View source for Tendaguru Formation

{{Short description|Geological formation and paleontological site in Tanzania}}
{{Infobox Rockunit
| name           = Tendaguru Formation
| image          =Tendaguru Tendaguru3 (cropped).jpg 
| caption        = 
| type           = [[Geological formation]]
| age            = <br />[[Callovian|?Callovian]]-[[Hauterivian]]<br />~{{fossil range|165|130}}
| period         = Late Jurassic
| prilithology   = [[Sandstone]]
| otherlithology = [[Shale]], [[siltstone]], [[clay]], [[Conglomerate (geology)|conglomerate]], [[limestone]]
| namedfor       = Tendaguru Hill
| namedby        = [[Werner Janensch|Janensch]] & [[Edwin Hennig|Hennig]]
| year_ts        = 1914
| region         = [[Lindi Region]]
| country        = [[Tanzania]]
| coordinates    = {{coord|9.7|S|39.2|E|display=inline,title}}
| paleocoordinates = {{coord|29.4|S|16.7|E|display=inline}}
| unitof         = 
| subunits       = [[#Stratigraphy|See text]]
| underlies      = [[Makonde Formation]]
| overlies       = [[Neoproterozoic]] [[gneiss]] [[Basement (geology)|basement]]
| thickness      = >{{convert|110|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| extent         = [[Mandawa Basin]]
| area           = 
| map            = {{Location map+ | Tanzania
| relief         = 1
| width          = 250
| float          = center
| places         =
  {{Location map~ | Tanzania
  | lat_deg = -9.7
  | lon_deg = 39.2
  | mark = Green-blue pog.svg
  | marksize = 12
  }}
}}
| map_caption    =
}}
[[File:Tendaguru location map.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Location of Tendaguru in Tanzania]]
The '''Tendaguru Formation''', or '''Tendaguru Beds''' are a highly [[List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Tanzania|fossiliferous]] [[Lithostratigraphy|formation]] and [[Lagerstätte]] located in the [[Lindi Region]] of southeastern [[Tanzania]]. The formation represents the oldest sedimentary unit of the [[Mandawa Basin]], overlying [[Neoproterozoic]] [[basement (geology)|basement]], separated by a long hiatus and [[unconformity]]. It reaches a total sedimentary thickness of more than {{convert|110|m|ft}}. The formation ranges in age from the late [[Middle Jurassic]] to the [[Early Cretaceous]], [[Oxfordian (stage)|Oxfordian]] to [[Hauterivian]] stages, with the base of the formation possibly extending into the [[Callovian]].

The Tendaguru Formation is subdivided into six members; these are from oldest to youngest the Lower Dinosaur Member, the ''Nerinella'' Member, the Middle Dinosaur Member, the ''Indotrigonia africana'' Member, the Upper Dinosaur Member, and the ''Rutitrigonia bornhardti-schwarzi'' member. The succession comprises a sequence of [[sandstone]]s, [[shale]]s, [[siltstone]]s, [[conglomerate (geology)|conglomerates]] with minor [[oolite|oolitic]] [[limestone]]s, deposited in an overall shallow marine to [[coastal plain]] [[depositional environment|environment]], characterized by tidal, [[fluvial]] and [[lacustrine]] influence with a [[tsunami]] deposit occurring in the ''Indotrigonia africana'' member. The climate of the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous was semi-arid with seasonal rainfall and the eustatic sea level was rising in the Late Jurassic from low levels in the Middle Jurassic. [[Paleogeography|Paleogeographical]] reconstructions show the Tendaguru area was located in the subtropical southern hemisphere during the Late Jurassic.

The Tendaguru Formation is considered the richest [[Late Jurassic]] [[stratum|strata]] in [[Africa]]. The formation has provided a wealth of fossils of different groups; early [[mammaliaform]]s, several [[genus|genera]] of [[dinosaur]]s, [[crocodyliformes|crocodyliforms]], [[amphibian]]s, [[fish]], [[invertebrate]]s and [[flora]]. More than {{convert|250|t}} of material were shipped to Germany during excavations in the early 20th century. The faunal assemblage of the Tendaguru is similar to the [[Morrison Formation]] of the central-western United States, with an additional marine interbed fauna not present in the Morrison.

The dinosaur fauna found in the formation is similar to that of other highly fossiliferous stratigraphic units of the Late Jurassic; among others the [[Kimmeridge Clay|Kimmeridge]] and [[Oxford Clay]]s of [[England]], the [[Sables de Glos]], [[Argiles d'Octeville]], [[Marnes de Bléville]] of [[France]], the [[Alcobaça Formation|Alcobaça]], [[Camadas de Guimarota|Guimarota]] and [[Lourinhã Formation]]s of [[Portugal]], the [[Villar del Arzobispo Formation]] of [[Spain]], the [[Shishugou Formation|Shishugou]], [[Kalazha Formation|Kalazha]] and [[Shangshaximiao Formation]]s in China, the [[Toqui Formation]] of Chile and [[Cañadón Calcáreo Formation]] and the Morrison Formation, with the presence of dinosaurs with similar counterparts, e.g., ''[[Brachiosaurus]]'' and ''[[Stegosaurus]]'' in the Morrison, and ''[[Giraffatitan]]'' and ''[[Kentrosaurus]]'' in the Tendaguru.<ref name=Mateus2006_pp223_232>Mateus, 2006, pp.223–232</ref>

== Description ==
[[File:Tendaguru Formation - map and stratigraphic column.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Map and stratigraphic column of the Tendaguru Formation]]
The Tendaguru Formation represents the oldest sedimentary unit in the [[Mandawa Basin]], directly overlying [[Neoproterozoic]] [[basement (geology)|basement]] consisting of [[gneiss]]. The contact contains a large hiatus, a missing sequence of stratigraphy, spanning the Paleozoic, Triassic and Early Jurassic. The formation is unconformably overlaid by late [[Early Cretaceous]] sediments of the [[Makonde Formation]] that forms the top of several plateaus; Namunda, Rondo, Noto, and Likonde-Kitale.<ref name=Bussert2009_p154>Bussert et al., 2009, p.154</ref>

Based on extended geological and paleontological observations, the "Tendaguruschichten" (Tendaguru Beds) were defined by [[Werner Janensch]] as expedition leader and [[Edwin Hennig]] in 1914 referring to a sequence of Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous strata, exposed in the Tendaguru area, which is named after the Tendaguru Hill.<ref name=Bussert2009_p142>Bussert et al., 2009, p.142</ref>

{{clear left}}

=== Stratigraphy ===
The Tendaguru is divided into 6 members, which represent different [[depositional environment]]s, with the 'Dinosaur Beds' representing terrestrial [[facies]] while the beds with genus/species names represent marine interbeds with shallow marine to [[lagoon]]al facies. In ascending order these are: the Lower Dinosaur Member, the ''Nerinella'' Member, the Middle Dinosaur Member, ''Indotrigonia africana'' Member, the Upper Dinosaur Member, and the ''Rutitrigonia bornhardti-schwarzi'' Member.<ref name=SchwarzWings2014_p82>Schwarz-Wings & Böhm, 2014, p.82</ref>

