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Mokattam Formation
The Mokattam Formation is a Eocene, Middle Eocene-aged geological formation in northern Egypt. Consisting of Nummulite, nummulitic marine limestone outcropping across the Mokattam, Mokattam Hills, it has been extensively quarried from Ancient Egypt to the present day, and represents the source material for most of the famous archeological sites of Greater Cairo, most notably the Giza pyramid complex, the Great Sphinx of Giza, Great Sphinx, and much of Islamic Cairo, Historic Cairo. The age of the formation is thought to span from the late Lutetian to the Bartonian, depending on the Geologic member, member (Building Stone or Giushi). However, some authors treat the Giushi Member as its own geologic formation, which would restrict the Mokattam to just the Lutetian. Numerous fossil fishes are known from this formation. Sirenian bones have been reported. This formation is the Type (biology), type locality of the early whales ''Protocetus atavus'', and the sirenians Eotheroides, ''Eoth ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mokattam Hills
The Mokattam ( , also spelled Muqattam), also known as the Mukattam Mountain or Hills, is the name of an Eastern Desert plateau as well as the district built over it in the Southern Area of Cairo, Egypt. Etymology The Arabic name ''Mokattam'' means cut off or broken off and apparently refers to how the low Mountain range, range of hills is divided into three sections. Paul Casanova advocated the idea that it is a corruption of an older name Maqaduniya (), mentioned in Medieval Arabic sources, which he derives from ''Makhetow'' (), one of the names of Memphis, Egypt, Memphis. Landform The Mokattam Formation, named after the hills, outcrops throughout the plateau. The highest segment is a low mountain landform called Moqattam Mountain. In the past the exposed Mokattam Formation was an important Stone quarries of ancient Egypt, ancient Egyptian quarry site for limestone, used in the construction of Egyptian temple, temples and pyramids. Settlement The hills are in the r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Geologic Member
A stratigraphic unit is a volume of rock of identifiable origin and relative age range that is defined by the distinctive and dominant, easily mapped and recognizable petrographic, lithologic or paleontologic features (facies) that characterize it. Units must be ''mappable'' and ''distinct'' from one another, but the contact need not be particularly distinct. For instance, a unit may be defined by terms such as "when the sandstone component exceeds 75%". Lithostratigraphic units Sequences of sedimentary and volcanic rocks are subdivided on the basis of their shared or associated lithology. Formally identified lithostratigraphic units are structured in a hierarchy of lithostratigraphic rank, higher rank units generally comprising two or more units of lower rank. Going from smaller to larger in rank, the main lithostratigraphic ranks are bed, member, formation, group and supergroup. Formal names of lithostratigraphic units are assigned by geological surveys. Units of formation ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Myliobatis
''Myliobatis'' is a genus of eagle rays in the family (biology), family Myliobatidae. Description ''Myliobatis'' species can reach a width up to about . Their bodies consist of a rhomboidal disc, wider than long, with one dorsal fin. The head is broad and short, with eyes and spiracles on the sides. The tail is slender, with one or two large spines at the base, without tail fin. The teeth are arranged in the lower and upper jaws in flat tooth plates called pavement teeth, each consisting of about seven series of plates, which are used to crush clam shells and crustaceans. Biology ''Myliobatis'' species are Ovoviviparity, ovoviviparous. Their gestation lasts about six months, and a female produces four to seven embryos. ''Myliobatis'' species mainly feed on molluscs, bottom-living crustaceans, and small fishes. Habitat ''Myliobatis'' species live in warm, shallow waters. Adults prefer sandy shores, while juveniles can usually be encountered offshore. Species Extant species Curr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Isurus Oxyrinchus
