Kazan Federal University Digital Repository

New evidence of xiphosurids from the Middle Jurassic of Morocco: Palaeoenvironmental, palaeoecological and palaeobiogeographical implications

Show simple item record

dc.contributor.author Oukassou M.
dc.contributor.author Lagnaoui A.
dc.contributor.author Charrière A.
dc.contributor.author Saber H.
dc.contributor.author Haouz W.
dc.contributor.author Gierliński G.
dc.contributor.author Klein H.
dc.contributor.author Ibouh H.
dc.date.accessioned 2020-01-21T20:32:46Z
dc.date.available 2020-01-21T20:32:46Z
dc.date.issued 2019
dc.identifier.issn 0031-0182
dc.identifier.uri https://dspace.kpfu.ru/xmlui/handle/net/157382
dc.description.abstract © 2018 Elsevier B.V. Horseshoe crabs (Chelicerata, Xiphosura) from Mesozoic deposits are extremely rare in the fossil record of the African continent. Here we report new evidence of the occurrence of xiphosurans in North Africa. These are horseshoe crab traces, including the ichnogenera Kouphichnium (repichnia) and Selenichnites (fodinichnia and/or domichnia), which have been discovered in Middle Jurassic strata of the Imilchil area (Central High Atlas, Morocco). They are preserved on upper and lower bed surfaces of sandy limestones and marls in the upper parts of the Tislit and Imilchil formations (late Bajocian-early Bathonian). The Selenichnites traces, measuring up to 30 cm in width, co-occur with theropod and birdlike tracks. The reported Kouphichnium is the first record from Mesozoic deposits of Morocco, while Selenichnites is the second occurrence in Jurassic strata of Africa. These ichnogenera evidence different behaviour of horseshoe crabs, i.e. Selenichnites is the result of burrowing activity when searching for food in the sediment, and Kouphichnium is a regular locomotion trace left on the sediment surface, occasionally leaving an impression of the telson. The combination of sedimentological data and ichnological analysis indicates a shallow-water subtidal depositional environment preceding the Bathonian regression of the Atlas domain. Palaeobiogeographically, the discoveries indicate the presence of horseshoe crabs at the southern margin of the Tethys. Furthermore, they enhance our knowledge of their previously scarcely documented distribution in Gondwana during the Mesozoic.
dc.relation.ispartofseries Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
dc.subject Bajocian-Bathonian
dc.subject High Atlas
dc.subject Imilchil
dc.subject Kouphichnium
dc.subject Selenichnites
dc.subject Xiphosura
dc.title New evidence of xiphosurids from the Middle Jurassic of Morocco: Palaeoenvironmental, palaeoecological and palaeobiogeographical implications
dc.type Article
dc.relation.ispartofseries-volume 516
dc.collection Публикации сотрудников КФУ
dc.relation.startpage 268
dc.source.id SCOPUS00310182-2019-516-SID85058407462


Files in this item

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

  • Публикации сотрудников КФУ Scopus [24551]
    Коллекция содержит публикации сотрудников Казанского федерального (до 2010 года Казанского государственного) университета, проиндексированные в БД Scopus, начиная с 1970г.

Show simple item record

Search DSpace


Advanced Search

Browse

My Account

Statistics