# Ouled Abdoun Basin

The Oulad Abdoun Basin (also known as the Ouled Abdoun Basin or Khouribga Basin) is a phosphate sedimentary basin located in Morocco, near the city of Khouribga. It is the largest in Morocco, comprising 44% of Morocco's phosphate reserves, and at least 26.8 billion tons of phosphate. It is also known as an important site for vertebrate fossils, with deposits ranging from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) to the Eocene epoch (Ypresian), a period of about 25 million years.

## Geography

The Oulad Abdoun is located west of the Atlas Mountains, near the city of Khouribga. The Oulad Abdoun phosphate deposits encompass some 100 by 45 kilometres (62 by 28 mi), an area of 4,500 square kilometres (1,700 sq mi). The Oulad Abdoun is the largest and northernmost of Morocco's major phosphate basins, which from northeast to southwest, include the Ganntour, Meskala, and Oued Eddahab (Laayoune-Baa) basins.

## Paleobiota

| 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. |
The Oulad Abdoun Basin stretches from the late Cretaceous to the Eocene and contains abundant marine vertebrate fossils, including sharks, bony fish, turtles, crocodilians, and other reptiles, as well as sea birds and a small number of terrestrial mammals.

### Molluscs

Mollusca from the Khouribga Phosphates :
| Genus | Species | Time | Notes |
| Cucullaea (Idonearca) | C. (I.) thevestensis | | A false ark shell. |
| Heligmopsis | H. wegmanianus | Maastrichtian | A feather oyster also present in Ganntour basin. |
| Venericardia | V. coquandi | Danian | A carditid clam also present in Ganntour basin. |
| Baculites | B. sp. | Maastrichtian | A straight-shelled ammonite, also present in Ganntour basin. |
| Cimomia | C. aff. sudanensis | Ypresian | A nautiloid also present in Ganntour basin. |
| Ampullinopsis | A. crassatina | | An ampullinid gastropod. |
| Hemithersitea | H. chouberti | Lutetian | A thersiteid gastropod. |

### Fish
#### Bony fish

Bony fish from the Khouribga Phosphates :
| Genus | Species | Time | Notes |
| Acipenseridae | Indeterminate | Maastrichtian | First record of a sturgeon on the continent of Africa. |
| Enchodus | E. libycus | Maastrichtian | An enchodontid aulopiform. |
| Enchodus | E. bursauxi | Maastrichtian | An enchodontid aulopiform. |
| Enchodus | E. elegans | Maastrichtian | An enchodontid aulopiform. |
| Eoserrasalmimus | E. cattoi | Maastrichtian | A pycnodontiform. |
| Mawsoniidae | Indeterminate | Maastrichtian | A giant mawsoniid coelacanth measuring 3.65–5.52 metres (12.0–18.1 ft) long. |
| Phacodus | P. punctatus var. africanus | Maastrichtian | A pycnodontiform. |
| Plethodidae | Indeterminate | Maastrichtian | Youngest occurrence of plethodid fish. |
| Pycnodontidae | Indeterminate | Maastrichtian | |
| Pseudoegertonia | P. sp. | Maastrichtian | |
| Serrasalmimus | S. secans | Thanetian | A carnivorous pycnodontiform. |
| Stephanodus | S. libycus | Maastrichtian | |
| Stratodus | S. apicalis | Maastrichtian | An alepisauroform. |
| Macroprosopon | M. hiltoni | Ypresian | A marine osteoglossid. |