{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:80%"
|+ Stratigraphy of the Tendaguru Formation<ref name=Bussert2009_p152>Bussert et al., 2009, p.152</ref>
|-
! Formation !! width=120px | Time period !! width=120px | Member !! Lithology !! width=120px | Thickness !! Image
|-
| [[Makonde Formation|Makonde]]
| style="background-color: {{period color|albian}};" | Early [[Albian]]<br>[[Aptian]]
|
| Fine to medium grained sandstones, intercalated conglomerates, siltstones and claystones
| ~{{convert|200|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| 
|-
| bgcolor=lightgrey | 
| style="background-color: {{period color|barremian}};" | [[Barremian]] || colspan="4" align=center bgcolor=lightgrey | Unconformity
|-
| rowspan="8" | '''Tendaguru'''
| style="background-color: {{period color|hauterivian}};" | [[Hauterivian]]<br>[[Valanginian]]
| ''Rutitrigonia bornhardti-schwarzi''
| Fine to medium grained sandstones with basal conglomerate
| {{convert|5|-|70|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| [[File:Tendaguru Formation - Rutitrigonia bornhardti-schwarzi Member.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
| style="background-color: {{period color|berriasian}};" | [[Berriasian]] || colspan="4" align=center bgcolor=lightgrey | Unconformity
|-
| style="background-color: {{period color|tithonian}};" rowspan=2 | Tithonian
| Upper Dinosaur
| Ripple cross bedded fine grained sandstones and siltstones with intercalated claystone and micritic carbonates
| ~{{convert|32|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| [[File:Tendaguru Formation - Upper Dinosaur Member.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
| rowspan=2 | ''Indotrigonia africana''
| rowspan=2 | Calcite cemented sandstones, conglomerate beds, thin clay and silt layers with sandy limestones
| rowspan=2 | {{convert|20|-|50|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Tendaguru Formation - Indotrigonia africana Member.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
| style="background-color: {{period color|kimmeridgian}};" rowspan=2 | Late Kimmeridgian
|-
| Middle Dinosaur
| Ripple cross bedded fine grained calcareous sandstones and siltstones and massive to crudely bedded silt and claystones
| {{convert|13|-|30|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| [[File:Tendaguru Formation - Middle Dinosaur Member.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
| style="background-color: {{period color|oxfordian}};" | [[Kimmeridgian]]<br>Oxfordian
| ''Nerinella''
| Trough cross bedded sandstone to massive sandstone
| {{convert|5|-|45|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| [[File:Tendaguru Formation - Nerinella Member.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
| style="background-color: {{period color|callovian}};" | [[Oxfordian (stage)|Mid Oxfordian]]<br>?[[Callovian]]
| Lower Dinosaur
| Cross bedded fine grained sandstones and siltstones, with Interbedded clay-rich siltstones
| >{{convert|20|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| 
|-
| rowspan=3 bgcolor=lightgrey | || style="background-color: {{period color|pliensbachian}};" | [[Early Jurassic]] || rowspan=3 colspan="6" bgcolor=lightgrey align=center | Hiatus
|-
| style="background-color: {{period color|carnian}};" | [[Triassic]]
|-
| style="background-color: {{period color|paleozoic}};" | [[Paleozoic]]
|-
| [[Basement (geology)|Basement]]
| style="background-color: {{period color|neoproterozoic}};" | [[Neoproterozoic]]
| 
| [[Gneiss]]
| 
| 
|-
|}

=== Paleogeography and depositional environment ===
==== Paleogeography ====
[[File:Paleogeography and paleoclimate of the Late Jurassic - 150 Ma with dinosaur fossil localities.png|thumb|right|360px|Paleogeography and paleoclimate of the Late Jurassic (150 Ma). The Tendaguru Formation is indicated by A1, the Morrison Formation with M1-6 and the [[Cañadón Calcáreo Formation]] with S1.]]
The Tendaguru Formation was deposited in the [[Mandawa Basin]], a post-[[Karoo Supergroup|Karoo]],<ref name=Muhongo2013_p28>Muhongo, 2013, p.28</ref> [[Mesozoic]] [[rift basin]] located between the [[Ruvu Basin]] and [[Rufiji Trough]] to the north and the [[Ruvuma Basin]] to the south.<ref name=Muhongo2013_p8>Muhongo, 2013, p.8</ref> To the west of the basin, [[Archean]] and [[Early Proterozoic]] basement rocks [[outcrop|crop out]].<ref name=Muhongo2013_p33>Muhongo, 2013, p.33</ref> The main rift phase in present-day southeastern Africa led to the separation of [[Madagascar]] and the then-connected [[Indian subcontinent]] that happened during the Early Cretaceous.<ref name=Muhongo2013_p3>Muhongo, 2013, p.3</ref> The [[Songo Songo Field|Songo Songo]] and [[Kiliwani Field|Kiliwani]] [[gas field]]s are located just offshore the basin.<ref name=Muhongo2013_p17>Muhongo, 2013, p.17</ref><ref name=Muhongo2013_p22>Muhongo, 2013, p.22</ref>

At time of deposition the area was undergoing a semi-arid climate with coastal influences that maintained somewhat higher moisture levels than seen inland.<ref name=Noto2010_p7>Noto & Grossmann, 2010, p.7</ref> The upper parts of the formation, the Middle Dinosaur and ''Rutitrigonia bornhardti-schwarzi'' Members in particular, showed prevailing semiarid conditions with pronounced dry seasons, based on palynologic analysis.<ref name=Schrank1999_p181>Schrank, 1999, p.181</ref> The Tendaguru fauna was stable through the Late Jurassic.<ref name=Noto2010_p9>Noto & Grossmann, 2010, p.9</ref>

During the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous, the [[Gondwana]] paleocontinent was breaking up and the separation of the [[Laurasia]]n and Gondwana supercontinents resulted from the connection of the [[Tethys Ocean]] with the proto-Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean. In addition, the [[Atlantic Ocean#South Atlantic|South Atlantic]] developed towards the end of the Late Jurassic with the separation of South America and Africa. Africa became increasingly isolated from most other continents by marine barriers from the Kimmeridgian into the Early Cretaceous, but retained a continental connection with South America. [[Eustatic sea level|Global sea levels]] dropped significantly in the Early Jurassic and remained low through the Middle Jurassic but rose considerably towards the Late Jurassic, deepening the marine [[oceanic trench|trenches]] between continents.<ref name=Arratia2002_p227>Arratia et al., 2002, p.227</ref>

