Continental intercalaire

Continental intercalaire
Stratigraphic range:
Outcrops of the "Continental intercalaire infracenomanien" in the Kem Kem
TypeGeological formation
OverliesPaleozoic rocks (often Carboniferous in age)
Thickness30 to 800 metres (100 to 2,600 ft)
Lithology
PrimarySandstone, claystone, conglomerate
Location
RegionNorthern Africa

The Continental intercalaire, sometimes referred to as the Continental intercalaire Formation, is a term applied to Cretaceous strata in Northern Africa.[1] It is the largest single stratum found in Africa to date, being between 30 and 800 metres (100 and 2,600 ft) thick in some places. Fossils, including dinosaurs, have been recovered from this formation.[2] The Continental intercalaire stretches from Algeria, Tunisia and Niger in the west to Egypt and Sudan in the east.[3][4]

History

Fernand Foureau was the first to excavate fossils from the Continental intercalaire in Djoua, Algeria in 1893,[1] and Léon Pervinquière studied the Continental intercalaire in Tataouine, Tunisia in 1912.[5][6]

The Continental intercalaire was later identified during the course of several expeditions to the Sahara from 1946 to 1959 which were led by the French paleontologist Albert-Félix de Lapparent.[1][7]

Description

The Continental intercalaire is most often likened to the Kem Kem Group in Morocco.[8] It likely represents fluviatile facies, suggesting an environment with many rivers and streams.[9]

Fossil content

Archosaurs

Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs of the Continental intercalaire
Genus Species Location Material Notes Images
Aegyptosaurus[8] A. baharijensis Vertebrae, thoracic rib fragment, and two metatarsals (Niger); caudal vertebrae (Egypt)[1]
Bahariasaurus[8][1] B.ingens Niger Six vertebrae
"Brachiosaurus"[8] "B" nougaredi Taouratine, Algeria Partial sacrum and left forelimb Previously believed to be discovered from the Late Jurassic-age Taouratine Series. Likely does not belong as a species of Brachiosaurus and may represent multiple sauropod species.
Carcharodontosaurus[8] C. saharicus 164 teeth, several vertebrae, partial humerus, and a metatarsal[1] Collection of multiple specimens with teeth found at all four localities.
cf.C.sp Fragmentary remains[2]
Coelurosauria[1] Coelurosauria indet. Morocco Left tibia and a "large" femur Similar to cf. Elaphrosaurus from Egypt.
  • In Abangarit, Niger
  • In Tedreft, Niger
 16 vertebrae, left humerus, right ulna, left pubis, femur, right tibia (In Abangarit material); 3 damaged vertebrae, sacrum, 3 hand claws, right tibia, isolated tibia, metatarsal, 4 phalanges (In Tedreft material) Previously known as Elaphrosaurus gautieri and is a collection of multiple specimens.
  • Ebrechko, Niger
  • El Rhaz, Niger
  • Ifayen Ignère, Niger
  • In Abangarit, Niger
 49 teeth, 8 caudal vertebrae, a hand claw, a damaged right femur, and a tibia Previously known as Elaphrosaurus iguidensis and is a collection of multiple specimens.
Dinosauria[10] Dinosauria indet. Djoua, Algeria Fragments Discovered by Fernand Foureau in 1893.
Dinosauria[11] Tilemsi, Mali "Large bones" Only ever mentioned in passing.
Iguanodontia[8] Iguanodontia indet. Kanboute, Tunisia Upper right maxillary tooth[1] Previously described as belonging to Iguanodon mantelli. Discovered on 15 January 1951.
Inosaurus[12][13] I. tedreftensis In Tedreft, Niger Two dorso-lumbar vertebrae, two smaller vertebrae, two fused sacral vertebrae, five middle or posterior caudal vertebrae, seven caudal vertebra fragments, left proximal tibia. Includes the holotype specimen.
Megalosauroidea[14][15] Megalosauroidea indet. Timimoun, Algeria Two teeth Discovered by Captain Burté.
Nigersaurus N. taqueti
Paralititan?[8] P. stromeri? May instead be Aegyptosaurus
Rebbachisaurus?[1] R.? tamesnensis
  • Aoulef, Algeria
  • Djoua, Algeria
  • In Salah, Algeria
  • Timimoun, Algeria
  • Ebrechko, Niger
  • El Rhaz, Niger
  • Ifayen Ignère, Niger
  • Iguallala, Niger
  • In-Gall, Niger
  • Tébéhic, Niger
  • Ténéré, Niger
  • Tiguidi, Niger
  • Guermessa, Tunisia
 Two humeri and two femora, and a second specimen composed of four isolated teeth, a dentary fragment with three teeth, over 100 vertebrae, six chevrons, 12 ribs, 5 scapulae, an ilium, two ischia, and numerous limb elements May not belong to Rebbachisaurus.
Ornithopoda[8] Ornithopoda indet. Multiple species
Sauropoda[1][8] Sauropoda indet. In Gall, Niger Two vertebrae Previously referred to Astrodon.
Sauropoda[16] Ibelrane, Mali Vertebra
Stegosauria[1] Stegosauria indet. In Abangarit, Niger Dermal plate
Spinosaurus[8] S. aegyptiacus
  • Egypt
  • Morocco
 Abundant teeth and postcranial remains Used to help date the age of the Continental intercalaire; 94% of theropod teeth in the Continental intercalaire belong to Spinosaurus. Relatively rare in Algerian strata.[9]
cf. S. sp
  • Kénadsa, Algeria
  • Menaguir, Algeria
  • Egypt
  • Morocco
  • Tunisia
 Abundant teeth and postcranial remains
Theropoda[8][1] Theropoda indet. Zarzaïtine, Algeria Two teeth Previously placed within Teratosaurus. May be referrable to ?Megalosauridae.
Titanosauria[17] Titanosauria indet. Mali Represents a distinct species current found only in Mali.[17]

