Trilobites from the Upper Ordovician of Bou Nemrou - El Kaid Errami (Morocco) (original) (raw)
Giant Trilobites from Lower Ordovician of Morocco
2009
Two new species and two subspecies of giant trilobites (Asaphidae familiy) of the formation of "Schistes des Fezouata Superieurs" coming from Arenig (Lower Ordovician) of the Morocco are described. They are Ogyginus forteyi hammondi n. ssp.; Megistaspis (Ekeraspis) hammondi n. sp.; Megistaspis (Ekeraspis) hammondi forteyi n.ssp. and Basilicus (Basilicus) vidali n.sp. We will also show all the specimens of giasnt trilobites from Lower Ordovician of Morocco so far found, some already described by other authors, and other not desctibed yet.
A remarkable illaenid trilobite from the Middle Ordovician of Morocco
Bulletin of Geosciences, 2014
Illaenid trilobites were relatively scarce in south-polar peri-Gondwanan areas during the Ordovician, with all their African occurrences restricted to the Middle and Upper Ordovician of Morocco. At a specific level, only the Bohemian form Ectillaenus benignensis (Novák) has been positively identified from the Middle Ordovician of that region. In the present work we add the discovery of the new form Caudillaenus nicolasi gen. et sp. nov., occurring in a single bed of late Darriwilian 2 age within the Taddrist Formation of the Rahiat region (south of Alnif), in the central Moroccan Anti-Atlas. The new genus is characterized by a large and subtriangular pygidium, a cephalon with relatively large eyes, a broad rostral plate with a short upwardly and forwardly turned posterior flange, and a globose hypostome. It shows a spheroidal enrolment type previously unknown in illaenids, with the pygidium protruding beyond the cephalon, and the cephalic margin fitting into a shallow and wide coaptative furrow on the pygidial doublure. •
Diverse and abundant trilobite faunas occur in several beds near the base of the section of the upper Emsian to Eifelian Timrhanrhart Formation exposed at Jbel Gara el Zguilma, south of Foum Zguid in Morocco. While trilobites occur throughout much of this section, they are exquisitely preserved and most diverse in the lowest (upper Emsian) portion. Several of the trilobite species are commercially available, but their taxonomy has never been formalized, and their field occurrence has not previously been described. Near the base of the section, two nodular argillaceous limestone beds contain highly diverse trilobite faunas, with many spectacular spiny forms. These include examples deviating from bilateral symmetry that are apparently unique in the Trilobita. Alpha diversity is high, with as many as 23 trilobite species in one bed. We suggest that these nodular beds represent thick, rapidly emplaced storm obrution deposits that underwent transport for a short distance before the trilobites came to rest in chaotic burial orientations. Calcareous nodule formation during early diagenesis protected the trilobites from compaction. Higher in the same section, in strata of Eifelian age, trilobite faunas are of lower diversity, and composed mainly of species of Phacops, Hollardops and Parahomalonotus, although one horizon has an alpha diversity of at least 9 species. Twenty three new species-level taxa include: Acastoides zguilmensis, Acastoides haddadi, Coltraneia effelesa, Cyphaspis agayuara, C. eberhardiei, C. hamidi, Diademaproetus mohamedi, Gerastos tuberculatus marocensis, Hollardops aithassainorum, Kayserops tamnrherta, Koneprusia dahmani, Leonaspis haddanei, L. spinicurva, Parahomalonotus calvus, Phacops granulops, P. lebesus, P. smoothops, Psychopyge hammerorum, Scabriscutellum hammadi, S. lahceni, Tropidocoryphe amuri, Walliserops hammii, and W. tridens. Cyphaspis new species A is known only from a single cephalon. "Sculptoproetus" new species A and "S." new species B are being named in another work that will appear in print after this work.
