Aganane Formation

Aganane Formation
Stratigraphic range: Pliensbachian ~192–184 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Exposed lagoonal sequences of the Aganane Formation in South Todhra
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	High Atlas
Underlies	Ait Athmane Formation Azilal Formation Amezraï Formation Tagoudite Formation
Overlies	Jbel Rat Formation Imi-n-Ifri Formation Imouzzer Formation Talmest-Tazoult Formation
Area	Central High Atlas
Lithology
Primary	Limestone, dolomite
Other	Sandstones, Claystone, Shale, Conglomerate
Location
Coordinates	31.6°N 6.4°W / 31.6; -6.4
Approximate paleocoordinates	25.9°N 4.3°W / 25.9; -4.3
Region	Central High Atlas Middle Atlas
Country	Morocco
Type section
Named for	Aganane Village, near Tizouggaghiyn
Aganane Formation (Morocco)

The Aganane Formation (also know as Calcaires de Tizi Nehassa in the Middle Atlas[1]) is a Pliensbachian (Early Jurassic), with some levels being potentially Latest Sinemurian, geologic formation in the Khenifra, Azilal, Béni-Mellal, Ouarzazate, Tinerhir and Errachidia areas, in the Middle & High Atlas of Morocco, being the remnant of a local massive Carbonate platform, and known mostly for its rich tracksites (up to 1350 tracks in 1988) including footprints of thyreophoran, sauropod and theropod dinosaurs.[2][3][4] It may also include the fossiliferous levels of the Calcaires du Bou Dahar, if true, it would be one of the richest Early Jurassic formations in the entire tethys area.[5]

This formation has been dated to the Pliensbachian stage of the Lower Jurassic, thanks to the find of the ammonite Arieticeras cf. algovianum, indicator of Middle Domerian (=Uppermost Pliensbachian) in the upper zone, and lower delimitation by the foraminifers Mayncina termieri and Orbitopsella praecursor (indicators of Carixian=Lower Pliensbachian age).[6] The dinosaur tracksites are all located a few metres below the Pliensbachian-Toarcian limit, being coeval and connected with the lowermost layers of the continental Azilal Formation. The Aganane Formation was also coeval with the Jbel Taguendouft Formation and the Tamadout 1 Formation, all developed along a local "platform-furrow" in the Middle Atlas Mountains, that act as a barrier controlling the western border of the Jurassic Atlas Gulf.[7] The nearshore sections, including both carbonate platforms and close to sea terrestrial facies where located on an isolated internal domain thanks to the control of the barrier, allowing the Aganane Formation to develop on a hot and humid climate, where a local algal marsh had intermittent progradations, intercalated with a layer of terrigenous continental origin.[7] The ichnosites were developed in tidal flats and coastal deposits suitable to sea flooding.[8]

The Aganane Formation is a member of the Pliensbachian facies section of the Central Atlas, which are distributed from west to east: The Aït Chitachen Formation & Aït-Bazzi Formation at Demnate (continental-fluvial, coastal lagoon), the Aganane itself at Azilal.[8] At Tazoult, part of the Azilal profile contacts the bottom with the karst Talmest-Tazoult Formation, then a section where the Aganane itself indicates an eastward expansion of the carbonate facies, finally, the most recent Pliensbachian strata belong to the Amezraï Formation (Intertidal to coastal marine), this last change being the result of a transgression where we see a westward advance of the Imilchil pelagic facies, mostly part of the Jbel Choucht Formation.[8]

At Tazoult, the presence of a Diapir (the Tazoult salt wall) is remarkable. In the Pliensbachian, this area begins with the deposition of the Talmest-Tazoult Formation, and then is invaded from the west by the shallow marine carbonate platform of the Aganane Formation.[9] At this time, a decrease in the growth rate of the diapir is detected compared to the Sinemurian. In fact, with the eastward extension of the Aganane Formation, the Tazoult salt wall registers a major change towards shallower facies, confirming a higher diapir relief and a decrease in water depth towards this area during the Pliensbachian, not excluding a complete stop of diapir activity in this interval.[9]

Paleoenvironment

Metre-scale peritidal sedimentary cycles in two outcrops. The two outcrops are 230 km apart. Storm beds and possibly tsunamites include abundant reworked foraminifera. This image is an example of the continuity of peritidal cycles in a carbonate platform environment.

During the Pliensbachian, the region was situated at a nearly tropical paleolatitude and marked the western boundary of the ancient "Atlas Gulf," which faced the Tethys Sea to the East. The Aganane Formation is characterized as representing the coastal-shallow sector of a massive carbonate platform, the most important Lower Jurassic platform in the area.[4][10]

The Carbonates of this unit were subjected to an examination of the diagenetic characteristics, where changes in the surface environment were consistently reflected in a sequence of rocks by diagenetic characteristics, maybe a tentative correlation of major events, such as Hurricanes.[11] The carbonate rocks that form the massive "Aganane Platform" are clearly influenced by tidal and shallow marine flows, ascribed to three environments: supratidal, intertidal and subtidal.[12]

The supratidal sector is diverse, including continental deposits with abundant quartz-rich cricundant deposits and fluvial channels, as well as others composed of considerable thicknesses of stratified gypsum and chicken-wire cargneules, lime and dolomite shales and marls, with drying cracks, caliche crusts and vadose pisoliths. These sediments suggest a continental zone bordering river courses, connected to coastal sectors where shales and siltstones derived from Sabkhas in which interstitial evaporites were formed.[13][10] To the north of the Demnate fault, there existed an extensive subsiding tidal flat where carbonate deposits containing gypsum remnants and stromatolitic laminites formed, interspersed with desiccation polygons.[14] Here the Aganane beds were bounded to the west by the Aït-Bazzi & Aït Chitachen Formations, which represent environments ranging from fluvial to coastal lagoons, with palynological residues Corollina quezelii & Corollina yvesi (Cheirolepidiaceae) as dominant, indicating an arid environment, accompanied by Cupressacites oxycedroides & Diadocupressacites moghrebiensis, both palynological residues of Cupressaceae.[15] Along the Demnate fault's edge, active during this period, lignite layers were intercalated, likely resulting from the degradation of forests located to the south, indicated by root traces in sandstones at the base of the Aït-Bazzi Formation in Ait Tioutline. The area was inhabited by both herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs that roamed the expansive coastal marshland.[14]

The Aganane Fm sediments record multiple environments within a carbonate platform: bordering supratidal salt marshes, based on rooted paleosoils (modern example from Queensland); coastal Sebkha (modern example at Imlily, near Dakhla) mangrove-alike intertidal sequences (ex. Bramble Bay, Queensland) and microbialites in shallow sea (ex. the Bahamas).