Reptiles

Reptiles of the Continental intercalaire
Genus Species Location Material Notes Images
Reptilia[18] Reptilia indet. Marandet, Niger Indeterminate remains

Crocodylomorphs

Crocodylomorphs of the Continental intercalaire
Genus Species Location Material Notes Images
Sarcosuchus[8] S. imperator[7]
Sissokosuchus[19] S. maliensis A partial dentary tip, parts of the maxilla, and several cranial elements. A sebecian notosuchian.

Fish

Fish of the Continental intercalaire
Genus Species Location Material Notes Images
Hybodontidae[9] Hybodontidae indet. Menaguir, Tunisia Fin spine fragment[9]
Mawsonia[20]
  • Algeria
  • Tunisia
 (several species)[20]
Onchopristis[8] O. numida (or numidus) Algeria[8] Includes specimens previously known as Gigantichthys numidus.[10]

Trace fossils

Trace fossils of the Continental intercalaire
Genus Species Location Material Notes Images
Ophiomorpha[9] Ophiomorpha sp. Menaguir, Tunisia
Skolithos[9] Skolithos sp. Menaguir, Tunisia
Thalassinoides[9] Thalassinoides sp. Menaguir, Tunisia

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l A. F. de Lapparent, (1960), "Les Dinosauriens du "Continental intercalaire" du Sahara central", Mémoires de la Société géologique de France, nouvelle série 39(88A): 1-57
  2. ^ a b Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Early Cretaceous, Africa)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 571-573. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  3. ^ Paul E. Anderson, Michael J. Benton,⁎ Clive N. Trueman, Bruce A. Paterson, Gilles Cuny (2007). "Palaeoenvironments of vertebrates on the southern shore of Tethys: The nonmarine Early Cretaceous of Tunisia". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 243 (1–2). Elsevier: 118–131. Bibcode:2007PPP...243..118A. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2006.07.015.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Federico Fanti, Michela Contessi, Fulvio Franchi (2012). "The Continental Intercalaire of southern Tunisia: Stratigraphy, paleontology, and paleoecology". Journal of African Earth Sciences. 73 (73–74). Elsevier: 1–23. Bibcode:2012JAfES..73....1F. doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2012.07.006.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Rapport sur une mission scientifique dans l'extrême-sud tunisien (frontière tuniso tripolitaine), (1912) - Discussion on the scientific mission to extreme southern Tunisia (Frontier Tunisia-Tripolitania).
  6. ^ Études de paléontologie tunisienne 2, Gastropodes et lamellibranches des terrains crétacés, (1912) - Studies of Tunisian paleontology II, Cretaceous gastropods and lamellibranchs.
  7. ^ a b De Broin, France; Taquet, Philippe (1966). "Découverte d'un Crocodilien nouveau dans le Crétacé inférieur du Sahara". C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris (in French). 262 (D).
