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Mounted skeleton of dugonid that contains some original fossil pieces.
© National Mueum of Qatar
Uplifting of the Qatar Peninsula (Miocene)
Object Name: Dugongid Skeleton
Period: Uplifting of the Qatar Peninsula (Miocene)
Date: 23–5 Million Years Ago
Dimensions: 270 cm long, max. 60 x 60 cm wide, about 180 kg incl.
Medium: fossil
Registration Number: QM.2018.0147
Place Of Discovery/Findspot:  Dammam formation South west Qatar-
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Mounted skeleton of a dugongid, a marine mammal family that includes present-day sea cows. This specimen includes an almost complete set of ribs, various cervical, dorsal, and caudal vertebrae, along with fragments of limbs and the skull. It dates back to the early Miocene era and was discovered in the lower strata of the Dammam Formation in Qatar.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT QATAR
At the beginning of this period, Qatar was covered by shallow tropical waters. Sea turtles, marine crocodiles and dugongs all lived here.
Later, the Qatar peninsula gradually rose above sea level. The climate was much more humid than today, and Qatar was covered by grasslands and rivers. Ancient species of freshwater crocodiles, ostriches, elephants and giraffes walked the land.
LOCATE ON QATAR MAP
Dammam formation South west Qatar-
locate in museum map
Gallery 1