Vertebrate paleontological exploration of the Upper Cretaceous succession in the Dakhla and Kharga Oases, Western Desert, Egypt

摘要: Abstract The Campanian and Maastrichtian stages are very poorly documented time intervals in Africa's record of terrestrial vertebrate evolution. Upper Cretaceous deposits exposed southern Egypt, near the Dakhla Kharga Oases Western Desert, preserve abundant fossils nearshore marine environments, but have not yet been focus intensive collection description. Our recent paleontological work these areas has resulted discovery numerous new fossil-bearing localities within middle Qusier Formation upper Campanian-lower Duwi Formation. Fossil remains recovered from Campanian-aged Quseir include sharks, rays, actinopterygian sarcopterygian fishes, turtles, rare archosaurians, including some only dinosaurs known this interval on continental Africa. Campanian/lower preserves sawfish, actinopterygians, reptiles (mosasaurs plesiosaurs). Notably absent collections representatives Mammalia Avialae, both which remain effectively undocumented rocks Africa Arabia. New age constraints examined rock units is provided by 23 nannofossil taxa, reported for first time. discoveries essential characterizing degree endemism that may developed as continent became increasingly tectonically isolated rest Gondwana, to mention fully evaluating origin diversification hypotheses major modern groups vertebrates (e.g., crown birds, placental mammals).