A NEW TRIASSIC VERTEBRATE FAUNA FROM SOUTH WEST AFRICA
Date
1973
Authors
Keyser, A. W.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BERNARD PRICE INSTITUTE FOR PALAEONTOLOGICAL RESEARCH
Abstract
A new fauna of mammal-like reptiles is described from a continental sequence of
sediments in South West Africa hitherto known as the Etjo Beds. These include
representatives of the Anomodontia (two new forms and one known from the Karroo
basin), Bauriamorpha, (one specimen comparable with a known form), Cynodontia (one
new form and two known from the Karroo basin) and one small eriopoid amphibian. On
the basis of this faunal assemblage it can be shown that there is a disconformity between
the upper Plateau Sandstone Formation containing traces of Dinosaurs of possible
Carnian-Norian age and a lower Omingonde Mudstone Formation with this new fauna,
of essentially Upper Beaufort (Scythian/Anisian) age. The two formations are
distinguished on lithological grounds. The Triassic sequence in the neighbouring Doros
area is thought to be equivalent to the Plateau Sandstone Formation.