The shortfin mako shark (; ; ''Isurus oxyrinchus''), also known as the shortfin mako, blue pointer, or bonito shark, is a large mackerel shark. It is commonly referred to as the mako shark, as is the longfin mako shark (''Isurus paucus''). The fastest known shark species, able to reach speeds of in bursts, the shortfin mako can attain a size of in length and weigh . The species is classified as Endangered by the IUCN. Etymology "Mako" comes from the Māori language, meaning either the shark or a shark tooth. Following the Māori language, "mako" in English is both singular and plural. The word may have originated in a dialectal variation, as it is similar to the common words for shark in a number of Polynesian languages—''makō'' in the Kāi Tahu Māori dialect, ''mangō'' in other Māori dialects, ''mago'' in Samoan, ''ma'o'' in Tahitian, and ''mano'' in Hawaiian. The first written usage is in Lee and Kendall's ''Grammar and vocabulary of the language of New Zealand'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Isurus Desori
''Isurus desori'' or "Desori shark", or "Desori mako shark" is an extinct species of Mako shark, that lived in the Oligocene and Middle Miocene, between 34 and 11 million years ago. It measured long. Diet The ''Isurus desori'' hunted squids, fish and marine mammals. The fossil of ''I. desori'' was discovered in the Chesapeake Bay region. Taxonomy The ''I. desori'' belongs to the family Lamnidae. It is classified in the genus '' Isurus'', and it is believed that it was the ancestor of the present-day mako shark (''Isurus oxyrinchus''). It is believed to be related to '' C. hastalis'', and '' C. xiphodon'', as well as the Mako shark (''Isurus oxyrinchus''). Scientists believe that ''I. desori'' belongs to the subfamily Isuridae, where it evolved into the only two contemporary species, '' I. paucus'' and '' I. oxyrinchus'', the only surviving species of the genus Isurus. It was once believed that ''I. desori'' belonged to the genus '' Oxyrhina'', which is now considered ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Isurus
''Isurus'' (meaning "equal tail") is a genus of mackerel sharks in the family Lamnidae, commonly known as the mako sharks. They are largely pelagic, and are fast, predatory fish capable of swimming at speeds of up to . Fossil history and evolution Although fossil teeth of ''Isurus'' have been reported from as early as the Late Cretaceous, they are likely to be of a shark with a similar dentition, '' Cretoxyrhina''; since at one point they were considered to be the same (now defunct) genus ''Oxyrhina'', and modern referrals to ''Isurus'' in the Cretaceous are scant. The earliest appearance of ''Isurus'' proper seems to be during the Oligocene with ''Isurus desori''. There has been much debate and speculation about the evolutionary origin and relationships between ''Isurus'' and its closest relatives, including the extant great white shark (''Carcharodon carcharias''). Molecular clock analyses place the last common ancestor of ''Isurus'' and '' Carcharodon'' between 43–60 mil ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Galeocerdo Cuvier01
''Galeocerdo'' is a genus of ground shark. Only a single species, ''G. cuvier'', the tiger shark, is extant. The earliest fossils date back to the early Eocene epoch, (Ypresian), around 56–47.8 Million years ago. While historically considered a member of the requiem shark family Carcharhinidae, it is currently considered to be the only member of the family Galeocerdonidae. While this genus was historically considered diverse, including 21 extinct species, morphometric analysis conducted in 2021 suggested that the diversity of the genus included only 5 extinct species (including the Eocene †''G. clarkensis'' and †''G. eaglesomei'', Oligocene-late Miocene †''G. aduncus'', Miocene †''G. mayumbensis'', and Pliocene †''G. capellinii'') much lower than previously assumed. The oldest fossils of the extant ''G. cuvier'' date to the middle Miocene. Species Species historically considered valid in the genus ''Galeocerdo'' include: * †'' Galeocerdo aduncus'' * †'' Galeocer ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tiger Shark
