Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 8, 2026

Marnes Rouges Inférieures Formation

The Marnes Rouges Inférieures Formation is a Late Cretaceous geologic formation found in the French Pyrenees. It predominantly consists of red mustone, with minor brown mudstone and sandstone. Dinosaurs, dinosaur eggs and avialian stem-birds have been reported from the formation.

Last revised
Jun 8, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
355 w
Citations
2
Source
Marnes Rouges Inférieures Formation
Stratigraphic range: Maastrichtian
~
TypeGeological formation
UnderliesCalcaires de Vignevieille
OverliesGrès d'Alet
ThicknessOver 150 m (490 ft)
Lithology
PrimaryMudstone
OtherSandstone
Location
Coordinates42°54′N 2°18′E / 42.9°N 2.3°E / 42.9; 2.3
Approximate paleocoordinates34°48′N 2°00′E / 34.8°N 2.0°E / 34.8; 2.0
RegionOccitania
CountryFrance
Type section
Named forFrench: "Lower Red Marls"
Marnes Rouges Inférieures Formation (France)

The Marnes Rouges Inférieures Formation is a Late Cretaceous geologic formation found in the French Pyrenees. It predominantly consists of red mustone, with minor brown mudstone and sandstone.1 Dinosaurs, dinosaur eggs and avialian stem-birds have been reported from the formation.2

Fossil content

Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Dinosaurs

Ornithischians

Ornithischians of Marnes Rouges Inférieures Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Rhabdodon R. priscus A rhabdodontid ornithopod

Sauropods

Sauropods of the Marnes Rouges Inférieures Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Ampelosaurus A. atacis A lirainosaurine lithostrotian
Lirainosaurus L. astibiae A lirainosaurine lithostrotian

Theropods

Theropods of the Marnes Rouges Inférieures Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Gargantuavis G. philoinos A gargantuaviid avialan

Crocodilians

Crocodilia of the Marnes Rouges Inférieures Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Allodaposuchus A. precedens A allodaposuchid eusuchian

Turtles

Turtles of the Marnes Rouges Inférieures Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Foxemys F. mechinorum A bothremydid side-necked turtles

Fish

Lobe-finned Fish

Lobe-finned Fish of the Marnes Rouges Inférieures Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Image
Axelrodichthys A. megadromos A mawsoniid coelacanth
See also

See also

References

References

  1. Fondevilla et al., 2016
  2. Weishampel et al., 2004, pp.517-607

Bibliography