#### Sharks

Sharks from the Khouribga Phosphates :
| Genus | Species | Time | Notes |
| Abdounia | A. africana | Selandian | A requiem shark. |
| Brachycarcharias | B. atlasi | Ypresian | |
| Casieria | C. maghrebiana | Selandian | |
| Chiloscyllium | C. salvani. | Selandian | A carpet shark. |
| Cretalamna | C. appendiculata | Maastrichtian | |
| Cretalamna | C. maroccana | Maastrichtian | |
| Delpitoscyllium | D. africanum | Selandian | |
| Eostegostoma | E. sp. | Selandian | A carpet shark. |
| Foumtizia | F. abdouni | Selandian | |
| Galeorhinus | G. mesetaensis | Selandian | |
| Ginglymostoma | G. chenanei | Selandian | |
| Ginglymostoma | G. khouribgaense | Selandian | |
| Hologinglymostoma | H. jaegeri | Selandian | |
| Khouribgaleus | K. gomphorhiza | Selandian | |
| Metlaouia | M. delpiti | Selandian | |
| Microscyliorhinus | M. simplex | Selandian | |
| Palaeogaleus | P. larachei | Selandian | |
| Palaeorhincodon | P. daouii | Selandian | A carpet shark. |
| Porodermoides | P. spanios | Selandian | |
| Premontreia | P. peypouqueti | Selandian | |
| Premontreia | P. subulidens | Selandian | |
| Scyliorhinus | S. ptychtus | Selandian | |
| Scyliorhinus | S. entomodon | Selandian | |
| Scyliorhinus | S. sulcidens | Selandian | |
| Serratolamna | S. serrata | Maastrichtian | |
| Serratolamna | S. khderii | Maastrichtian | |
| Squalicorax | S. pristodontus | Maastrichtian | |
| Squalicorax | S. bassanii | Maastrichtian | |
| Squalicorax | S. africanus | Maastrichtian | |
| Squalicorax | S. microserratus | Maastrichtian | |
| Squalicorax | S. benguerirensis | Maastrichtian | |
| Triakis | T. antunesi | Selandian | |

#### Other cartilaginous fish

Other cartilaginous cish from the Khouribga Phosphates :
| Genus | Species | Time | Notes |
| Archaemanta | A. priemi | Selandian | A ray. |
| Burnhamia | B. cf. davisi | Selandian | A devil ray |
| Coupatezia | C. larivei | Selandian | A ray. |
| Coupatezia | C. fallax | Maastrichtian | A ray. |
| Coupatezia | C. elevata | Maastrichtian | A ray. |
| Dasyatis | D. ponsi | Selandian | A stingray. An indeterminate species found in Maastrichtian deposits of Ganntour Basin. |
| Delpitia | D. reticulata | Selandian | A ray. |
| Gymnura | G. delpiti | Selandian | A ray. |
| Heterobatis | H. talbaouii | Selandian | A ray. |
| Heterotorpedo | H. brahimi | Selandian | A ray. |
| Hypolophodon | H. sp. | Selandian | A ray. |
| Rhombodus | R. binkhorsti | Maastrichtian | A ray. |
| Rhombodus | R. microdus | Maastrichtian | A ray. |
| Rhombodus | R. meridionalis | Maastrichtian | A ray. |
| Schizorhiza | S. stromeri | Maastrichtian | A sclerorhynchoid skate which resembled a sawfish. |

### Reptiles
#### Crocodylomorphs

Crocodylomorphs from the Khouribga Phosphates :
| Genus | Species | Time | Notes |
| Arambourgisuchus | A. khouribgaensis | Thanetian | A dyrosaurid. |
| Atlantosuchus | A. coupatezi | Danian | A dyrosaurid. |
| Chenanisuchus | C. lateroculi | Thanetian | The most basal known dyrosaurid. |
| Dyrosaurus | P. maghribensis | Ypresian | A dyrosaur. |
| Maroccosuchus | M. zennaroi | Ypresian | A tomistomine crocodylian. |
| Ocepesuchus | O. eoafricanus | Maastrichtian | A gavialoid crocodylian. |