The tiger shark (''Galeocerdo cuvier'') is a species of ground shark, and the only extant member of the genus '' Galeocerdo'' and family Galeocerdonidae. It is a large apex predator, with females capable of attaining a length of over . Populations are found in many tropical and temperate waters, especially around central Pacific islands. Its name derives from the dark stripes down its body, which resemble a tiger's pattern, but fade as the shark matures. The tiger shark is a solitary, mostly nocturnal hunter. It is notable for having the widest food spectrum of all sharks, with a range of prey that includes crustaceans, fish, seals, birds, squid, turtles, sea snakes, dolphins, and others, even smaller sharks. It also has a reputation as a "garbage eater", consuming a variety of inedible, man-made objects that linger in its stomach. Tiger sharks have only one recorded natural predator, the orca. It is considered a near-threatened species because of finning and fishing by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Galeocerdo Latidens
''Galeocerdo latidens'' is extinct species of tiger shark, that lived during the Paleocene and Miocene, Middle Miocene periods, from 59.2 to 11.608 millions years ago. The species lived in North America, Europe, Africa, and Russia. Taxonomy ''G. latidens'' was first described by Louis Agassiz in 1835. Due to similarities in morphology, some authors have suggested Synonym (taxonomy), synonymising ''G. latidens'' and ''Galeocerdo eaglesomei.'' Although the latter name was described later, it has been suggested to treat ''G. latidens'' as a nomen dubium since neither the locality nor the horizon are known. References {{Taxonbar, from=Q130529410 Miocene sharks Prehistoric sharks Galeocerdo, latidens Species described in 1835 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Galeocerdo
''Galeocerdo'' is a genus of ground shark. Only a single species, ''G. cuvier'', the tiger shark, is extant. The earliest fossils date back to the early Eocene epoch, (Ypresian), around 56–47.8 Million years ago. While historically considered a member of the requiem shark family Carcharhinidae, it is currently considered to be the only member of the family Galeocerdonidae. While this genus was historically considered diverse, including 21 extinct species, morphometric analysis conducted in 2021 suggested that the diversity of the genus included only 5 extinct species (including the Eocene †''G. clarkensis'' and †''G. eaglesomei'', Oligocene-late Miocene †''G. aduncus'', Miocene †''G. mayumbensis'', and Pliocene †''G. capellinii'') much lower than previously assumed. The oldest fossils of the extant ''G. cuvier'' date to the middle Miocene. Species Species historically considered valid in the genus ''Galeocerdo'' include: * †'' Galeocerdo aduncus'' * †'' Galeocer ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Protosiren
''Protosiren'' is an extinct early genus of the order Sirenia. ''Protosiren'' existed throughout the Lutetian to Priabonian stages of the Middle Eocene. Fossils have been found in the far-flung locations like the United States (South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida), Africa (Egypt), Europe (France, Germany and Hungary) and Asia (India and Pakistan). So far, five species have been named. From comparative anatomy and chronological order,Gingerich P.D., Arif M, Bhatti M.A., Anwar M & Sanders W.J. (1997). "''Basilosaurus drazindai'' and ''Basiloterus hussaini'', New Archaeoceti (Mammalia, Cetacea) from the Middle Eocene Drazinda Formation, with a Revised Interpretation of Ages of Whale-Bearing Strata in the Kirthar Group of the Sulaiman Range, Punjab (Pakistan)". ''Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan'' 30(2): p. 55–81Gingerich P.D., Muhammad A, Bhatti M.A., Raza H.A. & Raza S.M. (1995). "''Protosiren'' and ''Babiacetus'' (Mammalia, Sirenia and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eotheroides
''Eotheroides'' is an extinct genus of Eocene sirenian. It is an early member of the family Dugongidae, which includes the extant dugong. Fossils have been found from Egypt, India, and Madagascar. ''Eotheroides'' was first described by Richard Owen in 1875 under the name ''Eotherium'', which was replaced by the current name in 1899. Based on endocranial casts, ''Eotheroiodes'' had a smaller endocranial volume than other contemporaneous sirenians such as ''Protosiren''. Unlike extant sirenians, ''Eotheroides'' possesses a tentorium cerebelli, which appears as a distinct transverse groove on the skull. Species The type species, ''E. aegyptiacum'', is known from the Lutetian Mokattam Formation of Cairo, Egypt. Another species, ''E. lambondrano'', was recently named on the basis of material found from Middle Eocene nearshore marine deposits in the Mahajanga Basin of Madagascar. The species was named after the Malagasy word for dugong, which translates as "water bushpig". It is kn ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
