Dormaal (Eocene of Belgium)

Also known as Orsmael

Where: Brabant, Belgium (50.8° N, 5.1° E: paleocoordinates 46.3° N, 2.3° E)

• coordinate based on nearby landmark

• small collection-level geographic resolution

When: Dormaal Member (Tienen Formation), Ypresian (56.0 - 47.8 Ma)

• Lower Eocene, early Sparnacian (Landenian): NP 9, MP 7 (Smith & Smith, 2003)

• group of beds-level stratigraphic resolution

Environment/lithology: fluvial; sandstone

• The Dormaal Sand Member consists of a series of thin and discontinuous layers of fluviatile pebbles, cross- bedded lignitic and clayey sands with thin gray clay lenses pointing to rapidly changing deposition conditions in a fluviatile system (Smith & Smith, 1996; Steurbaut et al., 1999).

Size classes: macrofossils, mesofossils

Primary reference: L. Dollo. 1909. The fossil vertebrates of Belgium. Annals of the New York Academy of Science 19(4):99-119 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen]more details

Purpose of describing collection: taxonomic analysis

PaleoDB collection 35531: authorized by Matthew Carrano, entered by Matthew Carrano on 19.12.2003, edited by Robin Whatley, K. Christopher Beard, John Alroy, Philip Mannion, Chris Bell, Terri Cleary, David Nicholson, Patricia Holroyd, Juan Benito Moreno and Grace Varnham

Creative Commons license: CC BY (attribution)

