The First Documentation for Crocodile Fossils from Fat'ha Formation (Middle Miocene), Southern Mosul City, Northern Iraq
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24237/04.04.618Keywords:
Cocodile, Fat'ha Formation, Miocene , and Northern Iraq.Abstract
A dtailed crocodile’s fossils study conducted for the Fat'ha Formation that cropped out at the South Mosul city of Nineveh, northern Iraq.The objective of this study is to determine the remains of crocodile’s fossils in Fat'ha Formation which have detailed investigation carried out on it indicate the presence of at least one new additional taxon, a previously unidentified form differing from crocodiles in the morphology of its lower jaw. The both forms are endemic to the African continent and also present at that time all around the Mediterranean basin. The presence of in North Africa at that time also indicated oscillating periods that varied from normal salinity to brackish and saline environments, with the shallow lagoon and sometimes deep lagoonal environment that do not exceed the shelf margin zone, before the onset of more arid conditions in the region that led to the disappearance of the crocodiles and the development and expansion of the modern species. The ideal classification that applies in this case is Animalia (Kingdom), Chordata (Phylum), Reptilia (Class), Order of Crocodylia (alligators), Alligatoridae alligators (Family), Paleosuchus (Genus) belonging to caimans, and Paleosuchus palpebrosus (species) which in turn goes back to Cuvier’s smooth-fronted caiman (dwarf types of caiman).
Downloads
References
[1]
S. F. Fouad, “Tectonic map of Iraq, scale 1: 1000 000”, Iraqi Bulletin of Geology and Mining, 11(1), 1–7(2015) https://ibgm-iq.org/ibgm/index.php/ibgm/article/view/263.
[2]
S. Z. Jassim, S. A. Karim, M. Basi, M. A. Al-Mubarak, and J. Munir, Final report on the regional geological survey of Iraq. Vol. 3. Stratigraphy. internal report. Geological Survey of Iraq, (1984).
[3]
Kh. A. Ma'ala, “Report on the regional geological mapping of Sinjar Area”, Iraq Geological Survey Library report no. 860, (1977)
[4]
V. Sissakian, S. Karim, K. Al-Kubaisy, N. Al-Ansari, and S. Knutsson, “The Miocene sequence in Iraq, a review and discussion on the stratigraphy, paleogeography and economic potential”, Journal of Earth Sciences and Geotechnical Engineering, 6(3), 271-317(2016).
[5]
A. A. M. Aqrawi, J. Goff, A. Horbury, and F. N. Sadooni, “The Petroleum Geology of Iraq”, Scientific Press, UK, London, 358 p p, (2010).
[6]
M.G. Shawkat, M. E. Tucker, “Stromatolites and sabkha cycles from the Lower Fars Formation (Miocene) of Iraq”, Geologische Rundschau, 67, 1-14(1978)
[7]
A. A. M. Aqrawi, “Miocene evaporitic sequence of the southern Mesopotamian Basin”, Marine and Petroleum Geology, 10(2), 172-179(1993), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0264-8172(93)90022-K.
[8]
M.Tucker, “Sabkha cycles, stacking patterns and controls: Gachsaran (Lower Fars/Fatha) Formation, Miocene, Mesopotamian Basin, Iraq”, Neues Jarhbuch Für Geologie Und Paläontologie, v. 214, 45-69(1999)
[9]
R. C. Van Bellen, H. V. Dunnington, R. Wetzel, and D. M. Morton, “Lexique Stratigraphique International, National de la recherché scientifique, 13, quai”, Anatole-France, Paris- VII, 333 pp, (1959).
[10]
T. Buday, “The Regional Geology of Iraq. Vol. 1. Stratigraphic and Paleogeography”, Puplications of GEOSURV, Baghdad, 445pp, 1980).
[11]
M. Ajel, “Sedimentology of the transitional zone of non-marine deposits in the Fatha Formation (Middle Miocene) in selected sections in N and NW of Iraq”, University of Baghdad, Iraq, MSc thesis, 150, (2004).
[12]
S. F. Al-Lhaebi, “Sedimentological studies of Fatha Formation in sheikh Ibrahim and Butmah anticlines, SW Iraq”, University of Mosul, Iraq, MSc thesis, 140, (1994).
[13]
N. K. Al-Azzawi, “Paleo and Neo-tectonics of the Mosul fault and its impact on the tectonics of the foreland area of Iraq”, Iraqi National Journal of Earth Sciences, 13(1) , 59-74(2013), DOI: https://doi.org/10.33899/earth.2013.73547.
[14]
M. S. Ameen, “Regional Investigation of Geoflexures and tectonic analysis in the Simple Folded Zone of Iraq”, Unpub. M Sc Thesis, University of Mosul, 236, (1979).
[15]
N. M. S. Numan, “Basement Control of Stratigraphy Sequences and Structural Pattern in Iraq”, Jour. Geol. Soci. Iraq, 16(17), 8 – 24(1984). http://pascal-francis.inist.fr/vibad/index.php?action=getRecordDetail&idt=7923553.
[16]
P. P. Skutschas, I. G. Danilov, T. M. Kodrul, and J. Jin, “The first discovery of an Alligatorid(Crocodylia, Alligatoroidea, Alligatoridae)in the Eocene of China”, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 34(2), 471–476(2014), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2013.809725.
[17]
M. J. Benton, and J. M. Clark, “Archosaur phylogeny and the relationships of the Crocodylia. In: The Phylogeny and Classification of the Tetrapods (ed. M. J. Benton)”, vol. 1, Clarendon Press, 295–338, 1988.
[18]
J. M. Clark, “Patterns of evolution in mesozoic Crocodyliformes. In: In the Shadow of the Early Mesozoic Tetrapods (eds. N. Fraser and H. D. Sues) “,Cambridge University Press, 84–97.
[19]
C. A. Brochu, “Morphology, fossils, divergence timing, and the phylogenetic relationships of Gavialis. System”, Biol., 46, 479–522(1997), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/46.3.479.
[20]
C. A. Brochu, “Phylogeny, systematics, and historical bio- geography of Alligatoroidea”, Soc. Verteb. Paleontol. Mem., 6, 9–100(1999).
[21]
D. Soares, “Neurology: An ancient sensory organ in croco- dilians. Nature 417, 241–242. Vliet, K. 1989. Social displays of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)”, Am. Zool., 29, 1019–1031(2002), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/417241a.
[22]
L. D. Densmore, and R. D. Owen, “Molecular systematics of the order Crocodilia”, Am. Zool., 29, 831–841(1989), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/29.3.831.
[23]
J. E . Gray, “A Synopsis of the Species of Crocodiles”, In Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., (Ser. 3) .X, Art. 26, pp. 265-274(1862).
[24]
G. L. Cuvier, “Sur les Differentes Especes de Crocodiles Vivans et sur leur Caracteres Distinctifs”, Ann. du Mus. d'Hist. Nat., X, pp. 8-66(1807).
[25]
W. E. Magnusson, Z. Campos, F. L. Muniz, “Paleosuchus palpebrosus”, The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2019, e.T46587A3009946, (2019). https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/46587/3009946.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 CC BY 4.0
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
