The Baynunah Formation is a palaeontological formation located in the western region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. It dates to the Upper Miocene epoch of the Neogene period[1] in the Cenozoic Era.

Baynunah Formation
Stratigraphic range: Late Miocene
~8.0–6.0 Ma
TypeGeological formation
UnderliesShuwaihat Formation
Lithology
PrimarySandstone, conglomerate
Location
Coordinates24°1′48″N 53°2′18″E / 24.03000°N 53.03833°E / 24.03000; 53.03833
RegionAl Gharbia
Country United Arab Emirates
Baynunah Formation is located in United Arab Emirates
Baynunah Formation
Baynunah Formation (United Arab Emirates)

Geology

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Fauna

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Fossils of the hippopotamus genus Archaeopotamus have been found in the formation[2][3] [4]

Birds

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Taxa Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Diamantornis D. laini Jaw al Dibsa (DBS 2), Hamra (HMR 1, 3, 5), Hadwaniyya (HAD 4, 5, 6), Harmiyyah (HAR 3, 4), Jebel Barakah (JBR 2), Kihal (KIH 3), Ras al

Qal’a (RAQ 1, 2), Gerain al Aysh (GAA 3, 4, 8), Ras Dubay’ah (RDB 4), Ruwais (RUW), Shuwaihat (SHU 2, 3, 4, 8), and Umm Al Khabir (UAK 1)

Multiple collected specimens. An extinct Ratite bird
Struthio S. cf. karatheodoris Kihal 2 A pelvis, almost complete except for the pubic symphysis region.
Phalacrocorax P. sp. A proximal left carpometacarpus, distal right tarsometatarsus, and a tentatively referred proximal right humerus fragment.

Mammals

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Artiodactyls

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Bovids
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Taxa Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Afrotragus A. libycus
Miotragocerus M. cyrenaicus
Pachyportax P. latidens
Prostrepsiceros P. vinayaki
Tragoportax T. cyrenaicus
Giraffids
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Taxa Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Paleotragus P. aff. germaini
Samotherium S. cf. sp.
Hippotamids
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Taxa Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Archaeopotamus A. lothagamensis
A. qeshta
Suidae
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Taxa Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Nyanzachoerus N. syrticus
Propotamochoerus P. hysudricus

Carnivorans

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Taxa Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Plesiogulo P. praecocidens

Perissodactyls

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Taxa Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Hipparion H. abudhabiense

Primates

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Taxa Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images

Proboscideans

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Taxa Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Stegotetrabelodon[5] S. emiratus A primitive elephantid.
 
Tetralophodon[5] Indeterminate A gomphothere.
Gomphotheriidae[5] Indeterminate. A gomphothere.
Deinotherium[5] D. aff. bozasi A deinotheriid

Rodents

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Taxa Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Abudhabia A. baynunensis
Dendromus D. sp
Jebelus J. rex
Myocricetodon M. sp
Parapelomys P. cf. charkhensis
Protohummus P. dango

Fish

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Taxon Notes Image
Bagrus[6]
Clarias[6] At least two species (possibly 3)
Labeobarbus[6] Cyprinid
 ?Capoeta[6] Probably Capoeta
African cichlid[6] At least one species
Percomorpha[6] Intermediate
Pristid sawfish[6]
Daysatid stingray[6]

Stegotetrabelodon footprints

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Footprints attributed to Stegotetrabelodon have been found in the formation.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Annual Report 2017" (pdf), Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, vol. 1: Culture, pp. 28–29, 2017, retrieved 2019-03-09
  2. ^ Boisserie, Jean-Renaud; Schuster, Mathieu; Beech, Mark; Hill, Andrew; Bibi, Faysal. "A New Species of Hippopotamine (Cetartiodactyla, Hippopotamidae) from the Late Miocene Baynunah Formation, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates".
  3. ^ Bibi, F., Hill, A., Beech, M., & Yasin, W. (2013). Late Miocene Fossils from the Baynunah Formation, United Arab Emirates. Fossil Mammals of Asia, 583–594. https://doi.org/10.7312/COLUMBIA/9780231150125.003.0027
  4. ^ Antoine Louchart, Faysal Bibi, John Stewart. Birds from the Baynunah Formation. Sands of Time, Springer International Publishing; Springer International Publishing, pp.125-139, 2022, Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology, ⟨10.1007/978-3-030-83883-6_9⟩. ⟨hal-04025279⟩
  5. ^ a b c d Sanders, William J. (2022), Bibi, Faysal; Kraatz, Brian; Beech, Mark J.; Hill, Andrew (eds.), "Proboscidea from the Baynunah Formation", Sands of Time, Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 141–177, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-83883-6_10, ISBN 978-3-030-83882-9, retrieved 2024-01-03
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Otera, Olga. Home Sands of Time Chapter Fishes from the Baynunah Formation. Springer International Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-83883-6_7.
  7. ^ Bibi, Faysal; Kraatz, Brian; Beech, Mark; Hill, Andrew (2022). "Fossil Trackways of the Baynunah Formation". Sands of Time. Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology. pp. 283–298. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-83883-6_17. ISBN 978-3-030-83882-9.

Further reading

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  • Vickers-Rich, Patricia & Rich, Thomas Hewett (1993); Wildlife of Gondwana. Reed. ISBN 0-7301-0315-3