Taxonomic list

Show authors, comments, and common names
Mammalia
 Multituberculata - Neoplagiaulacidae
Neoplagiaulacidae indet.12
Neoplagiaulacidae indet.12 Ameghino 1890 multituberculate
QB279 and 280 (teeth)
 Tribosphenida - Adapisoriculidae
Bustylus sp.9
Bustylus sp.9 Gheerbrant and Russell 1991 eutherian
 Cimolesta - Apatemyidae
Apatemys sp.18, Apatemys teilhardi n. sp.18
Apatemys sp.18 Marsh 1872 eutherian
Apatemys teilhardi n. sp.18 Russell et al. 1979 eutherian
 Macroscelidea - Louisinidae
Louisinidae "n. gen."9
Louisinidae "n. gen."9 Hooker and Russell 2012 elephant shrew
 Macroscelidea - Amphilemuridae
Macrocranion vandebroeki n. sp.17, Macrocranion germonpreae9
Macrocranion vandebroeki n. sp.17 Quinet 1964 elephant shrew
IRSNB M 66 - type
Macrocranion germonpreae9 Smith 1997 elephant shrew
 Soricomorpha - Nyctitheriidae
"Leptacodon dormaalensis" = Plagioctenodon dormaalensis20, Remiculus delsatei9, Remiculus cf. deutschi9, Wyonycteris richardi19
"Leptacodon dormaalensis" = Plagioctenodon dormaalensis20 Quinet 1964 placental
jaws and teeth
Remiculus delsatei9 placental
Remiculus cf. deutschi9 Russell 1964 placental
Wyonycteris richardi19 Smith 1995 placental
jaws and teeth
 Tribosphenida - Pantolestoidae
Palaeosinopa russelli21
Palaeosinopa russelli21 Smith 1997 placental
isolated teeth
 Ferae -
Gracilocyon solei n. gen. n. sp.23, "Miacis latouri n. sp." = Dormaalocyon latouri23
Gracilocyon solei n. gen. n. sp.23 Smith and Smith 2010 placental
IRNSB M 1327 - type
"Miacis latouri n. sp." = Dormaalocyon latouri23 Quinet 1966 placental
IRNSB M 1360 - type
 Creodonta - Hyaenodontidae
Galecyon morloi n. sp.22, Prototomus girardoti n. sp.22, Prototomus minimus n. sp.22, Arfia gingerichi n. sp.22
Galecyon morloi n. sp.22 Smith and Smith 2001 creodont
IRSNB M1314 - type (LM/1); paratypes (IRSNB M1312, RDP/4; IRSNB M1313, RP/4; IRSNB M1315, RM/2; IRSNB M916, RM/3; IRSNB M1316, RP4/; IRSNB M1317, LM1,2/.); referred material (DIII175RS, LP/4; D137, LM/1; CL89, RM/1; DIII176RS, LM/1; Do291PG, RM/1; Do306PG, RM/1?; TS44, LP4/ (labial part); DIII478RS, RDP4/?; IRSNB M1357, M1,2/d; CL94, LM1,2/)
Prototomus girardoti n. sp.22 Smith and Smith 2001 creodont
IRSNB M1297 - type (RM/1); paratypes (IRSNB M1296, RDP/4; IRSNB M1298, RM/3; IRSNB M1299, RP4/; IRSNB M1300, RM3/.)
Prototomus minimus n. sp.22 Smith and Smith 2001 creodont
IRSNB M1287 - type (LM/1); paratypes (IRSNB M1285, RDP/4; IRSNB M1286, RP/4; IRSNB M1288, LM/2; IRSNB M1289, RM/3; IRSNB M1356, RDP4/; IRSNB M1290, LP4/; IRSNB M1291, LM1/; IRSNB M1292, RM2/; IRSNB M1293, LM3/; IRSNB M1294, edentulous fragment of left mandible; IRSNB M1295, edentulous fragment of left mandible); referred material (DI1471RS, RP/3?; DIIC1389RS, RDP/4; TS5, RDP/4; TS6, LDP/4; Do1713PG, RDP/4; DIIA2296RS, RP/4; CL706, RP/4; TS7, RP/4; TS8, LP/4; TS9, RP/4; IRSNB M919, RM/1; DI1429RS, LM/1; DIIC1681RS, LM/1; DIII325RS, RM/1; DIII80RS, RM/1; DIIC1574RS, LM/1; DIII82RS, RM/1; TS10, LM/1; TS11, RM/1; TS12, LM/1; TS13, LM/1; DIII258RS, LM/1 ; WL167, LM/2; WL158, LM/2; CL102, LM/2; TS14, LM/2; TS15, RM/2; TS16, LM/2; TS17, RM/2; TS18, LM/2; DIII81RS, LM/2; DIII264RS, RM/2; DIII79RS, RM/2; DIIA1910RS, RM/2; DIII364RS, LM/2; IRSNB M917, RM/3; TS19, RM/3; TS20, RM/3; CL379, LDP4/; DIIC624RS, RDP4/; DIIC625RS, RDP4/; DIIC1557RS, LDP4/; DIIA1912RS, LDP4/ ; TS21, RDP4/; IRSNB M72, RM1/; IRSNB M80, LM1/; DIII363RS, LM1/; TS22, LM1/; TS23, RM1/ (broken); TS24, LM1/ (broken); DIII312RS, RM2/ (broken); DIII72RS, LM2/ (broken); DIIA1782RS, RM3/; TS25, RM3/; TS26, RM3/ (broken); TS29, edentulous fragment of right mandible); previously referred to Prolimnocyon
