Ouled Abdoun Basin (Phosphatherium type specimen): Ypresian, Morocco

List of taxa
Where & when
Geology
Taphonomy & methods
Metadata & references
Taxonomic list
unclassified
Proboscidea indet.
Gheerbrant et al. 2001
Chondrichthyes - Torpediniformes - Torpedinidae
Eotorpedo hilgendorfi (Jaekel 1904)
Cappetta 1988
Mammalia - Proboscidea - Phosphatheriidae
Phosphatherium escuilliei n. gen., n. sp. Gheerbrant et al. 1996
see common names

Geography
Country:Morocco
Coordinates: 34.3° North, 5.9° West (view map)
Paleocoordinates:28.3° North, 7.3° West
Basis of coordinate:based on nearby landmark
Geographic resolution:hand sample
Time
Period:Paleogene Epoch:Eocene
Stage:Ypresian 10 m.y. bin:Cenozoic 2
Key time interval:Ypresian
Age range of interval:56.00000 - 47.80000 m.y. ago
Stratigraphy
Stratigraphic resolution:bed
Stratigraphy comments: Thanetian age determination based on selachian teeth found with Phosphatherum type specimen, but these are reworked according to Gheerbrant et al. 2002, who believe the specimen is Ypresian and derives from "level 1 of the local phosphatic series"
Lithology and environment
Primary lithology: phosphorite
Lithology description: none given, but "matrix of the specimens" has a "phosphatic nature"
Environment:marine indet.
Taphonomy
Modes of preservation:body
Size of fossils:macrofossils
Preservation of anatomical detail:good
Collection methods and comments
Reason for describing collection:taxonomic analysis
Museum repositories:MNHN
Collection method comments: specimens purchased from fossil dealers and local mine workers
Metadata
Database number:71233
Authorizer:J. Alroy, M. Uhen Enterer:J. Alroy, Z. Tredwell, M. Uhen
Modifier:J. Alroy Research group:vertebrate
Created:2007-04-22 15:30:10 Last modified:2007-04-22 21:38:18
Access level:the public Released:2007-04-22 15:30:10
Creative Commons license:CC BY
Reference information

Primary reference:

23856. E. Gheerbrant, J. Sudre, and H. Cappetta. 1996. A Palaeocene proboscidean from Morocco. Nature 383:68-70 [J. Alroy/J. Alroy]

Secondary references:

30740 H. Cappetta. 1988. Les Torpediniformes (Neoselachii, Batomorphii) des phosphates du Maroc; observations sur la denture des genres actuels. The Torpedini. Tertiary Research 10(1):21-52 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen]
73987 E. Gheerbrant, J. Sudre, H. Cappetta, M. Iarochene, M. Amaghzaz and B. Bouya. 2001. New mammal from the Early Eocene of Morocco exemplifying unexpected early diversity of Proboscideans. The World of Elephants - International Congress, Rome 2001 637-638 [M. Uhen/Z. Tredwell/M. Uhen]
23857 E. Gheerbrant, J. Sudre, H. Cappetta, M. Iarochène, M. Amaghzaz and B. Bouya. 2002. A new large mammal from the Ypresian of Morocco: evidence of surprising diversity of early proboscideans. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 47(3):493-506 [J. Alroy/J. Alroy]