Intertidal deposits are composed of algal laminates, bioturbated pelletiferous shales, uniformitarian shales and wackestones with disruptive channels and storm sequences. Algal laminated Boundstones developed in both supratidal and intertidal zones, following present-day patterns such as Shark Bay in Australia or the Persian Gulf. Whereas the pelletoid lime packstone/wackestone facies most likely represented tidal flat areas, or analogs to modern coastal mangrove growth.[13][10] Towards the east, excluding the Demnate region, gypsum precipitated in sebkhas along the edge of a low continent, indicative of a possibly arid climate. Additionally, more massive facies with large lamellibranchs separated the tidal flat from the open sea with Ammonites, whose western extension bordered the eastern edge of Azilal.[14]

Subtidal deposits include both those of an intertidal nature, indicating shallow water or coastal lagoons, with extensive accumulations of skeletal lime packstones, oolitic tidal deltas and offshore bars, oncoliths and coral reefs, and occasional bivalves Opisoma spp. While further east the more open subtidal conditions are represented by flint-bearing calcareous shales and sparse faunas where ammonites begin to appear.[10][13]

Dinosaur Tracks at Tabant

The Carbonate Facies of the High Atlas Pliensbachian generally have a low bathymetry. They show a notable evolution from east to west from a lagoon-marine facies to brackish facies. At the level of the Azilal Atlas, the Middle Lias occurs on both sides of the Demnat Fault: to the southwest of the fault, the Aït Bazzi Formation with dolomitic and red marly facies (lagoonal and lagoon-evaporitic facies), while to the northeast develop the thicker facies of the Aganane Formation.[16] In this area, formations of this stage begin either with conglomeratic facies associated with red marls or with scree and conglomerates associated with local erosion, recovering the same lower Pliensbachian emersion phase observed in the Beni-Mellal Atlas.[16] Toward the south, the "basin" facies ends at the bottom of the gulf near the Jbel Oukarde accident, at the western end of the Tilougguit syncline. The southern limit of this basin, hidden by the later sediments, corresponds to the present-day course of the Azilal-Anergui submeridian fault. Towards the south, on the Amezraï and Aït Bouguemmez basins, a platform zone was established in the heart of the Central High Atlas, consisting of the Jbel Choucht, Aganane, Assemsouk, and Amezraï formations.[16] The Jbel Choucht Formation is the type locality here, characterized by a great development of coralligenous facies. The Jbel Choucht Formation is also present towards the north-central High Atlas, but without any reef character, being rather rich in Megalodontoidea bivalves, while the Aganane Formation presents more or less the same characteristics as those described in the Beni-Mellal Platform. To the east, at the level of the Jbel Aroudane, the thickening and sedimentary polarity of the Jbel Choucht Formation occurs this time southward, with a W-E subsident basin centered on the Jbel Azourki and the Jbel Aroudane.[16]

Locations such as Ait Athmane recover the typical Sinemurian-Pliensbachian mediterranean lithiotid bivalve reefs, composed by aggrupation of aberrant bivalves.[17] These "Reefs" had a strong zonation, starting with the bivalves Gervilleioperna and Mytiloperna, restricted to intertidal and shallow-subtidal facies. Lithioperna is limited to lagoonal subtidal facies and even in some low-oxygen environments. Finally Lithiotis and Cochlearites are found in subtidal facies, constructing buildups.[18] Locally, these reefs were developed as shallow subtidal, cross-bedded floatstones, later evolving to layers with evidence of subaerial exposure, including lagoonal marls, and bioturbated red mudstones with root traces and calcrete.[17] These layers are abundant on the aberrant bivalves Lithioperna and Cochlearites, as well common corals, gastropods, the bivalve Opisoma and oncoids, all living in a sheltered lagoon in the interior of the local carbonate platform, similar to the Rotzo Formation of the Trento Platform.[17]

Depositional settings

Footprints of a giant Sauropodomorph dinosaur, at the top of an emersive "shallowing upward" carbonate cycle

Depositional environments and associated foraminifera of the Aganane Formation

The lower and middle parts of the Aganane Formation mainly consist of light gray dolomitic limestone, often with a rhythmic layering. This environment represents a shallow, coastal area similar to modern tidal flats where seawater periodically covered the land during high tides. Areas like Ait Athmane record rhizoliths (including massively rooted levels), tree trunks and pisoids, which are indicative of pedogenic or freshwater vadose conditions with periodic exposure to air and fresh water.[17][19] A significant portion of this environment was influenced by coastal lagoon and supratidal plains, areas only occasionally submerged by the sea.[20] Red and white marls mixed with thin dolomite layers suggest periods of exposure to the air, with sediments deposited by rivers and occasional flooding from the sea. This setting is comparable to the modern Persian Gulf's sabkha environments, where salt flats and shallow waters mix. Evidence of land exposure includes features like mudcracks and evaporite crystals. Occasional storm events likely washed in marine sediments, indicated by brecciated layers (broken rock fragments). Dinosaur footprints found in these layers suggest a nearby vegetated land area with sufficient rainfall to support life, and thus high annual precipitation, suggesting overall tropical conditions reminiscent of the modern Andros Island model in the Bahamas.[20]

Further offshore, the platform transitioned into a more open lagoon setting, where shallow marine conditions dominated. The rocks here include mud-rich limestones and dark biodetrital limestones (formed from broken fossil fragments). This part of the formation often shows signs of marine life, including llamellibranchs, gastropods, brachiopods, with calcareous algae (Palaeodasycladus, Solenopora, etc.) oncoliths and Foraminifers. Some layers contain large shells of bivalves like Lithiotids, occasionally forming shell beds. These shell accumulations and their arrangement suggest the influence of tidal currents, creating small channels within the lagoons. The presence of gray, organic-rich sediments indicates a low-oxygen, calm-water environment where fine carbonate mud accumulated.[20][21]

In the more open, wave-exposed parts of the platform, the sediment becomes coarser and contains reef-related deposits. These deposits include bioclastic limestones (composed of broken shells and coral fragments) with large coral colonies and sea urchins. The corals likely formed small patch reefs, protecting the inner platform from strong wave action. The transition between these reef zones and the inner platform was gradual, with occasional storm events depositing coarse sediments into the quieter lagoon areas. This reef barrier acted as a natural protection for the lagoon, allowing finer sediments to accumulate behind it.[20]