Arfia gingerichi n. sp.22 Smith and Smith 2001 creodont
IRSNB M1275 - type (RM/3); paratypes: IRSNB M1301, LP/3; IRSNB M1302, RDP/4; IRSNB M1303, RP/4; IRSNB M1304, RM/1; IRSNB M1305, RM/2; IRSNB M1306, LM/3; Referred material: CL44, LP/3; CL46, LP/3; CL47, LP/3; DIII173RS, RP/3; DIIC643RS, LP/3; TS30, LP/3; TS31, RP/3; TS32, LP/3 (broken); D83, LDP/4 (trigonid); DC143, RDP/4; DIIC641RS, RP/4; DIIC1687RS, LP/4; IRSNB M1276, RM/1; IRSNB M1277, LM/1; DIII1315RS, LM/1; DIIC250RS, LM/1; TS34, RM/2; TS35, RM/2 (trigonid); TS36, RM/3 (trigonid); DIII177RS, RM/3; DIII261RS, RM/3; TS42, LM/3 (worn); Do1712PG, RM/3 (trigonid); TS37, RP2/?; Do832, LP3/; DI1426RS, LP3/; CL37, LP4/ (labial part); DL1, RM1/; DD8, LM1/; TS39, RM1/ (lingual part); DI1849RS, LM3/; TS41, LM3/; some of these remains previously referred to Arfia woutersi and then to Arfia junnei
 Creodonta - Oxyaenidae
"Palaeonictis gigantea" = Palaeonictis gigantea22, "Dormaalodon woutersi n. gen. n. sp." = Palaeonictis gigantea22, "Arfia woutersi n. sp." = Oxyaena woutersi22
"Palaeonictis gigantea" = Palaeonictis gigantea22 de Blainville 1842 creodont
IRSNB M1355 (LP/4)
"Dormaalodon woutersi n. gen. n. sp." = Palaeonictis gigantea22 de Blainville 1842 creodont
IRSNB M1474 - holotype (RM/1); referred material: IRSNB M1466 (LM/1)
"Arfia woutersi n. sp." = Oxyaena woutersi22 Lange-Badré and Godinot 1982 creodont
IRSNB M1319 - type (LM1/ (or LDP4/?)); referred material (IRSNB M1318, RP/3,4; IRSNB M1320, LM1/)
 Procreodi - Arctocyonidae
Landenodon woutersi n. sp.9
Landenodon woutersi n. sp.9 Quinet 1968 condylarth
 Tribosphenida - Phenacodontidae
Phenacodus teilhardi17
Phenacodus teilhardi17 condylarth
IRSNB M 88 - type
 Perissodactyla -
"Teilhardimys musculus" = Teilhardimys musculus9, "Microhyus musculus n. gen. n. sp." = Teilhardimys musculus25, Paschatherium yvetteae9, Paschatherium "sp. 1"9, Paschatherium "sp. 2"9, Paschatherium dolloi9
"Teilhardimys musculus" = Teilhardimys musculus9 Kretzoi and Kretzoi 2000 odd-toed ungulate
"Microhyus musculus n. gen. n. sp." = Teilhardimys musculus25 Kretzoi and Kretzoi 2000 odd-toed ungulate
IRSNB M115 - holotype (left m1); referred material: IRSNB M1340 (= DI− 2077RS) left p2; DIIC2037RS, right p2; IRSNB M1336, left p4; DIIA1905RS, left p4; IRSNB M1337 (= DIII794RS), left m1; D62, right m2; IRSNB M1338, right m2; IRSNB M1339, left m3; IRSNB M1341, right DP4; D61, left M1 (or M2); DIIA1280RS left ?M2; DIIC1934RS, right M3; IRSNB M1342 (= DIIC623RS), right M3
Paschatherium yvetteae9 odd-toed ungulate
Paschatherium "sp. 1"9 Russell 1963 odd-toed ungulate
Paschatherium "sp. 2"9 Russell 1963 odd-toed ungulate
Paschatherium dolloi9 Teilhard de Chardin 1927 odd-toed ungulate
 Artiodactyla - Diacodexeidae
Diacodexis gigasei17
Diacodexis gigasei17 Smith 1996 even-toed ungulate
IRSNB M 1815 - type
 Placentalia -
Rodentia indet.9
Rodentia indet.9 Bowdich 1821 rodent
 Rodentia - Ischyromyidae
Paramys anacingularis9, Paramys sp.9, Microparamys nanus9, Euromys ? metacingularis9, Meldimys sp.9
Paramys sp.9 Leidy 1871 rodent
Microparamys nanus9 Teilhard de Jardin 1927 rodent
Meldimys sp.9 Michaux 1968 rodent
 Rodentia -
Pseudoparamys "n. sp."9, cf. Pseudoparamys sp.9
Pseudoparamys "n. sp."9 Michaux 1964 rodent
cf. Pseudoparamys sp.9 Michaux 1964 rodent
 Primates - Omomyidae
Teilhardina belgica n. gen. n. sp.14
Teilhardina belgica n. gen. n. sp.14 Teilhard de Chardin 1927 tarsier
IRSNB M 64 - type
 Primates - Plesiadapidae
