# Dakhla Formation

The Dakhla Formation, also called the Dakhla Shale, is a Maastrichtian-Danian geologic formation in the Western Desert, Egypt. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation, although none have yet been referred to a specific genus.

## Fossil content

| Color key Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon | Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited. |

### Reptiles
#### Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs reported from the Dakhla Formation :
| Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes | Images |
| Sauropoda | | Ammonite Hill Member | A left femur (Vb-646). | Most similar to femurs of Brachiosaurus or Saltasaurus. | |

#### Turtles

Turtles reported from the Dakhla Formation :
| Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes |
| Arenila | A. krebsi | Ammonite Hill Member | Partial skull. | A bothremydid turtle. |
| Arenila | ?Cf. A. krebsi | Ammonite Hill Member | Partial dorsal shell & right pelvis. | A bothremydid turtle. |
| Bothremydidae | Undetermined large forms | Ammonite Hill Member | Nuchal bone, left pleuron & partial plastron of one individual. | A large bothremydid turtle, with a shell length of 70 to 80 centimeters. |
| Panchelonioidea | Gen. et. sp. indet. | Ammonite Hill Member | Humerus (NVP010). | A giant marine turtle. |
| Taphrosphys | T. cf. sulcatus | Ammonite Hill Member | Anterior part of dorsal shell & partial dorsal shell with partial anterior plastral lobe. | A bothremydid turtle. |
| Taphrosphys | Cf. T. sp. | Ammonite Hill Member | Left first pleural. | A bothremydid turtle. |
| ?Aff. Tasbacka | ?Aff. T. sp. | Ammonite Hill Member | Left humerus. | A chelonioid sea turtle. |
| Zolhafah | Z. bella | Ammonite Hill Member | Skull. | A bothremydid turtle. |

#### Mosasaurs

Mosasaurs reported from the Dakhla Formation :
| Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes |
| Globidens | G. phosphaticus | Beris Oyster Mudstone Member | A single tooth crown (CUNV0011). | A mosasaurine. |
| Halisaurus | H. hebae | Beris Oyster Mudstone Member | | A halisaurine |
| Mosasaurinae | Indeterminate | Beris Oyster Mudstone Member | A fragmentary small dentary with a single tooth (CUNV0012). | A mosasaurine. |
| Prognathodon | P. sp. | "Lower part" | Two tooth crowns, three cervical, nine dorsal, three caudal vertebrae, and ribs, found in association (NVP025). | Most similar to P. overtoni, possibly a member of that species |

### Fish

Fish reported from the Dakhla Formation :
| Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes |
| Anomoeodus | A. aegypticus | Lower Beris Member | A single specimen (NVP023). | A pycnodont. |
| Diastemapycnodus | D. tavernensis | Beris Member | "A single vomer with partial dentition". | A pycnodont. |
| Sclerorhynchus | S. cf. leptodon | Beris Member | Four fragmentary rostral denticles originally attributed to Onchopristis sp. | A sawskate. |
| Sclerorhynchoidei | Indeterminate | Beris Member | An exceptionally large, 1.46 metres (4.8 ft) long rostrum originally attributed to Onchopristis sp. | A sawskate. |

### Invertebrates
#### Bivalves

Bivalves reported from the Dakhla Formation :
| Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes | Images |
| Apectoichnus | A. longissimus | Ammonite Hill Member | Borings in Nypa fruits. | Bivalve borings. | |
| Teredolites | T. clavatus | Ammonite Hill Member | 32 moderately preserved borings (TBT02-33) & two badly preserved specimens (TBT44-45) in Nypa fruits. | Bivalve borings. | |

### Plants

Plants reported from the Dakhla Formation :
| Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes | Images |
| Nypa | N. burtinii | | Fruits & seed casts. | A mangrove palm | |
| Nypa | N. sp. | Ammonite Hill Member | Fruits with bivalve borings. | A mangrove palm. | |