Small cycles within the bank with frequent reworking and/or rearrangement phenomena demonstrate the importance of episodic storms, which repeatedly led to the displacement of individual facies zones.[3] The only slightly consolidated bottom of the extensive, shallow lagoon areas was repeatedly reworked, with thicknesses of 2-4 meters are characteristic of restrictive lagoonal berelches in the lee of offshore bars or reef belts. The asymmetric large cycles are interpreted, with some reservations, as regressive cycles in connection with global sea level fluctuations and regional tectonic development.[3]

At Ait Bou Guemmez, the upper Aganane Formation records the development of a lagoonal environment south of the Jbel Tizal-Jbel Azourki accident, which evolves to a more or less open subtidal platform environment north of this accident.[22] The local transgressive procession is marked by the dominance of subtidal facies with a microfauna of biozone C1, whereas the high marine level procession is represented by a succession of intertidal to supratidal dolomitic limestones, its top is surmounted by an important subaerial discontinuity materialized by red clay with paleosols and abundant plant roots (e.g. at Tizi n'Terghist).[22] In other localities are mainly biodetritic limestones, showing emersion structures at their top (dolomitization, mud cracks, roots and plant remains, footprints of Dinosaurs).[22]

Paleogeography

Early Jurassic Paleogeography of the Sahara Craton, including source Highlands, Jurassic basins and CAMP outcrops.

The Aganane Formation is located largely within the "Grand e Accident du Nor d'Altasien" or North Atlas Fault, the largest and most important of the Central High Atlas faults.[10] During the late Pliensbachian, 200 m of carbonate sediments accumulated south of the fault on an overturned block, while to the north more than 700 m of similar material accumulated.[10] This fault line probably marked the northern boundary of a Paleozoic basement peninsula that advanced eastward from the Tichka Massif into the Atlas Trench.[10]

The paleogeographic evolution of our region can be described in three main stages:

• The Lower Pliensbachian ("Carixian"), which follows the typical Sinemurian paleogeographic pattern with foreshores and prolonged emersion facies (paleosols, karsts and teepee-shaped structures), the latter being mainly observed on the southern slopes of the central High Atlas, evolving on the subtidal platform of the Upper Sinemurian, with the "Lithiotidae" colonizing for the first time the main areas located in line with the active accidents, notably the fault located NE-SW, separating the Tilougguit trough to the SE from its limiting platform to the NW.[16]
• The "middle" Pliensbachian ("Carixian" - lower "Domerian") marine environment gradually resettles along the western edge of the High Atlas Basin, with maximum opening of depositional environments in the Carixian-Domerian transition (rhythmic mamocalcic sedimentation in the Tilougguit Trench, turbidite facies on the SE edge of the Beni-Mellal platform and subsident lagoons in the other sectors). At the same time, the NW-SE-trending Demnat Fault and the N70-trending North Atlas Fault become evident, whereas the southern edge of the Telouet Graben does not appear to have changed significantly during the Middle Lias like its counterpart in the northern part of the range, being here the main site of the shallow sedimentation of the Aganane Formation.[16] Towards the Tincghir meridian, open sea facies are encountered.[16]
• The last facies belong to the Upper Pliensbachian (Upper Domerian) where the paleogeography of the Central High Atlas becomes very contrasted, with emersion of a vast sector of the platform (At Demnat), leading to the development of paleosols and karst and the accumulation of lignite deposits along tectonically active faults.[16] At the same time, there is a filling of the Tilougguit ditch by carbonate and terrigenous sedimentation, showing small basins like Tamadout and Taquat N'Agrd with a sedimentation with a gravity component, and shoals (Jbel Taguendouft) with condensed deposits.[16] Finally an intensification of the activity of the North leading to the deepening of the central platform (creation of the new basin of Amezraï), to the individualization of strongly subsident zones in the aplomb of this accident (gutter of Jbel Azourki-Jbel Aroudane) and to the birth of the first wrinkles in the center of the high-Atlasic basin.[16]

Foraminifera

Local Foraminifers have been the major reference to stablish the local different enviromental settings, as it´s distribution is clearly based on cyclic sedimentary evolution: the base banks "Term A" represents a shallow subtidal setting with rich thanatocoenosis of Siphovalvulina, Mayncina or Orbitopsella, associated with a intensely bioturbated environment, analogous to present Bahamas, Florida or Persian Gulf.[20] In the Aganane type section limestone beds (biopelmicrite) rich in Orbilopsella, Haurania or Pseudopfenderina could be interpreted as brought by tidal currents covering the supratidal zone. In "Term B" a thanatocoenosis of monospecific Foraminifera with Mayncina termieri, Pseudopfenderina or Lituosepta compressa are common, interpreted as allochthonous, resulting from sorting in an intertidal environment higher than supratidal, under or alternated with the supratidal laminations and the storm breccias, as well in rarer cases covering (aeolian origin?) surface of the supratidal coastal plain.[20] The Aganane Foraminifera in Terms "D" and "E" underwent significant evolutionary and environmental changes.[23] During D, the foraminiferal population was dominated by Planisepta, a smaller morphovariant of Lituosepta, which persisted after the decline of larger orbitopsellids like Orbitopsella due to internal biological factors and mechanical instability related to their large size. The population remained stable until the Middle Domerian anoxic crisis, which triggered a microfaunal turnover. E saw the emergence of smaller, simpler foraminifera such as Haurania gracilis and Paleocyclammina liasica, adapted to eutrophic lagoon conditions.[23]