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Continental intercalaire." Weishampel, et al. (2004). Pg. 571-572.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Benyoucef, Madani; Läng, Emilie; Cavin, Lionel; Mebarki, Kaddour; Adaci, Mohammed; Bensalah, Mustapha (2015). "Overabundance of piscivorous dinosaurs (Theropoda: Spinosauridae) in the mid-Cretaceous of North Africa: The Algerian dilemma". Cretaceous Research. 55: 44–55. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2015.02.002. ISSN 0195-6671.
  10. ^ a b W., R. DeC., Foureau, F. (1904) Documents scientifiques de la Mission Saharienne. Mission Foureau-Lamy d'Alger au Congo par le Tchad. Bulletin of the American Geographical Society, 36 (9). 566pp. doi:10.2307/198160
  11. ^ Bourcart, J. (1932). Le Sahara algérien, in La Géologie, et les Mines de la France d'outre-mer, p. 181-204.
  12. ^ A. F. d. Lapparent. (1953). Gisements de Dinosauriens dans le "Continental intercalaire" d'In Abangarit (Sahara méridional) [Dinosaur localities in the "Continental Intercalaire" of In Abangarit (southern Sahara)]. Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences à Paris 236:1905-1906
  13. ^ A. F. de Lapparent, (1960), "Les Dinosauriens du "Continental intercalaire" du Sahara central", Mémoires de la Société géologique de France, nouvelle série 39(88A): 1-57
  14. ^ Depéret, C. & Savornin, J. (1925). Sur la découverte d'une faune de vertébrés albiens a Timimoun (Sahara occidental), Comptes Rendus, Académie des Sciences, Paris, volume 181, pp. 1108–1111.
  15. ^ Depéret, C. & Savornin, J. (1927). La Faune de reptiles et de poissons albiens de Timimoun (Sahara algérien), Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France, volume 27, pp. 257–265.
  16. ^ Pérébaskine, V. (1933). Contribution à l'étude géologique du Soudan oriental. Bull. Agence gén. des Col., n° 286, p. 19-54 ; n° 287, p. 246-281 ; n° 288, p. 448-483 ; 11 fig., 9 pl., 1 carte h. t. (Tirage à part : 1 volume in-8, 125 p., 11 fig. 9 pl., 1 carte h. t.) (Thèse).
  17. ^ a b O'Leary, A; Roberts, M; Head, J; Sissoko, S; Boare, B (2016). "Titanosaurian (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) remains from the "Continental Intercalaire" of Mali [X23707] (matrix)". MorphoBank datasets. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  18. ^ Chudeau, René (1908). "Etudes sur le Sahara et le Soudan". Annales de Géographie. 17 (91): 34–55. doi:10.3406/geo.1908.18206. ISSN 0003-4010.
  19. ^ Wilberg, E.; Hill, R. V.; Pascucci, T. R.; Roberts, E. M.; Bouaré, M. L.; O'Leary, M. A. (2025). "A new itasuchid (Crocodyliformes, Notosuchia) from the Early Cretaceous of Mali and the ancient Paleo-Tegama river system of Gondwana". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. e2505473. doi:10.1080/02724634.2025.2505473.
  20. ^ a b Mawsonia at Fossilworks.org

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