A new Late Cretaceous reptiles bearing locality: Qarn Ganah, Kharga Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt

Document Type : Original papers

Authors

1 Geology Department, Faculty of Science, New Valley University, El-Kharga 72516, Egypt.

2 Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt.

Abstract

The Late Cretaceous was not only the most active epoch of Gondwana fragmentation but also a time of significant climatic and evolutionary activity, which has led to the extinction of many vertebrates. The African continent, the core of the supercontinent Gondwana, which became completely separated by the Late Cretaceous, has a poor and incomplete fossil record of that time when compared with other Gondawa continents.
Here we report on an important discovery of a new vertebrate-bearing locality from the Campanian Quseir Formation, Qarn Ganah area near Kharga Oasis, Southwestern Desert, Egypt. Paleontological work has resulted in the discovery of a variety of different vertebrate groups including sharks and bony fishes, turtles, crocodyliforms and dinosaurs. The collected specimens are good preserved isolated elements. One partial sauropod skeleton was found including some vertebrae, ribs and limb bones. The recovered vertebrate fauna will be examined in detail to further refine their identification and to establish their taxonomic affinities and establish their collective relationship with other Late Cretaceous African faunas such as Dinosaurs, crocodyliforms and turtles.
The new discovery will not only augment the growing collection of Late Cretaceous vertebrate faunas from Africa but also will improve understanding of global faunal changes and evolution during the late Mesozoic.

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