Usili Basal Conglomerate (Permian of Tanzania)

Also known as Z10

Where: Ruvuma, Tanzania (10.4° S, 35.1° E: paleocoordinates 55.2° S, 15.1° E)

• coordinate stated in text

• outcrop-level geographic resolution

When: Cistecephalus other zone, Usili Formation (Songea Group), Wuchiapingian (259.9 - 254.2 Ma)

• member-level stratigraphic resolution

Environment/lithology: terrestrial; lithified conglomerate

• The basal intraformational conglomerates comprise three fining-upward sequences comprising erosively based lenticular bodies of clast-supported conglomerate overlain by gritstone and coarse to fine sandstone beds. The clasts immediately overlying the erosion surface are predominantly cobble-sized spherical and oblate calcareous nodules, the latter with distinct stromatolitic textures. These conglomerates are clearly derived from erosion of the underlying Ruhuhu Formation. They are overlain by a more extensive tabular beds of matrix-supported clay pebble conglomerate with abundant haematite-encrusted fossil bones and gritstone beds with fine sandstone matrix containing some pebble-sized extrabasinal quartzite clasts. The uppermost levels of the second sequence contain numerous silicified tree trunks that are much more resistant to weathering than the host matrix and can be used as a local marker horizon.

Size class: macrofossils

Collection methods: surface (float), surface (in situ),

• National Museum of Tanzania

Primary reference: C. A. Sidor, K. D. Angielczyk, D. M. Weide, R. M. H. Smith, S. J. Nesbitt and L. A. Tsuji. 2010. Tetrapod fauna of the lowermost Usili Formation (Songea Group, Ruhuhu Basin) of southern Tanzania, with a new burnetiid record. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30(3):696-703 [C. Sidor/C. Sidor]more details

Purpose of describing collection: taxonomic analysis

PaleoDB collection 135700: authorized by Chris Sidor, entered by Chris Sidor on 03.11.2012, edited by Anna Brant

Creative Commons license: CC BY (attribution)

Taxonomic list

Show authors, comments, and common names
Amphibia
 Temnospondyli -
Peltobatrachus pustulatus
Peltobatrachus pustulatus Panchen 1959 tetrapod
Osteichthyes
 Dicynodontia -
Endothiodon sp., "Dicynodon huenei" = Platypodosaurus huenei
Endothiodon sp. Owen 1876 dicynodont
"Dicynodon huenei" = Platypodosaurus huenei Haughton 1932 dicynodont
 Dicynodontia - Kingoriidae
Dicynodontoides nowacki
Dicynodontoides nowacki von Huene 1942 dicynodont
 Anomodontia - Cryptodontidae
Rhachiocephalus magnus
Rhachiocephalus magnus Owen 1876 therapsid
 Therapsida - Burnetiidae
Burnetiidae indet.
Burnetiidae indet. Broom 1923 therapsid
NMT RB4, partial skull roof including dorsal margin of orbits and parietal foramen. NMT RB36, fragmentary right dorsal margin of orbit.
 Therapsida - Inostranceviidae
Inostrancevia indet.
Inostrancevia indet. Amalitski 1922 therapsid
NMT RB380, isolated left premaxilla.