Fossils from Morocco

Morocco is one of the most important fossil-producing countries in the world, both commercially and scientifically. The country has yielded an enormous range of material, from Cambrian trilobites to Cretaceous marine reptiles.

The Fezouata Formation, dating to the Early Ordovician, is a major Lagerstätte. It has produced exceptionally preserved soft-bodied organisms, including early arthropods, echinoderms, and other marine invertebrates not typically seen in the fossil record. The preservation here rivals that of the Burgess Shale and has added greatly to our understanding of early animal evolution.

The Akrabou Formation, from the Cenomanian–Turonian stages of the Late Cretaceous, is famous for its marine fossils. These include ammonites, mosasaurs, and large fish. Many of the well-known Moroccan ammonites and marine reptiles on the fossil market come from this unit, which is primarily a chalky limestone.

The Tatelt Formation, a Cambrian formation, is known for yielding a variety of vertebrate fossils, including dinosaurs and pterosaurs. Although less well-known than the Kem Kem beds, it contributes to the broader picture of Cretaceous terrestrial faunas in North Africa.

The Kem Kem Beds, which date to the Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous, are probably the most commercially recognised fossil locality in Morocco – and perhaps one of the most represented in the world.

These red beds have produced an extraordinary range of dinosaur material — most famously Spinosaurus, but also Carcharodontosaurus, Deltadromeus, and numerous crocodyliforms and fish. Fossils from the Kem Kem are widespread in the fossil trade, although their stratigraphic context is often poorly recorded. Despite this, the site remains crucial for understanding North African dinosaurs and associated ecosystems

Morocco’s fossil record is vast and varied, and the country continues to be a vital source of important palaeontological material across multiple periods.

Provenance for specimens from Morocco can be spotty. It is common for minerals and fossils alike to simply be labelled with an area, or even just a vague region like ‘High Atlas’.

Morocco