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Adaffa Formation

Coordinates: 27°18′N 35°42′E / 27.3°N 35.7°E / 27.3; 35.7
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Adaffa Formation
Stratigraphic range: Campanian
~72 Ma
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofSuqah Group
UnderliesUnconformity with Lower Miocene Al Wajh Formation
OverliesProterozoic granite basement
ThicknessUp to 200 m (660 ft)
Lithology
PrimarySandstone, siltstone, marl
OtherConglomerate
Location
LocationMidyan Peninsula, Tabuk Region
Coordinates27°18′N 35°42′E / 27.3°N 35.7°E / 27.3; 35.7
Approximate paleocoordinates9°42′N 29°12′E / 9.7°N 29.2°E / 9.7; 29.2
RegionArabian Peninsula
Country Saudi Arabia
Adaffa Formation is located in Saudi Arabia
Adaffa Formation
Adaffa Formation (Saudi Arabia)

The Adaffa Formation is a Geological formation in Saudi Arabia, and the lowermost unit of the Suqah Group. It dates back to the Campanian of the Late Cretaceous. The lithology consists of sandstone, siltstone and marl, with a basal granitic conglomerate with phosphatic nodules. Also present are ferricrete horizons. It was deposited in marginal marine conditions close to land. Fish,[1] marine reptile[2] and dinosaur[3] remains have been recovered from the formation.

Vertebrate paleofauna

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Fish

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Fish of the Adaffa Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images
Ceratodus Indeterminate Toothplates Lungfish
cf. Enchodus Indeterminate Teeth
cf. Protosphyraena Indeterminate Teeth Pachycormid
?Anacoracidae Indeterminate Vertebrae
Lepisosteidae Indeterminate Vertebral centra
Pycnodontiformes Indeterminate Teeth

Crocodyliformes

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Crocodyliformes of the Adaffa Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images
Dyrosauridae Indeterminate Two vertebrae
Crocodyliformes Indeterminate Cranial fragment

Plesiosaurians

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Plesiosaurians of the Adaffa Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images
Elasmosauridae Indeterminate Rostral portion of a skull

Squamates

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Squamates of the Adaffa Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images
Prognathodon Indeterminate Teeth Mosasaur
cf. Pachyvaranus Indeterminate Vertebrae Aquatic varanoid
Mosasauridae Pygal vertebra
Plioplatecarpinae Indeterminate Dorsal vertebra

Turtles

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Turtles of the Adaffa Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images
Bothremydidae Indeterminate Shell fragments and a femur

Non-avian Dinosaurs

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Dinosaurs of the Adaffa Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images
Abelisauridae Indeterminate Two teeth
Titanosauria Indeterminate Seven caudal vertebrae, seemingly from the same individual

References

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  1. ^ Kear, Benjamin P.; Rich, Thomas H.; Ali, Mohammed A.; Al-Mufarrih, Yahya A.; Matiri, Adel H.; Al-Masary, Abdu M.; Attia, Yousry (October 2009). "An Upper Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian) actinopterygian fish assemblage from the marginal marine Adaffa Formation of Saudi Arabia". Cretaceous Research. 30 (5): 1164–1168. Bibcode:2009CrRes..30.1164K. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2009.05.002. ISSN 0195-6671.
  2. ^ Kear, B. P.; Rich, T. H.; Ali, M. A.; Al-Mufarrih, Y. A.; Matiri, A. H.; Masary, A. M.; Attia, Y. (September 2008). "Late Cretaceous (Campanian—Maastrichtian) marine reptiles from the Adaffa Formation, NW Saudi Arabia". Geological Magazine. 145 (5): 648–654. Bibcode:2008GeoM..145..648K. doi:10.1017/S0016756808005062. ISSN 1469-5081. S2CID 128412516.
  3. ^ Kear, Benjamin P.; Rich, Thomas H.; Vickers-Rich, Patricia; Ali, Mohammed A.; Al-Mufarreh, Yahya A.; Matari, Adel H.; Al-Massari, Abdu M.; Nasser, Abdulaziz H.; Attia, Yousry (2013-12-26). "First Dinosaurs from Saudi Arabia". PLOS ONE. 8 (12): e84041. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...884041K. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0084041. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 3873419. PMID 24386326.