Study of the biodiversity of fossil marine reptiles in Western Kazakhstan

IRN АР 19177208 Project topic "Study of the biodiversity of fossil marine reptiles in Western Kazakhstan"

Relevance

Western Kazakhstan, from the point of view of the prospects for the development of paleontological science, is distinguished by an abundance of fossilized fossils. Extinct remains of marine invertebrates from Mesozoic deposits are found on the territory as an accompanying fauna of vertebrate organisms. Our scientific research could significantly complement the modern understanding of the biodiversity of the fauna of Western Kazakhstan in the Mesozoic era.

The data obtained are of crucial importance for understanding the late stage (the end of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods) of  Ichthyosaur evolution and it gives an idea of the distribution of this group at the noted time. The discovery of Kazakhstanosaurus in the sediments of the Republic of Kazakhstan suggests that these reptiles have been preserved in the warm waters of Tethys since the beginning of the Jurassic period. Their penetration in boreal waters gave impetus to the evolution of the family Undorosauridae.

Project goal

The study taxonomic composition of marine reptiles and development of proposals for the creation of a paleontological natural monument of republican significance on the territory of Western Kazakhstan.

Project Objectives

  1. collection, analysis and systematization of scientific information aboutdiversity of marine reptiles in the territory of Western Kazakhstan;
  2. stratigraphic andlithological description of the locations of marine reptiles, a complex of associated fauna;
  1. morphological and systematic description of the fossil remains of ichthyosaurs from the localities of Western Kazakhstan and the creation of a paleontological collection of marine reptiles;

3.1. development of recommendations for the creation of a state paleontological natural monument of republican significance in the territory of Western Kazakhstan;

3.2. publication of the atlas of fossils of marine reptiles of Western Kazakhstan.

Expected Results

Scientific information about paleontological research in the field of marine reptiles found on the territory of Western Kazakhstan will be systematized.

The stratigraphic andlithological subdivision of localities, a complex of accompanying fauna.

Paleontological samples of marine reptiles from the Mesozoic deposits of Western Kazakhstan will be collected, taxonomic composition of Mesozoic marine reptiles. A paleontological collection of marine reptiles will be collected, which will be stored in the museum M.Utemisov university..

A list of the most unique locations in Western Kazakhstan has been prepared for inclusion in the list of state paleontological natural monumentsof republican significance, recommendations have been developed for the creation of a state paleontological natural monument of republican significance.

Based on the results of scientific research conducted within the framework of the project, the following will be published:

- 2 (two) articles in peer-reviewed scientific publications in the scientific direction of the project with a CiteScore percentile in the Scopus database of at least 50 (fifty): presumably in such journals as: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Percentile in Scopus: Earth and Planetary Sciences – Paleontology - 68 (https://www.scopus.com/sourceid/13941); Journal of Paleontology, Percentile in Scopus: Earth and Planetary Sciences - Paleontology - 54 (https://www. https://www.scopus.com/sourceid/13939#tabs=1).

- 1 atlas of fossils of marine reptiles of Western Kazakhstan.

Achieved results

Scientific information on paleontological studies carried out in the West Kazakhstan and Mangystau regions has been collected and analyzed.

A stratigraphic and lithological description of sections of Mesozoic deposits in the territory of the settlement was carried out.Tushybek of the Mangystau region.

The upper part of the plateau is composed of gray, white and pink limestone of Paleogene age. The apparent power is 40-50 m. During the examination of the outcrops, vertebrae of bony fish and scale prints were found. There are also a large number of bivalve mollusks, remnants of ammonite shells Semenoviceras sp., Chelenbachia varians, Turrilites (Lamarck 1801)

The Akbulak chalk massif of the Kobdinsky district of the Aktobe region was studied.  Geomorphologically, the Akbulak tract belongs to the Poduralsky plateau. This Cretaceous massif is composed of Upper Cretaceous rocks. Bivalve mollusks Oxytoma sp., Inoceramus sp., Gryphaea sp., as well as shields of the shelled sea urchins Echinocorys sp., belemnites Belemnella camax, ammonites of the Upper Cretaceous period were found in the Cretaceous sediments. Also, hard-to-identify remains of bivalves, numerous tubes of worms forming colonies and reef banks have been found from the fauna.

Paleontological surveys have been carried out on the territory of the Atyrau region. Surveys of promising locations of representatives of the Mesozoic fauna were conducted - the location of Karabala-Kantemir in the area of Lake Inder, the location of Koikara in the lower reaches of the Zhem River on the Koikara hill, Cretaceous outcrops and ravines with rock outcrops near Mount Imankara, the vicinity of the Kainar gulch and the Konyrsai tract. Samples of invertebrate paleofauna have been collected. Ostrea sp., Belemnitella sp., and Caryophyllum similotrochus from Upper Cretaceous sediments were found in the Akchi tract.

The description of other locations will be continued in 2024.

A morphological and systematic description of ichthyosaur fossils from the localities of P.Tushybek has been prepared. Fragmentary skeletons of marine reptiles from Mesozoic deposits have been found, which include the following parts: atlas, epistropheus, square bones, maxillary bone, parietal, supra-temporal bone, vertebrae, ribs, teeth.

According to the results of the description, the skeleton was assigned to the Platypterygidae family Bardet, 1994, genus Platypterygius, Huene, 1922.

Research group

  1. Akhmedenov Kazhmurat Maksutovich - scientific consultant, Candidate of Geographical Sciences, Professor. Hirsch index in Scopus -6, Hirsch index in WoS - 3. ORCID 0000-0001-7294-0913, Scopus Author ID 55022862400. E-mail.: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  2. Yakupova Jamilya Bolatovna – scientific supervisor, Master's degree

ORCID (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3875-1224)

Scopus Author ID 57291466900

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57291466900

E-mail.: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Publications:

  1. Yakupova D.B., Akhmedenov K.M. Ichthyosaurus from Cretaceous deposits of Western Kazakhstan // Materials of the All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference dedicated to the 225th anniversary of the birth of P. M. Yazykov (Ulyanovsk, September 22-25, 2023) "Issues of paleontology and regional stratigraphy of the Phanerozoic of the European part of Russia". Ulyanovsk. – 2023 – p. 115)