#### Lepidosaurs
##### Mosasaurs

Mosasaurs from the Khouribga Phosphates :
| Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes |
| Carinodens | C. acrodon | | Maastrichtian | | A small mosasaurine mosasaur with crushing teeth. |
| Carinodens | C. belgicus | | Maastrichtian | | A small mosasaurine mosasaur with crushing teeth. |
| Carinodens | C. minalmamar | | Maastrichtian | | A small mosasaurine mosasaur with crushing teeth. |
| Eremiasaurus | E. heterodontus | | Maastrichtian | | A mosasaurine mosasaur with unusual cutting dentition. |
| Gavialimimus | G. almaghribensis | | Maastrichtian | | An unusual longirostrine plioplatecarpine mosasaur. |
| Globidens | G. phosphaticus | | Maastrichtian | | A mosasaurine mosasaur with specialized crushing teeth. |
| Globidens | G. simplex | | Maastrichtian | | A mosasaurine mosasaur with specialized crushing teeth. |
| Globidens | G. aegyptiacus | | Maastrichtian | | Now referred to its own genus, Igdamanosaurus. |
| Halisaurus | H. arambourgi | | Maastrichtian | | A halisaurine mosasaur. |
| Igdamanosaurus | I. aegyptiacus | | Maastrichtian | | |
| Khinjaria | K. acuta | Sidi Chennane | Maastrichtian | a partial skull and vertebra | A plioplatecarpine mosasaur. |
| Mosasaurus | M. beaugei | | Maastrichtian | | A large mosasaurine mosasaur. |
| Pachyvaranus | P. crassispondylus | | Maastrichtian | | A pachyvaranid |
| Platecarpus | P. ptychodon | | Maastrichtian | | Possibly a senior synonym of Gavialimimus. |
| Pluridens | P. serpentis | | Maastrichtian | | A large halisaurine mosasaur, also known from Niger and Nigeria. |
| Prognathodon | P. currii | | Maastrichtian | | A large mosasaurine mosasaur. |
| Prognathodon | P. giganteus | | Maastrichtian | | A large mosasaurine mosasaur. |
| Stelladens | S. mysteriosus | | Maastrichtian | | A medium-sized mosasaurine with distinct, unique teeth structure. |
| Thalassotitan | T. atrox | | Maastrichtian | | A large-bodied mosasaurine with powerful jaws, similar to P. currii. |
| Xenodens | X. calminechari | | Maastrichtian | | A small mosasaurine mosasaur with unusual, shark-like teeth. The holotype is a forged specimen and is potentially a nomen dubium and a chimera. |

##### Serpentes

Snakes from the Khouribga Phosphates :
| Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes | Images |
| Palaeophis | P. maghrebianus | | Maastrichtian?–Ypresian | | A palaeophiid marine snake. | |

#### Plesiosaurs

Plesiosaurs from the Khouribga Phosphates :
| Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes | Images |
| Zarafasaura | Z. oceanis | | Maastrichtian | | An elasmosaurid plesiosaur with an unusually short skull. | |

#### Turtles

Turtles from the Khouribga Phosphates :
| Genus | Species | Time | Notes |
| Alienochelys | A. selloumi | Maastrichtian | A sea turtle with crushing jaws. |
| Araiochelys | A. hirayamai | | |
| Argillochelys | A. africana | Ypresian | A pancheloniid sea turtle. |
| Bothremys | B. kellyi | Danian-Thanetian | |
| Bothremys | B. maghrebiana | Danian-Thanetian | |
| Brachyopsemys | B. tingitana | Danian | A sandownid sea turtle |
| Euclastes | E. acutirostris | Danian-Thanetian | A pancheloniid sea turtle. An indeterminate species also present in the Maastrichtian deposits of Ganntour Basin. |
| Euclastes | E. wielandi | Danian | A pancheloniid sea turtle. An indeterminate species also present in the Maastrichtian deposits of Ganntour Basin. |
| Labrostochelys | L. galkini | Danian | |
| Ocepechelon | O. bouyai | Maastrichtian | A giant protostegid sea turtle with an unusual pipette-like snout. |
| Puppigerus | P. camperi | Ypresian | |
| Rhothonemys | R. brinkmani | Danian | |
| Tasbacka | T. ouledabdounensis | Danian | |
| Taphrosphys | T. ippolitoi | Danian | |
| Ummulisani | U. rutgersensis | Ypresian | |

### Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs from the Khouribga Phosphates :
| Genus | Species | Time | Notes |
| Alcione | A. elainus | Maastrichtian | A nyctosaurid which shows possible adaptations towards diving behaviour. |
| Barbaridactylus | B. grandis | Maastrichtian | A nyctosaurid. |
| Simurghia | S. robusta | Maastrichtian | A nyctosaurid related to Alcione. |
| Phosphatodraco | P. mauritanicus | Maastrichtian | An azhdarchid. |
| cf Arambourgiania | A. sp? | Maastrichtian | A giant azhdarchid, may belong to the Jordanian taxon Arambourgiania. |
| Azhdarchidae | Indet. | Maastrichtian | A new taxon, currently unnamed. |
| Tethydraco | T. regalis | Maastrichtian | A pterosaur of debated affinity; may be an azhdarchid or a pteranodontid. |

### Dinosaurs

Bird fossils are common in the Basin, which includes the oldest birds in Africa. At least three orders and several families of sea birds are represented, including Procellariiformes (albatrosses and petrels, fossils assignable to Diomedeidae and Procellariidae), Pelecaniformes (pelicans and allies, fossils assignable to Phaethontidae, Prophaethontidae, Fregatidae and Pelagornithidae), and Anseriformes (waterfowl, including fossil Presbyornithidae).