==== Depositional environment ====
[[File:Tendaguru Formation - Generalized depositional environment.jpg|right|360px|thumb|Generalized depositional environment of the Tendaguru Formation<br>''HWL'' - high water line, ''LWL'' - low water line]]
The sedimentary rocks and fossils record a repeated shift from shallow marine to tidal flat environments indicating that the strata of the Tendaguru Formation were deposited near an oscillating strandline which was controlled by sea level changes. The three dinosaur-bearing members are continental to marginal marine and the three sandstone-dominated members are marginal marine in origin.<ref name=Bussert2009_p168>Bussert et al., 2009, p.168</ref>

;''Nerinella'' Member
The composition of benthic molluscs and foraminifera, euhaline to mesohaline ostracods, and dinoflagellate assemblages indicate marine, shallow water conditions for the ''Nerinella'' Member, in particular for the lower part. Sedimentation occurred as tidal channel fills, subtidal and tidal [[sand bar]]s, minor storm layers ([[tempestite]]s), and beach deposits. Overall, the ''Nerinella'' Member represents a variety of shallow subtidal to lower intertidal environments influenced by tides and storms.<ref name=Bussert2009_p167>Bussert et al., 2009, p.167</ref>

;Middle Dinosaur Member
The sedimentological characteristics of the basal part of the Middle Dinosaur Member suggest deposition on [[tidal flat]]s and in small tidal channels of a [[lagoon]]al paleoenvironment. The ostracod ''[[Bythocypris|Bythocypris sp.]]'' from the member indicates polyhaline to euhaline conditions. Slightly higher up, a faunal sample dominated by the bivalve ''[[Eomiodon]]'' and an ostracod assemblage composed of [[brackish]] to freshwater taxa is indicative of a brackish water paleoenvironment with distinct influx of freshwater as revealed by the nonmarine ostracod genus ''[[Cypridea]]'', [[charophyte]]s, and other freshwater [[algae]]. The paleoenvironment of the ostracod assemblages of the Middle Dinosaur Member changed upsection from a marine setting in the basal parts through alternating marine-brackish conditions to freshwater conditions in the higher parts of this member.<ref name=Bussert2009_p167/> The highly sporadic occurrence, in this part of the section, of molluscs typical of marginal marine habitats indicates only a very weak marine influence,<ref name=Aberhan2002_p32/> at sabkha-like coastal plains with ephemeral brackish lakes and ponds are recorded in the upper part of the Middle Dinosaur Member. This part also contains pedogenic calcretes indicating subaerial exposure and the onset of soil formation.<ref name=Bussert2009_p167/> The calcrete intraclasts within adjacent sandstone beds testify to erosive reworking of calcrete horizons.<ref name=Aberhan2002_p32>Aberhan et al., 2002, p.32</ref> The presence of crocodyilforms indicates freshwater to littoral environments and adjacent terrestrial areas.<ref name=Aberhan2002_p33>Aberhan et al., 2002, p.33</ref>

;''Indotrigonia africana'' Member
The coarse-grained sandstone of the lower part of the ''Indotrigonia africana'' Member that shows highly variable transport directions is interpreted as deposits of large tidal channels. Grain-size, large-scale sedimentary structures, and the lack of both [[trace fossil]]s and epifaunal and infaunal body fossils suggest high water energy and frequent reworking. This basal succession passes upward in cross-bedded sandstone and minor siltstone and claystone with flaser or lenticular bedding that are interpreted as tidal flat and tidal channel deposits. Horizontal to low-angle cross-bedded, fine-grained sandstone with intercalated bivalve pavements indicates tidal currents that operated in small flood and ebb [[river delta|tidal deltas]] and along the coast. Stacked successions of trough cross-bedded, medium- to coarse-grained sandstone of the upper part of the ''Indotrigonia africana'' Member are interpreted as tidal channel and sand bar deposits. At some places in the surroundings of Tendaguru Hill, these sediments interfinger with [[oolite|oolitic]] [[limestone]] layers that represent high-energy ooid [[shoal]]s.<ref name=Bussert2009_p167/>

In the Tingutinguti stream section, the ''Indotrigonia africana'' Member exhibits several up to {{convert|20|cm|in}} thick, poorly sorted, conglomeratic sandstone beds. They contain [[mud clast]]s, reworked [[concretion]]s and/or accumulations of thick-shelled bivalves (mainly ''[[Indotrigonia|Indotrigonia africana]]'' and ''[[Seebachia|Seebachia janenschi]]''), and exhibit megaripple surfaces. These conglomeratic sandstone layers are interpreted as storm deposits. In the Dwanika and Bolachikombe stream sections, and in a small tributary of the Bolachikombe creek, a discrete, up to {{convert|70|cm|ft}} thick conglomerate in the lower portion of the ''Indotrigonia africana'' Member displays evidence of a [[tsunami]] deposit. Overall, lithofacies and the
diverse macroinvertebrate and microfossil assemblages of the ''Indotrigonia africana'' Member suggest a shallow marine environment. Based on the diverse mesoflora and the abundance of ''[[Classopollis]]'', a nearby vegetated hinterland is postulated that was dominated by xerophytic [[conifer]]s.<ref name=Bussert2009_p167/>

;Upper Dinosaur Member
The small-scale trough and ripple cross-bedded fine-grained sandstone at the base of the Upper Dinosaur Member is interpreted as tidal flat deposits. Unfossiliferous sandstone in the upper part
was most likely deposited in small fluvial channels in a [[coastal plain]] environment, whereas [[argillaceous]] deposits were laid down in still water bodies such as small lakes and ponds. Rare occurrences of the ostracod ''Cypridea'' and charophytes signal the influence of freshwater, whereas the sporadic occurrence of marine invertebrates suggests a depositional environment close to the sea.<ref name=Bussert2009_p167/>

;''Rutitrigonia bornhardti-schwarzi'' Member
Fining upward sequences of the basal part of the ''Rutitrigonia bornhardti-schwarzi'' Member are interpreted as tidal channel fills, the overlying fine-grained sandstone, silt- and claystone as tidal flat deposits. From the immediate surroundings of Tendaguru Hill, invertebrates and vertebrates are poorly known and limit the palaeoenvironmental interpretation of this member. The composition of the land-derived sporomorph assemblage suggests a terrestrial vegetation which was dominated by [[Cheirolepidiaceae|cheirolepidiacean]] conifers in association with [[fern]]s.<ref name=Bussert2009_p168/>

