrodonta, possibly a relative of the uromastycine agamids. Argued by Vullo et al. (2022) to actually come from Quaternary beds, and to be based on a fossil material of a member of the genus Uromastyx.[20]
LapparentophisL. ragei[21] Two isolated trunk vertebraeAn early snake.
Madtsoiidae indet.IndeterminateVertebraeAn early snake.
?Nigerophiidae indet.IndeterminateDorsal vertebraeAn early snake.
Norisophis[22] N. begaaOne posterior and two mid-trunk vertebraeA stem-snake.
IndeterminateA mid-trunk vertebra
Simoliophiscf. S. libycusVertebraeAn early snake.

Turtles

Turtles reported from the Continental Red Beds
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages -->
DirqadimD. schaefferiA Euraxemydid -->
GalianemysG. emringeriA Cearachelyin
G. whitei
HamadachelysH. escuilliei

Crocodylomorphs

A tooth enamel identified as cf. Sarcosuchus was discovered from the Ifezouane Formation.[24]

Crocodylomorphs reported from the Continental Red Beds
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
AegisuchusA. witmeri"Partial braincase of a large individual with skull roof, temporal, and occipital regions."[25] An aegyptosuchid that may be a synonym of Laganosuchus.
Antaeusuchus[26] A. taouzensisPaired mandibles and a partial right mandibleA peirosaurid.
AraripesuchusA. rattoidesDouira Formation
ElosuchusE. cherifiensis
  • Gara Sbaa Formation
  • Douira Formation
An elosuchid. The material may represent two different species.
HamadasuchusH. rebouli
  • Gara Sbaa Formation
  • Douira Formation?
A peirosaurid.
KemkemiaK. auditoreiErrachidia Province, MoroccoKnown from an isolated caudal vertebra.Initially thought to be a neotheropod,[27] but subsequently discovered to be an indeterminate crocodyliform.[28]
LaganosuchusL. thaumastosA stomatosuchid.
Lavocatchampsa[29] Lavocatchampsa sigogneaurusselaeAnterior portion of a rostrum with mandible, with an almost complete dentitionA candidodontid notosuchian.

Dinosaurs

Indeterminate lithostrotian remains once misattributed to the Titanosauridae are present in the province of Ksar-es-Souk, Morocco.

Ornithischians

Ornithischians reported from the Continental Red Beds
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Ankylosauria[30] IndeterminateDouira FormationAn isolated tooth.A probable ankylosaur
Ornithopoda[31] IndeterminateDouira FormationA large, clover-shaped, three-toed footprint.Comparable in size and shape to tracks typically attributed to Iguanodon.

Sauropods

Sauropods reported from the Continental Red Beds
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
RebbachisaurusR. garasbaeKsar-es-Souk province, Morocco.Gara Sbaa FormationA rebbachisaurid.
Somphospondyli[32] IndeterminateAnterior dorsal vertebra, partial right ischiumThe vertebra might belong to a basal titanosaurian, possibly distinct from Aegyptosaurus and Paralititan. The ischium is not identifiable beyond Somphospondyli; it preserves numerous grooves and pits which might be feeding traces left by a very large non-avian theropod.
Titanosauria[33] Indeterminate
  • Ifezouane Formation
  • Douira Formation
Isolated teeth, caudal vertebrae, a partial humerus, a tarsal bone and the proximal end of an ulna.Fossil material of one or more titanosaurian sauropods. Some fossils are indicative of large body size comparable to Paralititan stromeri.