"Platychoerops georgei" = Plesiadapis tricuspidens15
"Platychoerops georgei" = Plesiadapis tricuspidens15 Gervais 1877 primate
from "Dormaal" and "in the private collection of Dr. Gigase"
 Tribosphenida - Herpetotheriidae
Amphiperatherium dormaalense10, Peratherium constans9
Amphiperatherium dormaalense10 marsupial
Om.158, Upper M2; Om.159, Upper M2
Peratherium constans9 Teilhard de Jardin 1927 marsupial
Reptilia
 Squamata -
Bifurcodentodon ragei n. gen. n. sp.8
Bifurcodentodon ragei n. gen. n. sp.8 Čerňanský et al. 2022 squamates
Holotype—IRSNB R 463, incomplete left maxilla.
 Squamata - Iguanidae
Geiseltaliellus sp.1, Geiseltaliellus longicaudus2
Geiseltaliellus sp.1 Kuhn 1944 squamates
dentary fragment; possible dentary fragment; Premaxilla IRSNB R 294, four left den- taries IRSNB R 464, IRSNB R 465, IRSNB R 466, Vert-20681- 82, two right dentaries Vert-16786-54, Vert-20681-87.
Geiseltaliellus longicaudus2 Kuhn 1944 squamates
 Squamata - Agamidae
Tinosaurus europeocaenus n. sp.2
Tinosaurus europeocaenus n. sp.2 Auge and Smith 1997 squamates
IRScNB R202 (holotype), left dentary; additional material listed in ref. text; One right maxilla IRSNB R 457, one left maxilla IRSNB R 458, three left dentaries IRSNB R 459, IRSNB R 461, IRSNB R 462 and two right dentaries IRSNB R 460, Vert- 16786-274
 Squamata -
Saniwa orsmaelensis1
Saniwa orsmaelensis1 Dollo 1923 squamates
12 caudal vertebrae; 9 trunk vertebrae
 Squamata - Helodermatidae
Helodermatidae indet.2
Helodermatidae indet.2 Gray 1837 squamates
three dorsal vertebrae, one caudal
 Squamata - Anguidae
Anguinae indet.1, Anguini indet.2, Glyptosaurinae indet.1, Melanosaurini indet.1, Placosaurus indet.2, Placosaurus ragei n. sp.24, cf. Placosaurus ragei24
Anguinae indet.1 Gray 1825 squamates
three trunk vertebrae
Anguini indet.2 Augé 2005 squamates
Glyptosaurinae indet.1 Marsh 1872 squamates
50 osteoderms
Melanosaurini indet.1 Sullivan 1979 squamates
one incomplete right maxilla
Placosaurus indet.2 Gervais 1852 squamates
Fragment of skull roof with osteoderms; IRScNB D334, 42, and 213, twenty two osteoderms; IRScNB D42, osteoderm; IRScNB IG23197, three cephalic osteoderms. Incomplete parietal now referred to cf. P. ragei below.
Placosaurus ragei n. sp.24 Sullivan et al. 2012 squamates
IRScNB R263 (formerly IRScNB D02) (holotype), nearly complete left dentary previously assigned to "cf. Paraplacosauriops quercyi" by ref 59290. Sullivan et al. name the taxon "?Placosaurus ragei", but for the purposes of recording it in the database properly the "?" is excluded.
cf. Placosaurus ragei24 Sullivan et al. 2012 squamates
IRScNB R264, incomplete parietal; R265, one cephalic osteoderm
 Squamata - Necrosauridae
Necrosaurus sp.1
Necrosaurus sp.1 Filhol 1876 squamates
one incomplete osteoderm; 2 caudal vertebrae
 Squamata -
Scincoidea "indet. Forme A"2
Scincoidea "indet. Forme A"2 Oppel 1811 squamates
DIIS collection: incomplete left maxilla, part of anterior of left maxilla, ?one premaxilla. "Forme B" is found in Malperie (see Auge 2005 for comparison)
 Squamata - Cordylidae
Cordylidae indet.1
Cordylidae indet.1 Gray 1837 spinytail lizard
two trunk vertebrae; dentary fragment
 Squamata - Gekkonidae
Gekkonidae indet.2
Gekkonidae indet.2 Gray 1825 gecko
IRScNB D118, fragment of right dentary
 Squamata -
Dollogekko dormaalensis n. gen. n. sp.7
Dollogekko dormaalensis n. gen. n. sp.7 Čerňanský et al. 2022 squamates
Holotype. The frontal bone IRSNB R 452.
 Squamata - Lacertidae
Plesiolacerta sp.1, Dormaalisaurus sp.3, Dormaalisaurus girardoti n. gen. n. sp.3, Dormaalisaurus rossmanni n. sp.3