== Excavation history ==
[[File:Geologic map Tendaguru Formation members, Tanzania.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Geological map of the Tendaguru Formation with sample locations]]
The Tendaguru Beds as a fossil deposit were first discovered in 1906, when [[Germans|German]] pharmacist, chemical analyst and mining engineer Bernhard Wilhelm Sattler, on his way to a mine south of the [[Mbemkure River]] in [[German East Africa]] in today's [[Tanzania]], was shown by his local staff enormous bones weathering out of the path near the base of Tendaguru Hill, {{convert|10|km|mi}} south of [[Mtapaia]] (close to Nambiranji village, Mipingo ward, {{convert|60|km|mi}} northwest of Lindi town).<ref name=Bussert2009_p142/><ref name=Maier2003>Maier, 2003</ref> Because of its morphology, the hill was locally known as "steep hill" or "tendaguru" in the language of the local [[Mwera people|Wamwera people]]. Sattler forwarded his report on the giant bones to the Kommission für die landeskundliche Erforschung der deutschen Schutzgebiete (“Commission for the Geographical Investigation of the German Protectorates”), headed by the geographer [[Hans Meyer (geographer)|Hans Meyer]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Maier |first=Gerhard |title=African dinosaurs unearthed: the Tendaguru expeditions |date=2003 |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=978-0-253-34214-0 |series=Life of the past |location=Bloomington |pages=48-53}}</ref> Meyer, in turn, wrote to the [[palaeontology|palaeontologist]] [[Eberhard Fraas]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tanzania dinosaurs: amazing discoveries of ancient giants |url=https://altezzatravel.com/articles/dinosaurs-tanzania |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Altezza Travel |language=en}}</ref> who was in East Africa at that time, and urged him to hasten to the Tendaguru site.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tamborini |first=Marco |title=Deconstructing dinosaurs: the history of the German Tendaguru Expedition and its finds, 1906-2022 |last2=Ohl |first2=Michael |last3=Sadock |first3=Musa |last4=Mapunda |first4=Bertram |last5=Vennen |first5=Mareike |last6=Stoecker |first6=Holger |last7=Heumann |first7=Ina |date=2025 |publisher=Brill |isbn=978-90-04-69105-6 |location=Leiden ; Boston}}</ref> The latter visited the site in 1907 and, with the aid of Sattler, recovered two partial skeletons of enormous size.<ref name=Fraas1908>Fraas, 1908</ref> 

Following the discovery in 1906, teams from the [[Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin]] (1907–1913), and later the [[British Museum]] (Natural History), London (1924–1931) launched a series of collecting expeditions that remain unequalled in scope and ambition. Led by the vision and influence of geologist [[Wilhelm von Branca]], the German expeditions were particularly successful. This was largely due as the project was regarded as a matter of national ambition of the [[German Empire]] and enjoyed the benevolence of wealthy patrons. Eventually, nearly 250 tons of fossils were shipped to Berlin, representing an entirely new dinosaur fauna that remains the best understood assemblage from all of former Gondwana.<ref name=Cifelli2003_p608>Cifelli, 2003, p.608</ref>

From there, the material was transported to Fraas' institution, the Royal Natural History Collection in [[Stuttgart]], [[Germany]]. Fraas described two species in the badly known genus ''"[[Gigantosaurus]]"''; ''G. robustus'' and ''G. africanus'' (today ''[[Janenschia]] robusta'' and ''[[Tornieria]] africana'', respectively.<ref name=Fraas1908/>

=== German Tendaguru Expedition ===
The [[Natural History Museum, Berlin|Berlin Natural History Museum]] excavated at Tendaguru hill and in the surroundings for four years. From 1909 through 1911, [[Werner Janensch]] as expedition leader and [[Edwin Hennig]] as assistant directed excavations, while [[Hans Reck]] and his wife Ina Reck led the 1912 field season. Other European participants included Hans von Staff. In the rainy seasons the scientists explored the geology of German East Africa on long safaris.

=== Public discussion about provenance and restitution ===
In the context of international discussion about the [[provenance]] and possible [[restitution]] of colonial heritage, as discussed for example in the 2018 [[report on the restitution of African cultural heritage]], both German as well as Tanzanian commentators have called the claim to rightful ownership by the Berlin museum into question. The Tanzanian government has, however, not submitted any official demand for repatriation. German authorities have preferred to offer information on the provenance and research by increasing cooperation between Tanzanian paleontologists and museums with their German counterparts.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vogel|first=Gretchen|date=2019-03-27|title=Countries demand their fossils back, forcing natural history museums to confront their past|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/countries-demand-their-fossils-back-forcing-natural-history-museums-confront-their-past|access-date=2021-06-15|website=Science {{!}} AAAS|language=en}}</ref>

=== In popular culture ===
In 1998, an illustrated book in Swahili, whose title translates as [[Dinosaurs of Tendaguru]], was published for young readers in East Africa. It presents a slightly different, fictitious story of the first discovery, which is attributed to a Tanzanian farmer, rather than to the German engineer Sattler.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Maier|first=Gerhard|date=2003|title=African Dinosaurs Unearthed. The Tendaguru Expeditions. Bloomington and Indianapolis (Indiana University Press), p. 304|pages=380, 50 figs|publisher=Indiana University Press |doi=|isbn=0253342147}}</ref>

== Paleontological significance ==
Possible dinosaur eggs have been recovered from the formation.<ref name="latejurassicdistribution">Weishampel et al., 2004, p.552</ref> Further, the fauna of the Tendaguru Formation has been correlated with the [[Morrison Formation]] of the central-western United States,<ref name="Taylor2009_p790">Taylor, 2009, p.790</ref> several formations in England, such as the [[Kimmeridge Clay]] and [[Oxford Clay]], and in France ([[Sables de Glos]], [[Argiles d'Octeville]], [[Marnes de Bléville]]), the [[Alcobaça Formation|Alcobaça]], [[Camadas de Guimarota|Guimarota]] and [[Lourinhã Formation]]s in [[Portugal]],<ref name="Mateus2006_p1">Mateus, 2006, p.1</ref> the [[Villar del Arzobispo Formation]] in [[Spain]], the [[Shishugou Formation|Shishugou]], [[Kalazha Formation|Kalazha]] and [[Shangshaximiao Formation]]s in [[China]], the [[Toqui Formation]] in the [[Magallanes Basin]], [[Chile]] and the [[Cañadón Calcáreo Formation]] in the [[Cañadón Asfalto Basin]] in central [[Patagonia]], [[Argentina]].<ref name="Noto2010_p3">Noto & Grossmann, 2010, p.3</ref>