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Habitat	Notes	Images
Ammobaculites[1]	A. sp.	Tizi Nehassa	Isolated Tests/Shells	Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the Ammomarginulininae family.
Dentalina[19]	D. sp.	Ait Athmane	Isolated Tests/Shells	Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the Nodosariinae family.
Eariandia[14]	E. sp.	Aït-Abbès	Isolated Tests/Shells	Marine or Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the family Earlandiidae.
Everticyclammina[24][25]	E. praevirguliana E. sp.	Aganane/Assist Ait Athmane Bernai	Isolated Tests/Shells	Marine or Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the Everticyclamminidae family. It represents a species similar to E. virguliana, known from the Middle Jurassic of Morocco.
Glomospira[14][25]	G. sp.	Aït-Abbès Ait Athmane Assif Oum Tizi Isli Tizi Nehassa	Isolated Tests/Shells	Lagoon	A foraminifer of the family Ammodiscidae.
Glomospirella[25]	G. sp	Ait Athmane	Isolated Tests/Shells	Lagoon	A foraminifer of the family Ammovertellininae.
Haurania[14][23]	H. gracilis H. amiji	Aït-Abbès Tizi Isli Tizi Nehassa	Isolated Tests/Shells	Marine or Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the family Spirocyclinidae.
Lituosepta[24]	L. recoarensis L. compressa	Aganane Aît Bou Guemez Aït Blal Assif Oum Assist Bernai Assist Lakhdar Chaaba Touila Gorges de Taghia Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Asmir Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Moulay Yacoub Nit Blal-Tacht Tadghouit Wazzant	Isolated Tests/Shells	Marine or Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the Mesoendothyridae family.
Mayncina[24]	M. termieri	Aganane Aït Blal Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Wazzant	Isolated Tests/Shells	Marine or Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the Nezzazatoidea family.
Mesoendothyra[14][24][25]	M. sp.	Aganane Aït-Abbès Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assist Bernai Wazzant	Isolated Tests/Shells	Marine or Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the Mesoendothyridae family.
Nodosaria[25]	N. sexcostata N. sp.	Ait Athmane	Isolated Tests/Shells	Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the family Nodosariinae.
Ophtalmidium[25]	O. concentricum O. martanum O. sp.	Ait Athmane Tizi Nehassa	Isolated Tests/Shells	Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the family Ophthalmidiidae.
Orbitopsella[14][24]	O. primaeva O. praecursor	Aganane Aït Blal Alt Bou Guemez Assif Bernal Assif Lakhdar Assif Imejdag Col d'Adoumaz Col du R'nim Col (Tizi) n-Toudat Gorges du Makin Gorges de Taghia Jbel Choucht Jbel Mahan Jbel Rhat Taclghouit Jbel Tadaghas Jbel Tafenfent Jbel Tarkeddid Wazzant	Isolated Tests/Shells	Marine or Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the Mesoendothyridae family.
Planisepta[25]	P. compressa	Ait Athmane	Isolated Tests/Shells	Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the Mesoendothyridae family.
Pseudocyclammina[23][24]	P. liasica	Aït Blal Tizi Isli Tizi Nehassa Wazzant	Isolated Tests/Shells	Marine or Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the Pfenderinidae family.
Pseudopfenderina[14][24]	P. butterlini	Aganane Aït-Abbès Aït Blal Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Wazzant	Isolated Tests/Shells	Marine or Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the Pfenderinidae family.
Siphovalvulina[14][24][25]	S. colomi S. gibraltarensis S. sp.	Aganane Ait Athmane Aït-Abbès Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assist Bernai Tizi Isli Wazzant	Isolated Tests/Shells	Marine or Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the Pfenderinidae family.

Invertebrata

Ichnofossils

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Type	Made by	Notes	Images
Arenicolites[20][24]	A. ispp.	Aganane Aït-Abbès Ait Athmane Aït Blal Aït Bou Guemez Amagour Assif Bernal Assif Lakhdar Assif Imejdag Col d'Adoumaz Col du R'nim Col (Tizi) n-Toudat Gorges du Makin Gorges de Taghia Jbel Choucht Jbel Ikis Jbel Mahan Jbel Rhat Jbel Taabest Taclghouit Jbel Tadaghas Jbel Tafenfent Jbel Tarkeddid Taberhout Tazergount Tizi Nehassa Wazzant	Borrowing Traces	Domichnia	Polychaetes (Spionida and Carpitellida) Crustaceans (Amphipodan). Sipuncula	Marine unbranched U-shaped burrows, subvertical in orientation, with or without lining and passive infill.	Example of Arenicolites trace fossil
Asterosoma[26]	A. ispp.		Bulb-like swelling burrows	Fodinichnia	Annelids Sipuncula	Burrows made by vermiform organisms
Chomatichnus[20][24]	C. wegberensis		Tubular Fodinichnia	Fodinichnia	Decapoda Annelids (Polychaeta) Sipuncula	Interpreted as the feeding burrow of a sediment-feeding animal.
Chondrites[20][24]	C. ispp.		Tubular Fodinichnia	Fodinichnia	Annelids (Polychaeta) Sipuncula	Burrow-like ichnofossils. Interpreted as the feeding burrow of a sediment-ingesting animal.	Example of Chondrites trace fossil
Cruziana[26]	C. ispp.		Ribbon-like furrows	Repichnia and/or fodinichnia	Xiphosura Isopoda	Interpreted as the trace of an Arthropod	Example of Cruziana trace
Gastrochaenolites[26]	G. ispp.		clavate-shaped to flask-shaped tubes	Domichnia	Pholadidea	Bivalve boring over surfaces and other animal shells	Example of Gastrochaenolites
Glossifungites[26]	G. ispp.		Infilled abandoned burrows	Domichnia and/or fodinichnia.	Priapulida Serpulidae Siboglinidae Sabellidae Oweniidae	Associated with Bioclastic calcarenite beds
Ophiomorpha[26]	O. irregulaire O. nodosa O. ispp.		Tubular Fodinichnia	Domichnia and/or fodinichnia.	Decapodans	Associated with Bioclastic calcarenite beds	Example of Ophiomorpha trace fossil
Rhizocorallium[20][24]	R. parallelum R. ispp.		Tubular Fodinichnia	Domichnia and/or fodinichnia.	Crustaceans Annelids Bony Fish	Dwelling and feeding burrow of a suspension-feeder or deposit-feeder, associated usually with shallow waters	Example of Ophiomorpha trace fossil
Skolithos[20][24]	S. ispp.		Cylindrical to subcylindrical burrows	Domichnia	Polychaetes Phoronidans	Burrow-like ichnofossils made by organisms advancing along the bottom surface.	Skolithos ichnofosil reconstruction, with possible fauna associated
Thalassinoides[20][24]	T. suevicus T. ispp.		Tubular Fodinichnia	Fodinichnia	Decapoda Annelids (Polychaeta) Sipuncula Bony Fish Dipnoi	Burrow-like ichnofossils. Large burrow-systems consisting of smooth-walled, essentially cylindrical components.	Thalassinoides burrowing structures, with modern related fauna, showing the ecological convergence and the variety of animals that left this Ichnogenus.
Teichichnus[26]	T. ispp.		Vertical to oblique burrows	Fodinichnia	Polychaetes Phoronidans	Interpreted as the feeding burrow of a sediment-feeding animal.
Zoophycos[20][24]	Z. ispp.		Dwelling traces	Domichnia & Fodinichnia	Polychaetes (Spionida and Carpitellida) Deposit-feeding Sipuncula	Burrow-like ichnofossils. It has been related to Echiurans, but also from moving and feeding polychaete worms.	Example of Zoophycos fossil

