Elrhaz Formation

Elrhaz Formation Stratigraphic range: Aptian-Albian
Outcrops of the formation
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	Tegama Group
Underlies	Echkar Formation
Overlies	Tazolé Formation
Location
Country	Niger

The Elrhaz Formation is a geological formation in Niger, central Africa.

Its strata date back to the Early Cretaceous (late Aptian-early Albian stages, about 112 million years ago). Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation, alongside those of multiple species of crocodyliformes.

Vertebrate paleofauna

Crocodyliformes

Crocodyliformes reported from the Elrhaz Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Araripesuchus[1]	A. wegeneri[1]			"nearly complete skull" - Sereno & Larsson (1999)		The giant Crocodyliform Sarcosuchus
Anatosuchus[1]	A. minor[1]			"nearly complete skull" - Sereno & Larsson (1999)
Sarcosuchus[2]	S. imperator			"partial skeletons, numerous skulls"

Ornithischians

Ornithischians reported from the Elrhaz Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Lurdusaurus[1]	L. arenatus[1]			"Partial skull, fragmentary postcranial skeleton."[3]		Ouranosaurus
Ouranosaurus[1]	O. nigeriensis[1]			"Skull and poscrania, second skeleton."[4]
Elrhazosaurus[1]	E. nigeriensis[1]			"Femora."[5]

Saurischians

Saurischians reported from the Elrhaz Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Eocarcharia[1]	E. dinops[6]			"Partial skull and postcranial remains."[7]	Carcharodontosaurid	Suchomimus
Elaphrosaurus[1]	E. iguidensis[1]				No longer assigned to Elaphrosaurus
Nigersaurus[1]	N. taqueti[1]				Sauropod
Suchomimus[1]	S. tenerensis[1]			Partial skull and associated skeleton.[8]	A second, possible spinosaurid found in the formation, Cristatusaurus, is considered either a separate species or a synonym to Suchomimus[9]
Kryptops[1]	K. Palaios[1]			Postcranial skeleton and partial skull.[10]	Abelisaurid

See also

• List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations

Footnotes

1. "68.1 Departement D'Agedez, Niger; 1. Elrhaz Formation," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 572.
2. Sereno, P. C.; Larsson, H. C.; Sidor, C. A.; Gado, B. (2001-11-16). "The giant crocodyliform Sarcosuchus from the Cretaceous of Africa". Science (New York, N.Y.). 294 (5546): 1516–1519. doi:10.1126/science.1066521. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 11679634.
3. "Table 19.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 416.
4. "Table 19.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 417.
5. "Table 19.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 415.
6. Sereno, Paul C.; and Brusatte, Stephen L. (2008). "Basal abelisaurid and carcharodontosaurid theropods from the Lower Cretaceous Elrhaz Formation of Niger" (pdf). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 53 (1): 15–46. doi:10.4202/app.2008.0102.
7. "Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 73.
8. "Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 72.
9. Rauhut, O.W.M. (2003). "The interrelationships and evolution of basal theropod dinosaurs". Special Papers in Palaeontology 69: 1-213.
10. "Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2008). Page 72.

References

• Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. 861 pp. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.