=== Fossil content ===
{{paleobiota-key-compact}}

==== Mammaliaformes ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" align="center"
|-
! colspan="7" align="center" | '''[[Mammaliaformes]] reported from the Tendaguru Formation'''
|-
! Genus
! Species
! Location
! Member
! Material
! Notes
! Images
|-
| ''[[Allostaffia]]''
| ''A. aenigmatica''
| Quarry Ig
| Middle Dinosaur
| Three isolated molars
| Originally described as ''Staffia'', later renamed ''Allostaffia'' as ''[[Staffia]]'' was preoccupied bya [[foraminifera|foraminifer]].<ref name=Heinrich2004>Heinrich, 2004</ref><br>Assigned to [[Haramiyida]] (though possibly a [[gondwanathere]] instead).<ref name="ReferenceA">Chimento et al., 2016</ref>
| 
|-
| ''[[Brancatherulum]]''
| ''B. tendagurense''
| Unspecified
| Upper Dinosaur<ref name=Aberhan2002_p30/>
| Dentary without teeth
| Either a stem-[[zatheria]]n or [[dryolestida]]n.<ref name=Averianov2015_p327>Averianov & Martin, 2015, p.327</ref>
| 
|-
| ''[[Tendagurodon]]''
| ''T. janenschi''
| Quarry Ig
| Middle Dinosaur
| Single tooth
| One of the earliest [[Amphilestidae|amphilestids]]<ref name=Heinrich1998_p269>Heinrich, 1998, p.269</ref>
| 
|-
| ''[[Tendagurutherium]]''
| ''T. dietrichi''
| Quarry Ig
| Middle Dinosaur
| Partial dentary with damaged last molar
| Either a [[Peramuridae|peramurid]] or an [[australosphenida]]n<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
| 
|-
|}

==== Squamates ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" align="center"
|-
! colspan="7" align="center" | '''[[Squamata|Squamates]] reported from the Tendaguru Formation'''
|-
! Genus
! Species
! Location
! Member
! Material
! Notes
! Images
|-
| [[Paramacellodidae]]?
| Indeterminate
|
|
| An [[osteoderm]]
| Unconfirmed<ref>{{Citation |last=Evans |first=Susan E. |title=The Origin and Early Diversification of Squamates |date=2022-08-11 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/9781108938891%23CN-bp-2/type/book_part |work=The Origin and Early Evolutionary History of Snakes |pages=7–25 |editor-last=Gower |editor-first=David J. |access-date=2024-01-11 |edition=1 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |doi=10.1017/9781108938891.004 |isbn=978-1-108-93889-1 |editor2-last=Zaher |editor2-first=Hussam|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
|
|}

==== Pterosaurs ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" align="center"
|-
! colspan="7" align="center" | '''[[Pterosaur]]s reported from the Tendaguru Formation'''
|-
! Genus
! Species
! Location
! Member
! Material
! Notes
! Images
|-
| ''[[Tendaguripterus]]''
| ''T. recki''<ref name="zitteliana" />
| Quarry Ig
| Middle Dinosaur
| A partial mandible with teeth
| align=center | <ref name="zitteliana">Barrett et al., 2008</ref>
| rowspan="99" | [[File:Tendaguru pterosaurs.jpg|thumb|center|150px|Pterosaur fossils from Tendaguru]]
|-
| ?Indeterminate [[archaeopterodactyloid]]
| 
| Mkoawa Mtwara
| 
| Humerus
| align=center | <ref name="zitteliana" /><ref name="humeri">Costa & Kellner, 2009, p.814</ref>
|-
| Indeterminate [[azhdarchid]]
| 
| Mkoawa Mtwara
| 
| 
| align=center | <ref name="zitteliana" />
|-
| Indeterminate [[dsungaripteroidea|dsungaripteroid]]
| 
| 
| Upper Dinosaur<ref name=Aberhan2002_p30/>
| Humerus
| align=center | <ref name="humeri" />
|-
| rowspan="3" style="background:#f3e9f3;" | ''[[Pterodactylus]]''
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | ''P. maximus''
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Mkoawa Mtwara
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" |
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" |
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Later determined to be an indeterminate [[pterodactyloid]]<ref name="zitteliana" />
|-
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | ''P. brancai''
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Mkoawa Mtwara
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" |
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Tibiotarsi<ref name="galton1980">Galton, 1980</ref>
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Later determined to be an indeterminate dsungaripteroid<ref name="zitteliana" />
|-
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | ''P. arningi''
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Mkoawa Mtwara
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" |
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" |
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Later determined to be an indeterminate pterosaur<ref name="zitteliana" />
|-
| style="background:#f3e9f3;" | ''[[Rhamphorhynchus]]''
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | ''R. tendagurensis''
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Mkoawa Mtwara
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" |
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" |
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Later determined to be an indeterminate "[[rhamphorhynchoid]]"<ref name="zitteliana" />
|-
|}

==== Ornithischians ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" align="center"
|-
! colspan="7" align="center" | '''[[Ornithischian]]s reported from the Tendaguru Formation'''
|-
! Genus
! Species
! Location
! Member
! Material
! Notes
! Images
|-
| ''[[Dysalotosaurus]]''
| ''D. lettowvorbecki''
| Quarry Ig
| Middle Dinosaur
| "Large number of mostly disassociated cranial and postcranial elements"
| align=center | A [[Dryosauridae|dryosaurid]]<ref name="latejurassicdistribution" /><ref name="table-19-1-414">"Table 19.1," in Weishampel et al., 2004, p.414</ref>
| [[File:Dryosaurus lettowvorbecki skeleton.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
| ''[[Kentrosaurus]]''
| ''K. aethiopicus''
| Quarry Q, Ig, St, S, Ny, Li, XX, r, y, d, Ng, X, H, IX, Om, bb, Ha, XIV, II, IV, V, VIII, G, e, g, Ki
| Lower, Middle & Upper Dinosaur
| "[Two] composite mounted skeletons, [four] braincases, [seven] sacra, more than [seventy] femora, approximately 25 isolated elements, juvenile to adult"
| align=center | A [[Stegosauria|stegosaur]]<ref name="latejurassicdistribution" /><ref name="table-16-1-344">"Table 16.1," in Weishampel et al., 2004, p.344</ref>
| [[File:Fossil Kentrosaurus aethiopicus in Museum für Naturkunde Berlin 001.JPG|center|150px]]
|-
|}