Anthozoa

The Reef facies of the Aganane Formation featured a nearshore, tropical setting.[27] Dominant Plicatostylidae bivalves, in a way akin to modern Crassostrea, thrived in both clear and turbid waters, forming biostromes and bioherms in protected lagoons. Their growth outpaced sediment accumulation thanks to soft carbonate mud and their own fecal matter providing support. Fluctuating water depths influenced habitat suitability, with lithiotids adapting to shallow subtidal environments. Co-existing scleractinian corals, possibly photosymbiotic, suggest warm, clear, oligotrophic conditions, yet their symbiotic nature is hard to confirm in fossils. These corals were sensitive to changes in environmental parameters like temperature and salinity.[27]

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic Position	Material	Notes	Images
Actinastreidae[27]	Indeterminate	Ait Athmane	Colonial Imprints	Thamnasterioid corals	Actinaraea, example of Actinastreid
Ampakabastraea[17]	A. sp.	Ait Athmane	Imprints	A solitary coral of the family Stylinidae.
Archaeosmilia[17][27]	A. beata A. sp.	Ait Athmane	Imprints	A solitary coral of the family Zardinophyllidae. Late Pliensbachian corals of the Aganane Formation are mainly limited to Retiophyllia, Thamnasteria and Archaeosmilia.
Archaeosmiliopsis[17]	A. sp.	Ait Athmane	Colonial Imprints	A coral of the family Archaeosmiliidae.
Eocomoseris[27]	E. sp.	Ait Athmane	Colonial Imprints	A thamnasterioid coral of the family Archaeosmiliidae.
Icaunhelia[27]	I. sp.	Ait Athmane	Imprints	A solitary coral of the family Archaeosmiliidae
Oppelismilia[28]	O. sp.	Assemsouk	Colonial Imprints	A coral of the family Oppelismiliidae.
Paleomillepora[27]	P. sp.	Ait Athmane	Colonial Imprints	A plocoid coral of the family Spongiocoenia
Phacelostylophyllum[28]	P. sp.	Assemsouk	Colonial Imprints	A coral of the family Stylophyllidae.
Phacelophyllia[28]	P. sp.	Ait Athmane	Colonial Imprints	A coral of the family Dermosmiliidae.
Periseris[28]	P. sp.	Ait Athmane	Colonial Imprints	A coral of the family Latomeandridae.
Proleptophyllia?[27]	P?. sp.	Ait Athmane	Imprints	A solitary coral of the family Dermosmiliidae
Reimaniphyllidae[27]	Indeterminate	Ait Athmane	Imprints	Solitary corals
Retiophyllia[17][29]	R. zizensis R. spp.	Ait Athmane	Colonial Imprints	A coral of the family Reimaniphylliidae. It belongs to the otherwise common Triassic genus Retiophyllia.
Stylophyllidae[27]	Indeterminate	Ait Athmane	Colonial Imprints	Phaceloid corals	Thecosmilia, example of Stylophyllid
Thamnasteria[17][29]	T. cf. mettensis	Ait Athmane	Colonial Imprints	A thamnasterioid coral of the family Thamnasteriidae.	Thamnasteria specimens

Porifera

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Habitat	Notes	Images
Chaetetes[30]	C. (Pseudoseptifer) murciana C. (Pseudoseptifer) liasica	Aganane Aït-Abbès Aït Blal Jbel Tarkeddid Wazzant	Colonial Imprints	Marine or Lagoonal	A Chaetetidan demosponge of the family Chaetetinae. Monospecific assamblages with encrusting and symbiont forms are found abundantly on lagoonal facies, distributed in several stratigraphic horizons.	Specimen of the same genus
Cladocoropsis[20]	C. mirabilis C. spp.	Aganane Aït-Abbès Aït Blal Jbel Tarkeddid Wazzant	Colonial Imprints	Marine or Lagoonal	An Axinellidan demosponge of the family Cladocoropsidae. Fossils of this and other unidentified sponges are commonly found in reef deposits, associated with corals.
Stylothalamia[31]	S. columnaris	Ain Kahla to Ain Leuh	Colonial Imprints	Marine or Lagoonal	A Dictyoceratidan demosponge of the family Verticillitidae

Crustacea

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Habitat	Notes	Images
Favreina[14][20]	F. salevensis F. spp.	Aganane Aït-Abbès Ait Athmane Aït Blal Assemsouk Jbel Tarkeddid	Coprolites	Marine, Tidal Flat or Lagoon	Crustacean fossil coprolites, assigned to the ichnofamily Favreinidae. Possibly coprolites of taxa similar or belonging to Thalassinidea	Extant Thalassinidea
Parafavreina[14][20]	P. thoronetensis P. spp.	Aganane Aït-Abbès Ait Athmane Aït Blal Assemsouk Jbel Tarkeddid	Coprolites	Marine, Tidal Flat or Lagoon	Crustacean fossil coprolites, assigned to the ichnofamily Favreinidae. Possibly coprolites of taxa similar or belonging to Thalassinidea

Brachiopoda

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Calcirhynchia[32]	C. moghrabiensis C. spp.	Tizi n’Talrhemt	Isolated Shells	A Brachiopodan of the family Cirpinae. Relatively abundant on seashore deposits. It was originally identified as part of the genus Rhynchonella
Gibbirhynchia[1][33][34]	G. ageri	Tizi Nehassa	Isolated Shells	A Brachiopodan member of the family Tetrarhynchiidae
Grandirhynchia[35]	G (Rhynchonella) laevigata	Tillouguit	Isolated Shells	A Brachiopodan member of the family Tetrarhynchiidae
Hesperithyris[36][32][35]	H. atlantis H. termieri H. reinerii H. sinuosa	Azrou[37] Col du Tarhzeft Jebel Hebri Tazergount Tazioualt	Isolated Shells	A Brachiopodan of the family Zeilleriidae
Homoeorhynchia[35]	H. batalleri	Ait Athmane	Isolated Shells	A Brachiopodan member of the family Rhynchonellidae
Liospiriferina[1][33][34]	L. praerostrata	Tizi Nehassa	Isolated Shells	A Brachiopodan of the family Spiriferinidae	Liospiriferina specimens
Lobothyris[34]	L. subpunctata	Tizi Nehassa	Isolated Shells	A Brachiopodan of the family Lobothyrididae
Parathyridina[34]	P. mediterranea	Tizi Nehassa	Isolated Shells	A Brachiopodan of the family Zeilleriidae. A taxon living on the inner carbonate platforms rarely communicating with the open sea.
Spiriferina[32][35]	S. falloti S. sp.	S d'Ouaouizarthe Tillouguit	Isolated Shells	A Brachiopodan of the family Spiriferinidae
Stolmorhynchia[35]	S. bouchardi	Ait Athmane	Isolated Shells	A Rhynchonellidan, member of the family Basiliolidae
Tauromenia[32]	T. aretusa T. polymorpha T. itoensis T. brevicostata	Tazergount Tazioualt	Isolated Shells	A Brachiopodan of the family Zeilleriidae