2017
espanolSe describe una nueva especie del genero Platypeltoides, P. carmenae, de los esquistos de Fezouata, Ordovicico Inferior (Tremadociense) de la provincia de Guelmim (Marruecos). Con esta nueva especie y otra mas todavia por describir, el genero Platypeltoides cuenta en Marruecos con cuatro especies diferentes, todas ellas pertenecientes al Ordovicico Inferior (Tremadociense). EnglishIt is described a species of the genus Platypeltoides, P. carmenae, from the Fezouata shales, Lower Ordovician (Tremadocian) of the Guelmim province (Morocco). With this new species and another which is still pending to be described, the genus Platypeltoides includes four different species in Morocco, all them belonging to the Lower Ordovician (Tremadocian).
NEW SPECIES OF THE LICHID TRILOBITE CERATARGES FROM THE MIDDLE DEVONIAN IN MOROCCO
NEW SPECIES OF THE LICHID TRILOBITE CERATARGES FROM THE MIDDLE DEVONIAN IN MOROCCO, 2011
"Members of Ceratarges Gürich are known from Devonian strata in various countries but they have not yet been formally described from Morocco. Ceratarges ziregensis sp. nov., Ceratarges koumalii sp. nov. and Ceratarges aries sp. nov. are herein described from the El Otfal Formation (Eifelian) in Morocco on the basis of complete specimens. Supplementary material is illustrated of Ceratarges cognatus van Viersen from the Jemelle Formation (Eifelian) in France. The relationships between Ceratarges, Mephiarges Richter & Richter and Asawikwanabe Basse in Basse & Müller are briefly elaborated on."
Two new species of Trochurinae trilobites from the ÍVIiddIe Devonian (Eifeiian) of Southern Morocco
2013
Two new species of trilobites of the Trochurinae subfamily from the Middle Devonian (Eifelian) of the Tafilalt region (Morocco) are described. In addition, a new genus (Basseiarges gen. nov.) is proposed in order to include one of them (Basseiarges mellishae sp. nov.). The main characteristics that make it different from the other members of the subfamily Trochurinae are its peculiar cephalon and pygidium, and the saw-shape of the ridge that connects the genal spines, which is similar to that present on the pygidium border. The second species described here is Akantharges mbareki sp. nov. from Tinejad. Both them are compared with the previously described species of the genus Akantharges. In addition, the first description of the hypostome of a member of the genus Akantharges is included.
Geologica Belgica, 2022
A group of asteropygine trilobites with 10 thoracic segments from the lower Emsian to lowermost Eifelian of western Europe and northwest Africa is deemed monophyletic. Available names for this clade are Hollardops Morzadec, 1997, Philipsmithiana Lieberman & Kloc, 1997, Modellops Lieberman & Kloc, 1997 and Pennarbedops Bignon & Crônier, 2013, the first of which has priority. Well-preserved Hollardops specimens from southern Morocco have revealed previously undescribed details of the mineralised exoskeleton that are interpreted here as coaptative and sensory devices. It is proposed that Hollardops, like many other asteropygines, practised a dual mode of coaptation: fully locked enrolment was alternated with a retracted pygidium, allowing temporary influx of oxygenated seawater and excretion through slits between the pygidial lappets. This putative ‘breathing device’ enabled the trilobite to remain enrolled for a longer period of time while maintaining vital body functions. A poor understanding of the problematic type species of Hollardops, H. mesocristatus (Le Maître, 1952), has clouded actual diversity in Algeria and Morocco. Hollardops klugi sp. nov. is the oldest known member of the genus and extends its confirmed stratigraphic range into the lower Emsian. Two species, H. kyriarchos sp. nov. and H. multatuli sp. nov., are recorded from just above the base of the upper Emsian. Additionally, H. angustifrons sp. nov., H. luscus sp. nov. and the first well-preserved specimens of H. boudibensis Morzadec, 2001 are recorded from the upper Emsian. The types of H. hyfinkeli (Lieberman & Kloc, 1997) and H. burtandmimiae (Lieberman & Kloc, 1997) are refigured and original species concepts reiterated. Feruminops Haas, 1968, including its junior subjective synonym Morzadecops Bignon & Crônier, 2013, from the lower Emsian of Morocco and Türkiye, may comprise the sister group of Hollardops. Additionally, the enrolment strategies and systematics of several other members of Asteropyginae are discussed. Platykardiapyge gen. nov. (type species: Metacanthina maderensis Morzadec, 2001) is erected for a group of Pragian–early Emsian asteropygines from Morocco, Spain and Türkiye with a widely heart-shaped pygidium and comparatively many pygidial pleurae, among other features. Bignonops gen. nov. (type species: Kayserops tamnrhertus Chatterton et al., 2006) is erected for some species previously included in Gandlops Bignon & Crônier, 2013. Minicryphaeus suavius sp. nov. is described from the lower Emsian of Morocco. The identity and generic affinity of the oldest known asteropygine, Ganetops gdoumontensis (Asselberghs, 1930) from the Pridolian of Belgium, are discussed.