==== Sauropods ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" align="center"
|-
! colspan="7" align="center" | '''[[Sauropod]]s reported from the Tendaguru Formation'''
|-
! Genus
! Species
! Location
! Member
! Material
! width="40%" | Notes
! Images
|-
| ''[[Australodocus]]''
| ''A. bohetii''
| Quarry G
| Upper Dinosaur
| Two neck vertebrae; more undescribed remains destroyed during [[World War II]]
| A [[Somphospondylan]]<ref name=Remes2007>Remes, 2007</ref>
| [[File:Australodocus LM.png|center|200px]]
|-
| rowspan="2" | ''[[Dicraeosaurus]]''
| ''D. hansemanni''
| Quarry Q, m, St, dd, Sa
| Lower, Middle & Upper Dinosaur
| "Skeleton lacking skull and forelimbs, [two] partial skeletons, isolated vertebrae, and limb elements"
| rowspan = 2|A [[Dicraeosauridae|Dicraeosaurid]]<ref name="latejurassicdistribution" /><ref name="table-13-1-264">"Table 13.1," in Weishampel et al., 2004, p.264</ref>
| [[File:Dicraeosaurus hansemanni22.jpg|center|200px]]
|-
| ''D. sattleri''
| Quarry La, s, O, ab, E, M, o, Ob, bb, XIV, G, GD
| Middle & Upper Dinosaur
| "[Two] partial skeletons without skulls, isolated postcranial remains"
| [[File:Dicraeosaurus sattleri Skeletal.svg|center|150px]]
|-
| ''[[Giraffatitan]]''<ref name="latejurassicdistribution" />
| ''G. brancai''
| Quarry Q, J, Ig, Y, St, dd, S, TL, XX, Ma, JR, Ng, Bo, To, p, t, Lw, D, N, ab, cc, X, IX, Z, T, Aa, l, E, XIV, II, G, e, Ki, No, R, F, XII, GD, XV, Sa, U, i
| Lower, Middle & Upper Dinosaur
| 
| [[Brachiosaurid]]. The new genus ''[[Giraffatitan]]'' was erected to hold the former ''Brachiosaurus'' species, ''B. brancai'' after scientists concluded that it was distinct enough from the ''Brachiosaurus'' [[type species]], ''B. altithorax'', to warrant such a reclassification.<ref name=taylor2009>Taylor, M.P., 2009, pp.787-806</ref>
| [[File:Museum für Naturkunde (36556352434).jpg|center|150px]]
|-
| ''[[Janenschia]]''
| ''J. robusta''
| Quarry dd, P, IX, B, G, Oa, NB
| Middle & Upper Dinosaur
| Known from hindlimb and forelimb material, left [[Pubis (bone)|pubis]] and two right [[Ischium|ischia]]
| align=center | non-[[Neosauropoda|neosauropod]] [[Eusauropoda|eusauropod]]<ref name="latejurassicdistribution" /><ref name=Wamweracaudia />
| [[File:Janenschia.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
| ''[[Tendaguria]]''
| ''T. tanzaniensis''
| Nambango site
| Upper Dinosaur
| "[Two] associated cranial dorsal vertebrae"
| A [[Turiasauria|turiasaur]]<ref name="latejurassicdistribution" /><ref name="table-13-1-261">"Table 13.1," in Weishampel et al., 2004, p.261</ref>
| 
|-
| ''[[Tornieria]]''
| ''T. africana''
| Quarry St, k, MD, A, e, Sa
| Middle & Upper Dinosaur
| "More than [three] partial skeletons, a few skull elements, [and] many isolated postcranial elements"
| align=center | [[Diplodocidae|Diplodocid]]<ref name="latejurassicdistribution" /><ref name="table-13-1-265">"Table 13.1," in Weishampel et al., 2004, p.265</ref>
|
|-
| ''[[Wamweracaudia]]''
| ''W. keranjei''
| 
| 
| A sequence of caudal vertebrae
| align=center | [[Mamenchisauridae|Mamenchisaurid]]<ref name=Wamweracaudia>Mannion et al., 2019</ref>
| 
|-
| rowspan="2" style="background:#f3e9f3;" | ''[[Brachiosaurus]]''
| style="background:#fbdddb;" | ''B. brancai''
| style="background:#fbdddb;" | Mkoawa Mtwara
| style="background:#fbdddb;" |
| style="background:#fbdddb;" | "[Five] partial skeletons, more than [three] skulls, [and] isolated limb elements"
| style="background:#fbdddb;" | ''B. brancai'' was distinct enough from the non-Tendaguru ''Brachiosaurus'' type species ''B. altithorax'' that it was moved to its own genus, ''Giraffatitan''.<ref name="latejurassicdistribution" /><ref name=taylor2009/><ref name="table-13-1-267">"Table 13.1," in Weishampel et al., 2004, p.267</ref>
| 
|-
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | ''B. fraasi''
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" |
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" |
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" |
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Remains attributed to ''B. fraasi'' were later referred to ''B. brancai'', and thus now ''Giraffatitan''<ref name="latejurassicdistribution" /><ref name=taylor2009/>
| 
|-
| [[Diplodocinae]] indet.
| Indeterminate
| Kijenjere
| Upper Dinosaur
| Partial skull
| Belonging to a form that is closely related to ''[[Diplodocus]]''<ref name=Remes2009_p26>Remes, 2009, p.26</ref>
| [[File:Diplodocinae indet. - Tendaguru Formation.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
| [[Diplodocidae]] indet.
| Indeterminate
| Kijenjere
| Upper Dinosaur
| Caudal vertebrae and metatarsal
| Originally referred to as ''"[[Barosaurus|Barosaurus africanus]]"''<ref name=Remes2009_p28>Remes, 2009, p.28</ref>
| [[File:Diplodocidae indet. (Barosaurus africanus) - Tendaguru Formation.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
| [[Diplodocidae]] indet.
| Indeterminate
| Trench XIV
| Upper Dinosaur
| Articulated pedes
| Possibly representing two different taxa<ref name=Remes2009_p30>Remes, 2009, p.30</ref>
| [[File:Diplodocidae indet. - Tendaguru Formation.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
| [[Flagellicaudata]] indet.
| Indeterminate
| 
| Upper Dinosaur
| Braincase
| Referred to Flagellicaudata indet. based on the derived characters shared with this group<ref name=Remes2009_p34>Remes, 2009, p.34</ref>
| [[File:Flagellicaudata indet. - braincase - Tendaguru Formation, Tanzania.jpg|center|150px]] 
|-
| "[[Archbishop (dinosaur)|The Archbishop]]"
| 
| 
| 
| 
| align=center | Brachiosaur, distinct from ''Giraffatitan''{{refn|group=note|Formal description in preparation by Michael Taylor in 2019}}
| [[File:The Archbishop.jpeg|center|150px]]
|-
|}

