Manda Formation

Manda Formation
Stratigraphic range: I O An. La. Carn. Norian Rh.
Map of the outcropping Manda Formation
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	Songea Group
Sub-units	Kingori Sandstone Member, Lifua Member
Underlies	None
Overlies	Usili Formation
Lithology
Primary	Sandstone
Other	Mudstone, siltstone, marl
Location
Coordinates	10.3°S 35.2°E / -10.3; 35.2
Approximate paleocoordinates	53.7°S 23.0°E / -53.7; 23.0
Region	Iringa & Ruvuma Regions
Country	Tanzania
Extent	Ruhuhu Basin
Manda Formation (Tanzania)

The Manda Formation (also known as the Manda Beds) is a Middle Triassic (Anisian? or Ladinian) or Late Triassic (earliest Carnian?) geologic formation in Tanzania. It preserves fossils of many terrestrial vertebrates from the Triassic, including some of the earliest dinosauromorph archosaurs.

The formation was historically considered to be from the Anisian (first stage of the Middle Triassic), as it shares some fauna with the Cynognathus Assemblage Zone of South Africa. Many recent studies cast doubt on this age, suggesting that parts of it may be more recent, potentially as young the early Carnian (first stage of the Late Triassic). The dicynodont Dinodontosaurus is known from this formation as well as formations in South America which are directly dated to the late Ladinian (last stage of the Middle Triassic) and early Carnian.