Aral Formation

Aral Formation
Stratigraphic range: Oligocene – Miocene
TypeFormation
Location
Coordinates50.3° N, 57.2° E W
RegionAktyubinsk
CountryKazakhstan

The Aral Formation is a geologic formation in Kazakhstan. It preserves fossils dating back to the Neogene period. Much of its fossils consist of Glires and fish, though cetaceans and cryptobranchid salamanders are also known.

Paleobiota

The Aral Formation has yielded a rich variety of extinct mammals. Many of its mammal fauna consists of the clade Glires with rodents being particularly numerous.

Bivalves

Genus Species Notes Images
Corbula C. helmerseni A bivalve

Chondrichthyes

Genus Species Notes Images
Odontaspis Species indeterminate A sand tiger shark.

Osteichthyes

Genus Species Notes Images
Acipenser Species indeterminate A sturgeon.
Cyprinidae indet. Genus and species indeterminate A carp.
Esox E. aralensis A pike.
Percidae indet. Genus and species indeterminate A perch.

Urodela

Genus Species Notes Images
Cryptobranchidae indet. Genus and species indeterminate. A giant salamander.

Mammals

Rodents

Genus Species Notes Images
Aralocricetodon A. schokensis A cricetid.
Asianeomys A. bolligeri. An eomyid.
Eumyarion E. tremulus A mouse.
Eucricetodon E. occasionalis A mouse.
Plesiosminthus P. tereskentensis A jumping mouse.
Propalaeocastor P. kumbulakensis A castorid.

Lagomorpha

Genus Species Notes Images
Desmatolagus D. gobiensis, D. simplex, D. periaralicus. A rabbit.

Eulipotyphla

Genus Species Notes Images
Amphechinus A. minimus A hedgehog.
Desmaninae indet. Indeterminate genus and species. A desman.
Gobisorex G. kingae. A shrew.
Talpidae indet. Indeterminate genus and species. A mole.

Cetacea

Genus Species Notes Images
Delphinidae indet. Indeterminate genus and species. A dolphin.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Fossilworks: Altynshokysu (bone bed I). Fossilworks.org. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  2. 1 2 A. V. Lopatin. 1996. "The Stratigraphy and Small Mammals from the Aral Formation, the Altynshokysu Locality, Northern Aral Area." Stratigraphy and Geological Correlation. 4 (2): 65-79.