Dinosaur Track Sites in Algeria: A Significant National Geological Heritage in Danger

Abstract

Numerous dinosaur track sites are known in Algeria. Most of them are located in the Saharan Atlas, in addition to one site in the Djurdjura Mountains with small footprints assigned to Rotodactylus, one of the earliest members of the dinosaur lineage. Two sites have been known for a long time: (i) the Amoura site, located in the Cenomanian layers at Djebel Bou Kahil, eastern Saharan Atlas; It is one of the oldest known scientific references to dinosaur tracks in the world and contains theropod footprints; and (ii) the Tiout site located at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary layer near Ain Sefra, Ksour Mountains, western Saharan Atlas; this site also contains theropod footprints. Recently, several sites have been discovered in Lower Cretaceous strata in the El Bayadh area (western Saharan Atlas). These sites contain many tracks which include both theropod and sauropod footprints, some of which are exceptionally large and well preserved. Regrettably, this invaluable world geological heritage is now facing dramatic decay if no serious actions are undertaken to protect and conserve it.