==== Theropods ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" align="center"
|-
! colspan="7" align="center" | '''[[Theropod]]s reported from the Tendaguru Formation'''
|-
! Genus
! Species
! Location
! Member
! Material
! Notes
! Images
|-
|?[[Abelisauridae]] indet.
|Indeterminate
|Quarry TL
|Upper Dinosaur
|A left tibia, a right tibia, and a femur<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Rauhut|first=Oliver W. M.|date=2011|title=Theropod dinosaurs from the Late Jurassic of Tendaguru, Tanzania|journal=Special Papers in Palaeontology|volume=86|pages=195–239}}</ref>
|Possibly an indeterminate abelisaurid.<ref name=":0" />
|
|-
|[[Megalosauroidea]] indet.
|Indeterminate
|Quarry MW
|Upper Dinosaur
|left tibia and left astragalus<ref name=":0" />
|A large indeterminate megalosauroid.<ref name=":0" />
|
|-
| ''[[Elaphrosaurus]]''
| ''E. bambergi''
| Quarry Ig, dd, ?RD
| Middle Dinosaur, ?Upper Dinosaur
| "Postcranial skeleton"<ref name="table-3-1">"Table 3.1," in Weishampel et al., 2004, p.48</ref>
| An [[Elaphrosaurinae|elaphrosaurine]] [[noasaurid]]<ref name="latejurassicdistribution" />
| [[File:Elaphrosaurus mount MfN Berlin 2018 2.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | ''[[Ostafrikasaurus]]''
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | ''O. crassiserratus''
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Quarry Om
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Upper Dinosaur
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | "Tooth"
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | A tooth of controverisial affinitiies, had either been suggested to have been a spinosaurid or a ceratosaurid.<ref name=Ostafrikasaurus>Buffetaut, 2012, p.2</ref><ref name="Ceratosaurus">{{cite journal |last1=Soto |first1=Matías |last2=Toriño |first2=Pablo |last3=Perea |first3=Daniel |title=Ceratosaurus (Theropoda, Ceratosauria) teeth from the Tacuarembó Formation (Late Jurassic, Uruguay) |journal=Journal of South American Earth Sciences |date=2020 |volume=103 |page=102781 |doi=10.1016/j.jsames.2020.102781|bibcode=2020JSAES.10302781S |s2cid=224842133 }}</ref>
| [[File:Ostafrikasaurus holotype tooth by PaleoGeek.png|center|150px]]
|-
| ''[[Veterupristisaurus]]''
| ''V. milneri''
| Quarry St
| Middle Dinosaur
| "Vertebrae"
| The earliest known [[carcharodontosaurid]].<ref name=":0" />
| [[File:Veterupristisaurus Skeletal Diagram.png|center|150px]]
|-
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | ''[[Allosaurus|?Allosaurus]]''
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | ''?A. tendagurensis''
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Quarry TL
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Middle Dinosaur
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | A tibia<ref name="latejurassicdistribution" /><ref name="table-4-1-75">"Table 4.1," in Weishampel et al., 2004, p.75</ref>
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Remains now considered "[[Tetanurae]] indet." Possibly a megalosauroid or carcharodontosaurid.<ref name=":0" /> Originally referred to [[Allosauridae]]'
| [[File:Allosaurus tendagurensis.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | ''[[Ceratosaurus]]''
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | ''C. roechlingi''
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Quarry St, MW
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Middle & Upper Dinosaur
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Caudal vertebra
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Tentatively referred to [[Ceratosauridae]].<ref name=":0" /> Originally referred to Allosauridae.
| [[File:Ceratosaurus nasicornis DB 2.jpg|thumb|Ceratosaurus]]
|-
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | ''[[Labrosaurus]]''
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | ''L. stechowi''
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Quarry St, MW
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Middle Dinosaur
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | Teeth
| style="background:#E6E6E6;" | A [[Ceratosauridae|ceratosaurid]],  a species of ''[[Ceratosaurus]]''.<ref name=":0" /> Originally referred to Allosauridae.
| 
|-
| ?''[[Torvosaurus]]''
| ''T. sp''
| Quarry St, MW
| Upper Dinosaur
| Teeth
| Includes remains previously referred to ''"[[Megalosaurus]]" ingens'' - now known as "''Torvosaurus'' sp".<ref name="Torvosaurus">{{cite journal |last1=Soto |first1=Matías |last2=Toriño |first2=Pablo |last3=Perea |first3=Daniel |title=A large sized megalosaurid (Theropoda, Tetanurae) from the late Jurassic of Uruguay and Tanzania |journal=Journal of South American Earth Sciences |date=2020 |volume=98 |page=102458 |doi=10.1016/j.jsames.2019.102458|bibcode=2020JSAES..9802458S |s2cid=213672502 }}</ref>
| 
|-
|}

==== Crocodyliformes ====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Genus
! Species
! Location
! Member
! Material
! Notes
! Images
|-
| ''[[Bernissartia]]''
| ''B. sp''
|
| Upper & Middle Dinosaur
|
| align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p30/><ref name=Bussert2009_p164>Bussert et al., 2009, p.164</ref> 
|  
|-
|}

==== Amphibians ====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Genus !! Species !! Member !! Notes !! Images
|-
| [[Salientia|?Salientia]] indet || indeterminate || Middle Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p30>Aberhan et al., 2002, p.30</ref> || 
|-
|}

==== Fish ====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Genus !! Species !! Member !! Notes !! Images
|-
| ''[[Engaibatis]]'' || ''Engaibatis schultzei'' || Upper Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Arratia2002_p219>Arratia et al., 2002, p.219</ref> || [[File:Engaibatis schultzei - Tendaguru Formation, Tanzania.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
| rowspan=2 | ''[[Lepidotes]]'' || ''Lepidotes tendaguruensis'' || Middle Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p30/> ||  
|-
| ''L.'' sp. || Upper & Middle Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Arratia2002_p224>Arratia et al., 2002, p.224</ref> || [[File:Lepidotes sp. - Tendaguru Formation, Tanzania.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
| ''[[Hybodus]]'' || ''Hybodus'' sp. || Upper Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Arratia2002_p213>Arratia et al., 2002, p.213</ref> || [[File:Hybodus sp. - Tendaguru Formation, Tanzania.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
| ''[[Lonchidion]]'' || ''Lonchidion'' sp. || Upper Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Arratia2002_p216>Arratia et al., 2002, p.216</ref> || [[File:Lonchidion sp. - Tendaguru Formation, Tanzania.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
| ''[[Sphenodus]]'' || ''Sphenodus'' sp. || Upper Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Arratia2002_p218>Arratia et al., 2002, p.218</ref> || [[File:Sphenodus sp. - Tendaguru Formation, Tanzania.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
|}

==== Invertebrates ====
=====Gastropods=====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Genus !! Species !! Member<br>bold is defining !! Notes !! Images
|-
| ''[[Pseudomelania]]'' || ''Pseudomelania dietrichi'' || Middle Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p33/> || 
|-
| ''[[Promathildia]]'' ||''Promathildia'' sp. || Middle Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p33/> || 
|-
| ''[[Nerinella]]'' || ''Nerinella cutleri'' || '''''Nerinella''''' || align=center | <ref name=Bussert2009_p159>Bussert et al., 2009, p.159</ref> || rowspan=5 | [[File:Tendaguru Formation - invertebrates.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
|}