Bivalves

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Arcomytilus[28][38]	A. furcatus	Assemsouk Tazioualt	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Mytilidae.
Cochlearites[14][17][28][38][39]	C. loppianus C. spp.	Aganane Aït-Abbès Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assemsouk Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Tizi Nehassa Tizi n'Tizint	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Plicatostylidae. A large bivalve, with a subequal shell, that can reach 60–70 cm in height. It is one of the three principal bivalves found on the Lithiotis facies, whose accumulations generally cover megalodontid coquinas.
Eomiodon[28][38]	E. serradensis E. spp.	Aganane Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assemsouk Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Tizi n'Tizint	Isolated Shells	A saltwater/brackish bivalve of the family Neomiodontidae. This genus is considered an opportunistic suspension feeder of shallow infauna, and the marker genus for brackish environments.[40]
Fimbria[28][38]	F. trulla F. spp.	Assemsouk Tizi n'Tizint	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Lucinidae.	Example of extant specimen
Gervilleia[13][36]	G. termieri G. spp.	Tazergount	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Bakevelliidae.
Gervilleioperna[28][38]	G. atlanta G. spp.	Ait Athmane Assemsouk Tizi Nehassa	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Plicatostylidae. Abundant along the rootlets, indicating a very shallow and restricted lagoon or swamp environment
Gryphaea[17][19]	G. (Bilobissa) sp.	Ait Athmane	Isolated Shells	A saltwater/brackish bivalve of the family Gryphaeidae	Specimen of the genus
Liogryphaea[19][28][38]	L. arcuata L. spp.	Ait Athmane Assemsouk	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Gryphaeidae. This genus develops a noted material oyster biostrome at Aït Athmane, where a discontinuous, patchy layer is formed, developed under submarine lithification and a relative enrichment in terrigenous matter.[19]	Specimens of the genus
Lithioperna[17][28][39]	L. scutata L. spp.	Aganane Aït-Abbès Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assemsouk Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Tizi Isli[1] Tizi Nehassa Tizi n'Tizint	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Plicatostylidae. This genus was founded to be a bivalve with a juvenile byssate stage that developed different lifestyles in adulthood depending on the density of individuals and the firmness of the bottom	Specimen of the genus
Lucina[28][38]	L. spp.	Assemsouk Tizi n'Tizint	Isolated Shells	A saltwater/brackish bivalve of the family Lucinidae. Linked with intertidal settings	Specimen of the genus
Megalodon?[38]	M.? sp.	Assemsouk	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Megalodontidae	Specimens of the genus
Modiolus[13]	M. tirolensis M. cf. hillana	Ait Athmane	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Mytilidae	Example of extant specimen
Mytiloperna[17][28][39]	M. spp.	Aganane Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assemsouk Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Plicatostylidae.
Nanogyra[17][19]	N. sp.	Ait Athmane	Isolated Shells	A saltwater/brackish bivalve of the family Gryphaeidae
Opisoma[17][19][28][39][41]	O. menchikoffi O. excavatum O. spp.	Ait Athmane Assemsouk Bou Dahar Chaaba Touila Grand Pic de l'Ouarsenis Tizi Nehassa Tizi n'Tizint	Isolated Shells	A saltwater/brackish bivalve of the family Astartidae. Is considered a genus that evolved from shallow burrowing ancestors, secondarily becoming an edge-lying semi-fauna adapted to photosymbiosis.[41]
Pachyrisma[28][39][19]	P. crassa P. spp.	Aganane Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assemsouk Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Pachyrismatidae
Pecten[19][28][38]	P. juhanus P. spp.	Ait Athmane Assemsouk Tizi n'Tizint	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Pectinidae	Example of extant specimen
Pholadomya[28][38]	P. scutata	Assemsouk	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Pholadomyidae	Specimens of the genus
Plagiostoma[17][19]	P. gigantea	Ait Athmane	Isolated Shells	A saltwater/brackish bivalve of the family Limidae	Specimens of P. gigantea
Protodiceras[28][39][19]	P. pumilum P. spp.	Aganane Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assemsouk Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Asmir Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Pachyrismatidae

Gastropoda

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Nerinea[28][36][38]	N. spp.	Aganane Aït-Abbès Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assemsouk Tazergount Jbel Tarkeddid	Isolated Shells	A saltwater gastropod of the family Nerineidae. Local specimens appear to have algal material on the shells, indicating a restricted lagoon environment.	Specimen of the genus
Pseudonerinea[14][36]	P. terebra P. spp.	Aït-Abbès Tazergount	Isolated Shells	A saltwater gastropod of the family Nerineidae
Scurria[28][38]	S. spp.	Assemsouk	Isolated Shells	A saltwater gastropod of the family Nerineidae. "Scurria" was found in the Assemsouk structure on a "Cochlearites" valve and a shallow ovoid excavation, similar to the resting trace of a limpet, was found inside a transported "Lithiotis".	Specimens of the genus

Ammonites

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Arieticeras[6]	A. ceratitoïdes A. cf. algovianum	Aït Blal Aït-Abbès	Isolated Shells	An ammonite of the family Hildoceratidae. Arieticeras cf. algovianum is indicative of the Middle Domerian (Upper Pliensbachian) in the upper zone	Example of Arieticeras specimens
Fontanelliceras[6]	F. sp.	Zawyat Ahançal	Isolated Shells	An ammonite of the family Hildoceratidae
Fuciniceras[6]	F. confungens F. lavinianum F. ambiguum F. cf.cornacaldense F. sp.	Aït-Haceïne Almou-n'Tarzekt S d'Ouaouizarthe	Isolated Shells	An ammonite of the family Hildoceratidae
Galaticeras[6]	G. aegoceroides	S d'Ouaouizarthe	Isolated Shells	An ammonite of the family Lytoceratidae
Lioceratoides[6]	L. sp.	Tillouguit	Isolated Shells	An ammonite of the family Hildoceratidae
Protogrammoceras[6]	P. contrarium P. marianii P. (Argutarpites) praeexeratus P. (Argutarpites) pectinatus	Aït-Haceïne S d'Ouaouizarthe Tillouguit	Isolated Shells	An ammonite of the family Hildoceratidae
Proamaltheus[6]	P. sp.	Moulay Yacoub	Isolated Shells	An ammonite of the family Amaltheinae	Example of Proamaltheus (Amaltheus) specimen
Reynesoceras[6]	R. ragazzonii	Aït-Haceïne	Isolated Shells	An ammonite of the family Dactylioceratidae