Theropods

Theropods reported from the Continental Red Beds
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
AbelisauridaeIndeterminateIsolated teeth.[34] [35]
Partial right femur.[36] Partial right maxilla. A cervical vertebra.[37] Left maxilla.
Abelisaurid material belonging to one or two distinct taxa.
CarcharodontosaurusC. saharicusKsar-es-Souk province, Morocco.Douira FormationPartial skull, including braincase, nasals, postorbitals, jugals, left lacrimal and right maxilla with most teeth.[38] A carcharodontosaurid theropod.
Carcharodontosauridae[39] IndeterminateSoutheast of Taouz, Errachidia ProvinceIfezouane Formationpartial maxilla and partial jugalA carcharodontosaurid theropod different from C. saharicus
DeltadromeusD. agilisGara Sbaa Formation"Partial skeleton, isolated limb elements."[40] A noasaurid ceratosaurian or possible neovenatorid carnosaur. May be synonymous with Bahariasaurus.
DromaeosauridaeIndeterminateIsolated teeth.Originally described as teeth of indeterminate dromaeosaurids. Hendrickx et al. (2024) reinterpreted this fossil material as teeth of abelisauroid theropods, including noasaurids and juvenile abelisaurids.
cf. ElaphrosaurusIndeterminateKsar-es-Souk province, Morocco.Fossils previously referred to cf. Elaphrosaurus are actually indeterminate theropod remains.
NoasauridaeIndeterminateAn anterior cervical vertebra
Isolated teeth
"Osteoporosia"[41] "O. gigantea"A tooth and a possible neural arch from another specimen.A theropod, possibly synonymous with Sauroniops.[42]
Saurischia[43] IndeterminateAn isolated cervical vertebra.An indeterminate saurischian.
Sauroniops[44] S. pachytholusIfezouane Formation"An isolated and almost complete left frontal,[45] and a possible tooth and neural arch from two other specimens."A carcharodontosaurid distinct from Carcharodontosaurus.
SpinosaurusS. aegyptiacusKsar-es-Souk province, Morocco.Douira FormationPartial skeleton, including parts of the skull, neck, torso, and most of the tail and hind limbs. [46] Numerous isolated bones.

Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs of the Kem Kem Beds
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionAbundanceNotesImages
Afrotapejara[47] A. zouhriTakmoutIfezouane FormationA fragment of bone interpreted as a fragment of anterior mandibular symphysis,[48] and additional jaw fragments that pertain to the rostrum as well as indeterminate jaw fragments.A tapejarid pterosaur. Originally believed to belong to either the family Thalassodromidae[49] or an additional specimen of Alanqa saharica.
AlanqaA. saharicaIfezouane FormationThe holotype is a mandibular symphysis, of different parts of the jawA pterosaur of uncertain phylogenetic placement, probably an azhdarchid.
Anhanguera[50] A. cf. piscatorupper Ifezouane FormationPartial mandibular symphysis
Apatorhamphus[51] A. gyrostegaIfezouane Formation Partial rostrum and mandible, with additional referred jaw fragmentsA possible chaoyangopterid azhdarchoid pterosaur. Originally believed to be a possible pteranodontid, a possible dsungaripterid, a possible non-azhdarchid azhdarchoid or nyctosaurid, or a specimen of Alanqa saharica.[52]
Azhdarchidae indet.[53] IndeterminateThree middle cervical vertebrae.Averianov (2014) considered these vertebrae to pertain to Alanqa saharica, although the vertebrae may be indicative of two taxa.
ColoborhynchusC. sp. A.Hassi El BegaaPremaxillae fragmentPossibly a specimen of Nicorhynchus fluviferox.
Leptostomia[54] L. begaaensisAferdou N’ Chaftupper Ifezouane Formation Partial rostrum and partial mandibular synthesisA small, long-beaked pterosaur, likely a member of Azhdarchoidea.
Nicorhynchus[55] N. fluviferoxPossibly Aferdou N’Chaft, Hassi El BegaaIfezouane Formation An anterior portion of the rostrum.Originally described as a species of Coloborhynchus[56] but subsequently transferred to the genus Nicorhynchus.
OrnithocheirusO. cf. simus.upper Ifezouane Formation Premaxillae fragment
Siroccopteryx[57] S. moroccensisAnterior part of a rostrumClassified by some authors as a species belonging to the genus Coloborhynchus.
XericepsX. curvirostraAferdou N'ChaftIfezouane FormationMandibular symphysis and partial mandibleAn indeterminate azhdarchoid, possibly a chaoyangopterid.

See also

Notes and References

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