=====Bivalves=====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Genus !! Species !! Member<br>bold is defining !! Notes !! Images
|-
| ''[[Eomiodon]]'' || ''Eomiodon cutleri'' || Upper Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Bussert2009_p165>Bussert et al., 2009, p.165</ref>
|-
| rowspan=2 | ''[[Indotrigonia]]'' || ''Indotrigonia africana'' || '''''Indotrigonia africana''''' || align=center | <ref name=Bussert2009_p162>Bussert et al., 2009, p.162</ref>
|-
|| ''I. dietrichi'' || Lower Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p27/> ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | ''[[Rutitrigonia]]'' || ''Rutitrigonia bornhardti'' || rowspan=2 | '''''Rutitrigonia bornhardti-schwarzi''''' || align=center | <ref name=Bussert2009_p165/>
|-
|| ''R. schwarzi'' || align=center | <ref name=Bussert2009_p165/>
|-
| ''[[Acesta (bivalve)|Acesta]]'' || ''Acesta cutleri'' || Lower Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p27>Aberhan et al., 2002, p.27</ref> ||
|-
| ''[[Actinostreon]]'' || ''Actinostreon hennigi'' || ''Indotrigonia africana'' || align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p34/> ||
|-
| ''[[Entolium]]'' || ''Entolium corneolum'' || Lower Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p27/> ||
|-
| ''[[Falcimytilus]]'' || ''Falcimytilus dietrichi'' || Middle Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p33/> ||
|-
| ''[[Grammatodon]]'' || ''Grammatodon irritans'' || Lower Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p27/> ||
|-
| rowspan=2 |  ''[[Liostrea]]'' || ''Liostrea dubiensis'' || ''Indotrigonia africana'' || align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p34>Aberhan et al., 2002, p.34</ref> ||
|-
|| ''L. kindopeensis'' || ''Indotrigonia africana'' || align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p34/> ||
|-
| ''[[Lithophaga]]'' || ''Lithophaga suboblonga'' || ''Indotrigonia africana'' || align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p34/> ||
|-
| ''[[Meleagrinella]]'' || ''Meleagrinella radiata'' || Lower Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p27/> ||
|-
| ''[[Nanogyra]]'' || ''Nanogyra nana'' || Lower Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p27/> ||
|-
| ''[[Protocardia]]'' || ''Protocardia schenki'' || Lower Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p27/> ||
|-
| ''[[Seebachia]]'' || ''Seebachia janenschi'' || ''Indotrigonia africana'' || align=center | <ref name=Bussert2009_p167/> || 
|-
|}

=====Coral=====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Genus !! Species !! Member<br>bold is defining !! Notes !! Images
|-
| ''[[Astrocoenia]]'' || ''Astrocoenia bernensis'' || ''Indotrigonia africana'' || align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p34/>|| 
|-
| ''[[Meandrophyllia]]'' || ''Meandrophyllia oolithotithonica'' || ''Indotrigonia africana'' || align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p34/> ||
|-
| ''[[Thamnoseris]]'' || ''Thamnoseris'' sp. || ''Indotrigonia africana'' || align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p34/> ||
|-
|}

=====Ostracods=====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Genus !! Species !! Member<br>bold is defining !! Notes !! Images
|-
| ''[[Bythocypris]]'' || ''Bythocypris'' sp. || Middle Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Bussert2009_p167/> || 
|-
| ''[[Cypridea]]'' || ''Cypridea'' sp. || Middle & Upper Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Bussert2009_p167/> || 
|-
|}

===Flora===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Group !! Taxa !! Member !! Notes !! Images
|-
| [[Araucariaceae]] || ''[[Araucariacites]]'' || Lower Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Aberhan2002_p25>Aberhan et al., 2002, p.25</ref> || 
|-
| [[Cheirolepidiaceae]] || ''[[Classopollis]]'' || ''Indotrigonia africana''<br>Lower Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Bussert2009_p167/><ref name=Aberhan2002_p25/> || 
|-
| [[Cupressaceae]] || ''[[Cupressinoxylon|Cupressinoxylon sp.]]'' || ''Rutitrigonia bornhardti-schwarzi'' || align=center | <ref name=Kahlert1999_p192>Kahlert et al., 1999, p.192</ref> || 
|-
| [[Cycadaceae]] || ''[[Cycadoxylon|Cycadoxylon sp.]]'' || ''Indotrigonia africana'' || align=center | <ref name=Kahlert1999_p188>Kahlert et al., 1999, p.188</ref> || 
|-
| [[Ginkgoaceae]] || ''[[Ginkgoxylon|Ginkgoxylon sp.]]'' || ''Rutitrigonia bornhardti-schwarzi'' || align=center | <ref name=Kahlert1999_p190>Kahlert et al., 1999, p.190</ref> || 
|-
| [[Taxodiaceae]] || ''[[Glyptostroboxylon|Glyptostroboxylon sp.]]'' || Middle Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Kahlert1999_p192/> || 
|-
| [[Taxaceae]] || ''[[Taxaceoxylon|Taxaceoxylon sp.]]'' || ''Rutitrigonia bornhardti-schwarzi'' || align=center | <ref name=Kahlert1999_p190/> || 
|-
| [[Prasinophyta]] || ''[[Cymatiosphaera|Cymatiosphaera sp.]]'' || ''Indotrigonia africana'' || align=center | <ref name=Schrank1999_p173>Schrank, 1999, p.173</ref> || 
|-
| [[Zygnemataceae]] || ''[[Ovoidites|Ovoidites parvus]]'' || Middle Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Schrank1999_p173/> || 
|-
| [[Dinoflagellates]] || ''various'' || ''Indotrigonia africana''<br>Middle Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Schrank1999_p173/> || 
|-
| [[Gymnosperm]] [[pollen]] || ''various'' || ''Indotrigonia africana''<br>Middle Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Schrank1999_p173/> || 
|-
| Pteridophytic and bryophytic [[spores]] || ''various'' || ''Indotrigonia africana''<br>Middle Dinosaur || align=center | <ref name=Schrank1999_p173/> || 
|-
|}

== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[List of stratigraphic units with dinosaur body fossils]]
* [[List of African dinosaurs]]
* [[Manda Formation]], Triassic fossiliferous formation of Tanzania
* [[Usili Formation]], Permian fossiliferous formation of Tanzania
* [[Mugher Mudstone]], Tithonian fossiliferous formation of Ethiopia
* [[Ksar Metlili Formation]], Tithonian to Berriasian fossiliferous formation of Morocco
* [[Kirkwood Formation]], Berriasian to Hauterivian fossiliferous formation of South Africa
* [[Sundays River Formation]], Valanginian to Hauterivian fossiliferous formation of South Africa
* [[Bajada Colorada Formation]], Berriasian to Valanginian fossiliferous formation of Argentina
* [[Dinosaurs of Tendaguru]], Book for young readers in Swahili 
{{div col end}}

== Notes and references ==
{{Commons category|Tendaguru Formation}}

=== Notes ===
{{reflist|group=note}}

=== References ===
{{reflist|20em}}

=== Bibliography ===
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{{Lindi}}
{{National Historic Sites of Tanzania}}

[[Category:Tendaguru Formation| ]]
[[Category:Jurassic System of Africa]]
[[Category:Lower Cretaceous Series of Africa]]
[[Category:Sandstone formations]]
[[Category:Shale formations]]
[[Category:Siltstone formations]]
[[Category:Conglomerate formations]]
[[Category:Limestone formations]]
[[Category:Shallow marine deposits]]
[[Category:Tidal deposits]]
[[Category:Deltaic deposits]]
[[Category:Lacustrine deposits]]
[[Category:Lagoonal deposits]]
[[Category:Paleontology in Tanzania]]
[[Category:Rufiji-Ruvuma languages]]