The Aral Formation is a geologic formation in Kazakhstan. It preserves fossils dating back to the Neogene period.[1] Much of its fossils consist of Glires and fish, though cetaceans and cryptobranchid salamanders are also known.

Aral Formation
Stratigraphic range: OligoceneMiocene
TypeFormation
Location
Coordinates50.3° N, 57.2° E W[1]
RegionAktyubinsk
CountryKazakhstan

Paleobiota

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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.[1]

Bivalves

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Genus Species Notes Images
Corbula[1] C. helmerseni A bivalve
 

Chondrichthyes

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Genus Species Notes Images
Odontaspis[1] Species indeterminate A sand tiger shark.

Osteichthyes

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Genus Species Notes Images
Acipenser[1] Species indeterminate A sturgeon.
Cyprinidae indet.[1] Genus and species indeterminate A carp.
Esox[1] E. aralensis A pike.
Percidae indet.[1] Gensu and species indeterminate A perch.

Urodela

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Genus Species Notes Images
Cryptobranchidae indet.[1] Genus and species indeterminate. A giant salamander.

Mammals

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Rodents

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Genus Species Notes Images
Aralocricetodon[1] A. schokensis A cricetid.
Asianeomys[1] A. bolligeri. An eomyid.
Eumyarion[1][2] E. tremulus A mouse.
Eucricetodon[1][2] E. occasionalis A mouse.
Plesiosminthus[1] P. tereskentensis A jumping mouse.
Propalaeocastor[1] P. kumbulakensis A castorid.

Lagomorpha

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

Eulipotyphla

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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

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

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Fossilworks: Altynshokysu (bone bed I). Fossilworks.org. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  2. ^ a b 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.