Plesiolacerta sp.1 Hoffstetter 1942 squamates
two trunk vertebrae
Dormaalisaurus sp.3 Augé and Smith 2002 squamates
three incomplete dentaries, two incomplete maxillae; IRSNB No. R207, one incomplete premaxilla
Dormaalisaurus girardoti n. gen. n. sp.3 Augé and Smith 2002 squamates
IRSNB No. R205 (holotype), slightly incomplete right dentary; additional material: four incomplete right dentaries, three incomplete left dentaries
Dormaalisaurus rossmanni n. sp.3 Augé and Smith 2002 squamates
IRSNB No. R206 (holotype), incomplete right dentary; additional material: incomplete right maxilla
 Squamata - Eolacertidae
Eolacerta sp.2
Eolacerta sp.2 Nöth 1940 squamates
IRScNB R109, two dorsal vertebrae; IRScNB coll. Smith, fragment of right dentary, one dorsal vertebra
 Squamata -
cf. Paraplacosauriops quercyi4
cf. Paraplacosauriops quercyi4 Filhol 1882 squamates
Some specimens reassigned from "Placosaurus indet.". Auge and Sullivan only mention specimens IRScNB R 112, one posterior part of right maxilla; and MNHN CB 16445, posterior fragment of right dentary; for now, I will retain the Placosaurus indet. taxon occurrence here for those other specimens. Specimen IRScNB D02 now assigned to Placosaurus ragei by ref. 60336.
 Squamata - Amphisbaenidae
Amphisbaenidae indet.1, Campinosaurus woutersi n. gen. n. sp.2
Amphisbaenidae indet.1 worm lizard
one left dentary; three trunk vertebrae; one dentary
Campinosaurus woutersi n. gen. n. sp.2 Auge 1992 worm lizard
IRScNB R119 (holotype), posterior half of left dentary
 Squamata - Blanidae
Blanosaurus primeocaenus n. gen. n. sp.13
Blanosaurus primeocaenus n. gen. n. sp.13 Folie et al. 2013 worm lizard
IRSNB R 287 (DIII RS26) - holotype (nearly complete left dentary); about 60 dentaries and fragmentary dentaries, from the levels DIIC and DIII of the private collection of one of us (R.S.) including IRSNB R 113 (left dentary); and more than one hundred of vertebrae including IRSNB R 114 (dorsal vertebra) and IRSNB R 288 (DIIC RS15, trunk vertebra)
 Testudines - Podocnemididae
Neochelys sp.16
Neochelys sp.16 Bergounioux 1954 sideneck turtle
 Testudines - Trionychidae
Trionychidae indet.5
Trionychidae indet.5 Gray 1825 softshell turtle
small form with fine decoration
 Crocodylia - Alligatoridae
Allognathosuchus woutersi n. sp.6
Allognathosuchus woutersi n. sp.6 Buffetaut 1985 crocodilian
1 maxilla, 1 dentary, and isolated teeth
 Crocodylia -
Diplocynodon sp.6, Asiatosuchus sp.6, "Crocodylus depressifrons" = Asiatosuchus depressifrons11
Diplocynodon sp.6 Pomel 1847 crocodilian
Asiatosuchus sp.6 Mook 1940 crocodilian
isolated teeth
"Crocodylus depressifrons" = Asiatosuchus depressifrons11 Blainville 1855 crocodilian
IRSNB R255 (right maxilla); IRSNB R256 (right maxilla); IRSNB R257 (parietal); DIIA R50RS (parietal and supraoccipital); IRSNB R258 (ectopterygoid); IRSNB R259 (caudal vertebra); IRSNB R260 (osteoderm)
 Crocodylia - Crocodylidae
Crocodylidae indet.6
Crocodylidae indet.6 crocodile
"ziphodont" tooth
1Augé 1990; 2Augé 2005; 3Augé and Smith 2002; 4Auge and Sullivan 2006; 5Broin 1977; 6Buffetaut 1985; 7Čerňanský et al. 2022; 8Čerňanský et al. 2022; 9Coillot et al. 2013; 10Costeur and Schneider 2011; 11Delfino and Smith 2009; 12Delsate 2000; 13Folie et al. 2013; 14Gingerich 1977; 15Hooker 1994; 16Lapparent de Broin 2003; 17Missiaen et al. 2013; 18Russell et al. 1979; 19Smith 1995; 20Smith 1996; 21Smith 1997; 22Smith and Smith 2001; 23Smith and Smith 2010; 24Sullivan et al. 2012; 25Tabuce et al. 2006