Annelida

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Habitat	Notes	Images
Serpulidae[20]	Indeterminate	Aganane Aït-Abbès Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assemsouk Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid	Isolated or accumulated tubes	Marine or Lagoonal	A sessile Annelid of the family Serpulidae. These annelids are found as well in the reef facies as in the lagoon deposits	Example of modern Serpulid Tube

Dinosauria

Theropoda

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Carmelopodus?[42][43][44]	C?. isp.	Ibaqualiwn Tabant	Footprints	Incertae sedis within Neotheropoda, maybe ceratosaur tracks. Includes the large tracks.[45][44]	The footprints of Carmelopodus belong to a genus with a pes similar to Ceratosaurus, yet does not implicate is a member of the family or a relative
"Carnosauria"[42][43]	Indet (Megalosauripus? ispp.)	Ait Bou Oulli Assif-n-Sremt Ibaqualiwn Talsnant Tabant Tizi Asdremt Tizi-n-Aït Imi	Footprints	incertae sedis within Theropoda. 64 footprints of medium to large (30-55 cm) theropods referred as "Morphotype 3", some with resemblance to Allosauroid pes.[45]	The footprints of Megalosauripus belong to a genus with a pes similar to Allosaurus, yet does not implicate is a member of the family or a relative
Coelurosaurichnus[2][42][43][46]	C. (Argoides?) isp. C. (Dromaeosauripus?) isp. C. ispp.	Aït Blal	Footprints	Member of the ichnofamily Grallatoridae, incertae sedis within Theropoda. Up to 96 tracks of small theropods, referred originally to "Morphotype 1", and usually attributed to dinosaurs similar to Coelophysidae and Dilophosaurus. Includes didactyl, tridactyl and tetradactyl tracks, as well as pathologic trackways with evidence of limping.[2] Has been suggested to be tracks from tridactyl taxa under different conditions.[47]	An example of Coelurosaurichnus (Grallator) track
Eubrontes[42][48][49]	E. isp. Cf.E. isp.	Aït Blal Akourbi Iskatafene Ansous Issil-n-Aït Arbi Tabant Tizi-n-Aït Imi Waougoulzat Wanechki	Footprints	Type member of the ichnofamily Eubrontidae, incertae sedis inside Theropoda. Eubrontes is usually related to the genus Dilophosaurus, representing basal Neotheropods. The local record include up to 208 tracks, referred as "Morphotype 2".[42]	An example of Eubrontes track
Theropoda[2][42][46][49][50]	Indeterminate	Akourbi Aït Blal Ansous Ibaqualiwn Iba Ziz Issil-n-Aït Arbi Tabant Sidi Moussa Waougoulzat	Footprints	Theropod Tracks of uncertain affinity or non studied

Sauropodomorpha

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Breviparopus[42][51]	B. isp. Aff.B. isp.	Ibaqalliwn	Footprints	Incertae sedis within Sauropoda. Includes traces with pes similar to Diplodocoidea, but also others that resemble basal sauropods.[51][52]	The footprints of Breviparopus may have belong to a genus with a similar pes to that of Haplocanthosaurus, yet it doesn't mean they were made by a Neosauropod
Eusauropoda?[53]	Indeterminate	Ahouli	NHMUK PV R36834, two complete cervical vertebrae SNSB-BSPG 2014 I 106 dorsal vertebrae and a pubis fragment[54]	Sauropod Material of uncertain relationships, nicknamed the "Haute Moulouya Sauropod", and assumed to have come from Lowermost jurassic sediments. Recent work suggest it comes from younger sediments, probably Late Pliensbachian, locally represented by the "Calcaires de Tizi Nehassa".[55]
Liujianpus[42][44][51]	L. (Eosauropus?) isp. L. (Lavinipes?) isp. Aff.L.? isp.	Assif-n-Sremt Ibaqalliwn Tabant	Footprints	Incertae sedis within Sauropodomorpha. Described as the "Morphotype 1" Includes traces with pes similar to those of basal quadrupedal forms like Blikanasaurus or Melanorosauridae.[52] Referred to quadrupedal taxa such as Gongxianosaurus.[44] Alternatively, the tracks, or some of them, can belong to the ichnogenus Lavinipes.[56]
Otozoum[44][49][57][58]	O. moodii O. isp.	Assif-n-Sremt Ibaqalliwn Issil-n-Aït Arbi Timit	Footprints	Type member of the ichnofamily Otozoidae, incertae sedis within Sauropodomorpha. Includes a gigantic 84 or 75 cm track that represents the largest Otozoum ever described in the literature.[57][58]	The local Footprints of Otozoum may have belonged to a genus similar to that of Aardonyx
Parabrontopodus[51]	P. ispp. Aff.P. isp.	Assif-n-Sremt Aguer-n-Ouzrou Aguerd Ibaqalliwn Tabant Tigharguenine Tizi-n-Aït Waougoulzat	Footprints	Typical member of the ichnofamily Parabrontopodidae, incertae sedis within Sauropoda. Includes tracks with pes similar to those of Vulcanodon (perhaps left by Tazoudasaurus?) and other morphotype more similar to Rhoetosaurus.[52]	The Footprints of Parabrontopodus may have belonged to a genus similar to that of Vulcanodon
Pseudotetrasauropus[49]	P. isp.	Issil-n-Aït Arbi	Footprints	Incertae sedis within Sauropodomorpha.	The prints of Pseudotetrasauropus may have belonged to a genus similar to that of Leonerasaurus
Sauropodomorpha[49][46]	Indeterminate	An Assif-n-Sremt Jbel Azourki Ibaqalliwn Iba'ziz Issil-n-Aït Arbi Tabant Tizi-n-Aït Tigharguenine Timit	Footprints	Sauropodomorph tracks of uncertain affinity
Sauropoda[42][43]	Indeterminate	Ahbak Ait Waggown Ansous Assif-n-Sremt Tizi-n-Aït Tabant Timit Iba'ziz Tigharguenine Waougoulzat	Footprints	Sauropod tracks of uncertain affinity

