Bakate Formation

Bakate Formation
Stratigraphic range:
TypeGeological formation
Sub-unitsBuluk Member, Irile Member, Il Jimma Member
Lithology
PrimarySandstone, Claystone, Basalt
OtherSiltstone, Tuff
Location
Coordinates36°36′S 4°16.0002′E / 36.600°S 4.2666700°E / -36.600; 4.2666700
RegionMarsabit County
CountryKenya
Bakate Formation is located in Kenya
Bakate Formation
Bakate Formation (Kenya)

The Bakate Formation is a geological formation in northwest Kenya and the nearby Fejej region of Ethiopia. It dates to the Early Miocene. Fossils of animals such as proboscideans and crocodilians have been recovered from the formation.[1][2][3]

Description

The formation was depositied during the Early Miocene.[2] With the Buluk Member specifically being deposited during the Miocene Climatic Optimum (MCO) (~17 to 16 Ma).[2] The Buluk member was deposited in a fluvial lacustrine environment with sillicified tree trunks showing that the formation was a partially wooded, seasonally dry forest with higher than-present rainfall and was dominated by C3 plants, though in some localities C4 plants, such as grasses, were more prevelent.[4][2]

The Buluk Member outcrops at the uplift of the Suregai-Asille plateau.[2]

Geology

The primary lithology of the Buluk Member is sandstone and claystone with tuff, siltstone and basalt also present.[2] The Irle Member is primarily made up of basaltic lava,[2] while the lithology of the Il Jimma Member is primarily made up of igneous rocks.[2]

Palaeobiota

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.

Fauna

Mammals

Afrotheres
Afrotheres of the Batake Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMaterialNotesImages

Afrochoerodon[4] 

A. kisumuensis

 Buluk Member

Multiple specimens[2]

Formerly classified as a species of Platybelodon as P. kisumuensis[2]

Afrohyrax[4]

A. championi

Formerly classified as a species Megalohyrax as M. championi[5]
Archaeobelodon[2] A. tassyi A cranium and several isolated lower tusks[2] An amebelodontid proboscidean
Gomphotherium[2] G. sp. indet. A few molars.[2] A gomphotheriid proboscidean
Prodeinotherium[4][2] P. hobleyi Multiple specimens[2] A deinotheriid proboscidean
Protanancus[2] P. presbytatos Multiple teeth and maxillary fragments[2] An amebelodontid proboscidean
Zygolophodon[2] Z. microgigas Multiple teeth[2] A mammutid proboscidean
Artiodactyla
Artiodactyls of the Batake Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMaterialNotesImages
Diamantohyus[3] D. africanus A sanitheriid artiodactyl.
Canthumeryx
Dorcatherium
Dorcatherium D. chappuisi[3] A chevrotain.
D. pigotti[3]
Canthumeryx[3] C. cf. stirtensis A giraffid.
Namachoerus[3] N. cf. moruoroti Formerly included in the genus Lopholistriodon as L. cf. moruoroti.[6]
Sivameryx[7] S. sp. Formerly included in the junior synonym Hyboops as H. sp.[8]
Libychochoerus[3] L. massai A suid.
Listriodon[4] L. sp. A suid
Perissodactyls
Perissodactyls of the Batake Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMaterialNotesImages
Aceratherium[3] A. acutirostratum A rhinoceros.
Aceratherium
Chilotheridium[3] C. pattersoni A rhinocerotoid
C. sp.
Rusingaceros[4][3] R. leakeyi Formerly classified as a species of Dicerorhinus as D. leakeyi[9]
Primates
Primates of the Batake Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMaterialNotesImages
Afropithecus[3] A. turkanensis A partial skull A Homonid
cf. Kenyapithecus[7] cf. K. walkeri
Hominoidea[7] Indeterminate
Prohylobates[3] P. sp. An old world monkey
Similolus[3] S. enjiessi
Noropithecus[7] N. bulukensis An old world monkey.
cf. Micropithecus[7] cf. M. clarki An old world monkey.
Feraes
Feraes of the Batake Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMaterialNotesImages
Hyainailouros[3] H. nyanzae A hyaenodont.
Creodonta indet.[4] Indeterminate A creodont.
Amphicyonidae[7] Indeterminate A very large species of amphicyonid.

Reptiles

Reptiles of the Batake Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMaterialNotesImages
Chelonia[4] Indeterminate Buluk member A relative of the modern green sea turtle
Trionychidae[7] Indeterminate A softshell turtle.
Pelomedusidae[7] Indeterminate An African side-necked turtle.
Crocodylia indet.[4] Indeterminate A crocodilian.
Crocodylus[7] C. cf. niloticus
Tomistoma[7] T. sp. A relative of the modern False Gharial.

Fish

Fish of the Batake Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMaterialNotesImages
Protopterus[7] P. sp. Buluk Member A lungfish.
Clariidae[7] Indeterminate An airbreathing catfish.

Flora

Multiple indeterminate remains of fruits, twigs, seeds and leaves have also been found in the formation.[3]

Angiosperms

Angiosperms of the Batake Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMaterialNotesImages
cf. Anonaspurmum[7] cf. A. sp. Seeds and fruits.[7] A custard apple.
Anonaspurmum[3] A. elegans
A. quadralobatum
Antrocaryon[3] A. paramicraster A cashew tree relative.
Cynometroxylon[10] C. sp. Wood A legume.
cf. Acacia[10] cf. A. sp. An acacia tree.
Stereospermoxylon[10] S. eoacuminatissumum A begonia.
Sapotoxylodon[10] S. sp. 1 A member of sapotaceae
S. sp. 2
Angeospermae[10] Indeterminate Multiple species.
Oleacae[10] Indeterminate A member of oleacae.
Rutaceae[10] Indeterminate A member of rutaceae.
Sapindaceae[10] Indeterminate A member of sapindaceae.
Parinari[3] P. antiquum A chrysobalanacene tree

References

  1. ↑ "BAKATE - Buluk, Marsabit County, Kenya". www.mindat.org. Archived from the original on 2025-08-31. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Sanders, William J.; Miller, Ellen R.; Muthuri, Martin K.; Ibui, Timothy G.; Mbatha, Pauline M.; Rountrey, Adam N.; Nengo, Isaiah O. (2026). "A remarkably diverse proboscidean assemblage from Early Miocene Buluk, Kenya". Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 33 (2) 14. doi:10.1007/s10914-026-09802-w. ISSN 1064-7554.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Tiffney, Bruce; Fleagle, John; Bown, Thomas (1994). "Early to Middle Miocene angiosperm fruits and seeds from Fejej, Ethiopia". Tertiary Research. 15: 25–42 – via ReaserchGate.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HARRIS, J. M.; WATKINS, R. (1974). "New early Miocene vertebrate locality near Lake Rudolf, Kenya". Nature. 252 (5484): 576–577. Bibcode:1974Natur.252..576H. doi:10.1038/252576a0. ISSN 0028-0836.
  5. ↑ "Afrohyrax championi". www.mindat.org. Archived from the original on 2025-08-24. Retrieved 2026-06-21.
  6. ↑ Prothero, Donald R.; Foss, Scott E., eds. (2007). The evolution of artiodactyls. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8735-2.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Buluk (Miocene of Kenya)". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  8. ↑ "Sivameryx". palaeobiodb.org. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
  9. ↑ Sanders, William Joseph, ed. (2010). Cenozoic mammals of Africa. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-25721-4.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Wheeler, E.A.; Wiemann, M.C.; Fleagle, J.G. (2007). "Woods from the Miocene Bakate Formation, Ethiopia". Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 146 (1–4): 193–207. doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2007.04.002.
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