Elrhaz Formation
Agadez Region, Niger
Why It Matters
The Elrhaz Formation is one of Africa's most important Early Cretaceous fossil localities, preserving a diverse Gondwanan . It is renowned for Nigersaurus taqueti, a diplodocoid with an extraordinary of over 500 teeth. The formation has also yielded important specimens of Suchomimus, Ouranosaurus, and Lurdusaurus, providing critical data on African dinosaur evolution.
How Fossils Survived
The Elrhaz Formation consists primarily of sandstones and mudstones deposited by large river systems crossing a broad alluvial plain. The sediments indicate a semi-arid to seasonal climate with meandering rivers and floodplains. Fossils are typically preserved in channel lag deposits and overbank sediments, often with excellent three-dimensional preservation.
Discovery History
The formation was first explored paleontologically by French expeditions in the 1950s-1970s led by Philippe Taquet. Major excavations by Paul Sereno and collaborators from the University of Chicago beginning in 1997 dramatically expanded knowledge of the fauna. These expeditions uncovered numerous skeletons and established the Gadoufaoua region as a world-class dinosaur site.
Dinosaurs in the Vault
1 species in our database · sorted by size
Nigersaurus possessed over 500 teeth arranged in dental batteries, with up to 9 replacement teeth stacked behind each active tooth