Ornithischia

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Deltapodus?[50]	Aff.D.? isp.	Ansous	Footprints	Incertae sedis inside Neornithischia. Due to its morphology, this tracks have been latter identified as possible Deltapodus, yet this does not mean they are of Stegosauria origin.[59]	Scelidosaurus, one of the best known Early Jurassic Thyreophorans

Chlorophyta/Rhodophyta

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Habitat	Notes	Images
Boueina[20][60]	B. hochstetteri B. spp.	Aganane Aït Blal Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Wazzant	Calcareous Imprints	Marine or Lagoonal	A Green alga of the Halimedaceae or Udoteaceae family.	Example of Bouenia specimens
Cayeuxia[24][60]	C. liasica C. spp.	Aganane Aït Blal Assif Oum Assist Bernai Chaaba Touila Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Tizi Nehassa Wazzant	Calcareous Imprints	Marine or Lagoonal	A Green alga of the Halimedaceae or Udoteaceae family.	Extant Udotea. Cayeuxia usually preserves in similar shapes
Fanesella[19]	F. dolomitica	Ait Athmane	Calcareous Imprints	Lagoonal	A Green alga of the Dasycladaceae family.
Paleodasycladus[24][60]	P. fragilis P. mediterraneus P. dolomiticus P. anae P. spp.	Aganane Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assemsouk Assif Oum Assist Bernai Chaaba Touila Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Asmir Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Ibaqalliwn Wazzant	Calcareous Imprints	Marine or Lagoonal	A Green alga of the Dasycladaceae family.	Palaeocladus mediterraneus specimens
Pseudolithocodium[20]	P. sp.	Aganane Aït Blal Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Wazzant	Calcareous Imprints	Marine or Lagoonal	A Green alga, likely a member of the Ulotrichales group. Has been compared with the extant genus Gomontia
Pycnoporidium[14]	P. sp.	Aït-Abbès	Calcareous Imprints	Marine or Lagoonal	A Red Alga of the family Solenoporaceae
Sestrosphera[24][60]	S. liasina	Aganane Aït Blal Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Wazzant	Calcareous Imprints	Marine or Lagoonal	A Green alga alga of the Triploporellaceae family. This genus is the most common algal type found in the Biozone A (Lituosepta recoarensis).
Solenopora[60][36]	S. liasica S. spp.	Aganane Aït Blal Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Wazzant	Calcareous Imprints	Marine or Lagoonal	A Red Alga of the family Solenoporaceae	Example of Solenopora specimens agreggation
Terquemella[1]	T. spp.	Tizi Isli	Calcareous Imprints	Marine or Lagoonal	A Green alga of the Bornetellaceae family.
Thaumatoporella[24][60]	T. parvovesiculifera T. spp.	Aganane Aït Blal Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Tizi Isli[1] Tizi Nehassa Wazzant	Calcareous Imprints	Marine or Lagoonal	A Green alga of the Thaumatoporellales group

Photo Gallery

• 
  Metric emersive cycle in the carbonate platform. Deposition of marine lagoon with foraminifera then dolomitized algal laminations in intertidal to supratidal environment.
• 
  Desiccation cracks in a dolomitized limestone bench, emersive cycle top of the Lagoon, at the limit between the Azilal and the older Aganane Fm.
• 
  Ammonites and belemnites displaced on the supratidal plain ("teepee") by a storm wave or a tidal current
• 
  Storm breach at the top of a metric regressive sequence.
• 
  Vadose pisoliths and "birdseyes" in coastal carbonate sand, emergent; outer shelf.
• 
  Aerial, supratidal (vadose) diagenesis in a carbonate sand with foraminifera displaced by tidal currents and storm waves on the shelf.
• 
  Thin layer: calcretes (calcareous crusts) reworked in a gravelly coastal sediment, partly dolomitized.
• 
  Stalactite cement at the top of a "keystone vug" typical of diagenesis in a vadose environment, at the top of an emersive cycle (L=0.3 mm).
• 
  Calcretes (calcareous crust) and "birdseyes" in a gravelly coastal sediment.
• 
  Diagenetic structure in "teepee" on the supratidal plain, formed by the increase in volume of the sediment following the crystallization of carbonates (dolomite).

See also

• List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations
  • List of stratigraphic units with theropod tracks
  • List of stratigraphic units with sauropodomorph tracks
  • List of stratigraphic units with ornithischian tracks

References

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2. Ishigaki, Shinobu; Lockley, Martin G. (March 2010). "Didactyl, tridactyl and tetradactyl theropod trackways from the Lower Jurassic of Morocco: evidence of limping, labouring and other irregular gaits". Historical Biology. 22 (1–3): 100–108. Bibcode:2010HBio...22..100I. doi:10.1080/08912961003789867. ISSN 0891-2963. S2CID 129632881.
3. Hauptmann, Manfred (1990). "Untersuchungen zur Mikrofazies, Stratigraphie und Paläogeographie jurassischer Karbonat-Gesteine im Atlas-System Zentral-Marokkos". Selbstverlag Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, FU Berlin. doi:10.23689/fidgeo-6546.
4. Danisch, Jan; Kabiri, Lahcen; Nutz, Alexis; Bodin, Stéphane (2019-05-01). "Chemostratigraphy of Late Sinemurian – Early Pliensbachian shallow-to deep-water deposits of the Central High Atlas Basin: Paleoenvironmental implications". Journal of African Earth Sciences. 153: 239–249. doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2019.03.003. ISSN 1464-343X.
5. MERINO-TOMÉ, ÓSCAR; PORTA, GIOVANNA DELLA; KENTER, JEROEN A. M.; VERWER, KLAAS; HARRIS, PAUL (MITCH); ADAMS, ERWIN W.; PLAYTON, TED; CORROCHANO, DIEGO (2011). "Sequence development in an isolated carbonate platform (Lower Jurassic, Djebel Bou Dahar, High Atlas, Morocco): influence of tectonics, eustacy and carbonate production". Sedimentology. 59 (1): 118–155. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3091.2011.01232.x. ISSN 0037-0746.
6. Dubar, G.; Mouterde, R. (1978). "Les formations à ammonites du Lias Moyen dans Ie Haut Atlas du Midelt et du Tadla" (PDF). Notes & M. Servo Geo/. Maroc. 274 (4): 77.
7. Michard, A. (March 2011). "Nouveaux guides géologiques et miniers du Maroc/New Geological and Mining Guidebooks of Morocco, volume 7: Haut Atlas occidental, Haut Atlas central nord-ouest". Notes & M. Servo Geo/. Maroc. 562 (1–3): 70–76. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
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