#### Ornithischians

Ornithischians from the Khouribga Phosphates :
| Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes |
| Ajnabia | A. odysseus | Office Cherifien des Phosphates mines at Sidi Chennane | Maastrichtian | partial left maxilla with teeth fragments of right maxilla partial right dentary | A small lambeosaurine hadrosaur; the first known from Africa. |
| Lambeosaurinae | Indeterminate | Mrah Lahrach | Maastrichtian | right femur | A lambeosaurine larger than Ajnabia and Minqaria. |
| Lambeosaurinae | Indeterminate | Sidi Daoui | Maastrichtian | left humerus | A lambeosaurine larger than Ajnabia and Minqaria. |
| Minqaria | M. bata | Sidi Chennane | Maastrichtian | right maxilla left dentary braincase | A lambeosaurine hadrosaur. |

#### Saurischians
##### Sauropods

Sauropods from the Khouribga Phosphates :
| Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes | Images |
| Titanosauria | Indeterminate | Sidi Daoui | Maastrichtian | right femur, tibia, and fibula undescribed material | A new titanosaurian taxon, currently unnamed. | |

##### Theropods
###### Abelisaurs

Abelisaurs from the Khouribga Phosphates :
| Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes |
| Abelisauridae | Indeterminate | Sidi Chennane | Maastrichtian | right tibia | Probably distinct from Chenanisaurus due to its smaller size (about 5 m (16 ft) long) despite being mature. Similar to South American abelisaurids. Possibly a member of Furileusauria. |
| Abelisauridae | Indeterminate | Sidi Daoui | Maastrichtian | right metatarsal II | A mature specimen but very small for an abelisaurid, about 2.6 m (8.5 ft) long |
| Chenanisaurus | C. barbaricus | Sidi Chennane Sidi Daoui | Maastrichtian | anterior end of left dentary 2 premaxillary teeth a maxillary tooth | A large abelisaurid theropod. |

###### Birds

Birds from the Khouribga Phosphates :
| Genus | Species | Time | Notes |
| Dasornis | D. tolapica | Selandian | A pelagornithid, or pseudotooth bird. |
| Dasornis | D. emuinus | Ypresian | A pelagornithid, or pseudotooth bird. |
| Lithoptila | L. abdounensis | Thanetian | A seabird related to modern tropicbirds. |

### Mammals
#### Afrotheres

Afrotheres from the Khouribga Phosphates :
| Genus | Species | Time | Material | Notes |
| Abdounodus | A. hamdii | Thanetian-Ypresian | A lower jaw. | An early afrotherian mammal. |
| Daouitherium | D. rebouli | Ypresian | lower jaws and associated cheek teeth | An early proboscidean. |
| Eritherium | E. azzouzorum | Thanetian | | An early proboscidean. |
| Hadrogeneios | H. phosphaticus | Selandian-Thanetian | | An early afrotherian mammal. |
| Ocepeia | O. daouiensis | Selandian | Partial skull consists of an upper jaw and dental fragments | An early afrotherian mammal. |
| Ocepeia | O. grandis | Thanetian | Lower jaw and teeth. | An early afrotherian mammal. |
| Phosphatherium | P. escuilliei | Selandian | | An early proboscidean. |
| Stylolophus | S. minor | Ypresian | | An embrithopod. |
| Stylolophus | S. major | Ypresian | | An embrithopod. |

#### Hyaenodonts

Hyaenodonts from the Khouribga Phosphates :
| Genus | Species | Location | Time | Material | Notes | Images |
| Boualitomus | B. marocanensis | | Selandian | | A hyaenodont. | |
| Lahimia | L. selloumi | | Selandian | | A hyaenodont. | |