In Becetèn (Niger) represents one of the most diverse continental vertebrate faunas from the Late Cretaceous of Africa. Recently, anurans, in particular aquatic pipimorphs, have generated renewed interest, with the identification of four distinct pipimorph taxa. Here we describe the remaining anuran specimens from In Becetèn, which represent at least three new anuran taxa that cannot be assigned to pipimorphs (Anura indet, Neobatrachia and a ranoid). Among them, one taxon, documented by ornamented cranial material, is a large Neobatrachia incertae sedis, as suggested by our phylogenetic analyses. This marks only the third Mesozoic occurrence of neobatrachians in Africa. In addition, an isolated humerus is referred as a new unnamed ranoid and is not only the oldest known occurrence of the clade, but also the first known Mesozoic specimen of this cosmopolitan family from Africa. With at least seven anuran taxa identified, In Becetèn is the most diverse locality of Africa, and one of the most diverse localities across the Late Cretaceous (Coniacian or Santonian).
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RBINS Staff Publications 2026 OA
A new fossil site at Minqar Tibaghbagh, east of Siwa, in the Egyptian Western Desert is described. This represents the first place in Egypt outside the Fayum Depression yielding Paleogene, terrestrial mammals. Initial studies indicate the presence of palaeomastodonts, hyracoids, and anthracotheres, presumably early Oligocene in age. As only surface prospecting has been performed, more taxa will almost certainly be discovered in future investigations here and probably also elsewhere in the surroundings. A comparison is made with the most important contemporaneous sites in Libya and Egypt that yield terrestrial mammal remains. The selachian fauna from a higher level in the section confirms the Paleogene age of the subjacent strata. It is compared with selachians faunas from the early Oligocene Eastern Tethys Ocean at other places (the Fayum Depression in Egypt, and sites in Oman and Pakistan), and differs from these sites in being fully marine. Contrary to earlier studies, the open marine mudstones of the Daba’a Formation at Minqar Tibaghbagh are overlain by Paleogene marine sediments of most probably early Oligocene age and not early Miocene marine sediments as previously reported. These strata represent not only a new site with great potential for future finds, but also allows for biostratigraphic correlation.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2017