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2016
Trilobites are a major component of both biomineralized and soft-bodied assemblages of the Fezouata Biota, central Anti-Atlas, Morocco. Trilobite taxa of the Fezouata Shale (Tremadocian-Floian) in the Zagora area are typical of Lower Ordovician communities from shallow shelf environments, and show strong affinities with Early Ordovician assemblages from the Montagne Noire (southern France). Dramatic variations in both taxonomic composition and taphonomic attributes, together with the sedimentological facies changes, allow us to discriminate the palaeoenvironmental versus stratigraphic control on trilobite assemblages. Three communities are described along an onshore-offshore profile, namely the pilekiid-bavarillid, Agerina and raphiophorid biofacies. Additionally, three stratigraphic assemblages are identified: assemblage 1 is confined to the late Tremadocian, assemblage 2
Well-preserved specimens of the phacopine trilobites Morocops Basse (= Barrandeops McKellar & Chatterton) and Adrisiops gen. nov. are recorded from upper Emsian strata in Morocco. Morocops is a problematic taxon; the close similarities of its stratigraphically youngest members to the earliest members of Geesops Struve are indicative of grade taxonomy. So far, Morocops is exclusively Gondwanan although potential congeners have been described from peri-Gondwana. One of the stratigraphically oldest species of Geesops occurs in the lower Eifelian of the French Ardennes (Laurussia). Its co-occurrence with pioneer " Bohemian " trilobites there suggests that faunal exchange between Laurussia and peri-Gondwanan terranes was unhindered at that time. New material of Morocops torkozensis (Schraut) is recorded; however, the type locality and horizon of this species remain uncertain. Adrisiops gen. nov. is erected to accommodate strongly vaulted, Gondwanan taxa that share a unique cephalic morphology inclusive of a short, but rather inflated glabella and ventrally deflected anterior border. New taxa are Morocops spinifer sp. nov. and Adrisiops weugi gen. et sp. nov. •
Bryozoan fauna of the Upper Ordovician (Katian) of Alnif, Morocco
Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 2015
Bryozoan fauna was discovered within the glaciogenic sediments of an Ordovician (Hirnantian) tunnel valley infill near Alnif, Morocco where it had been redeposited from the upper Tiouririne Formation (Ktaoa Group, Katian). This fauna contains four species-one esthonioporine, two trepostomes and one rhabdomesine cryptostome-of which three are new: Revalotrypa ramosa sp. nov., Radiotrypa alnifensis sp. nov. and Heminematopora gaetula sp. nov. The fourth species, Monotrypa sp., is described using open nomenclature. Branched colonies of R. alnifensis sp. nov. are the most abundant element of the bryozoan-rich floatstones of the upper Tiouririne Formation in which bryozoans were deposited after being transported for a short distance. The genus Radiotrypa was previously known exclusively from the Hirnantian of Sweden, and the genus Heminematopora was known from the Upper Ordovician of North America and Europe. Study of the internal morphology of Heminematopora confirmed the presence of heterozooecia in this genus.
An Early Ordovician Trilobite assemblage from the Lashkarak Formation, Damghan area, northern Iran
A low diversity Lower Ordovician trilobite assemblage is described from the middle part of the Lashkarak Formation at Simeh-Kuh, northwest of Damghan, northern Iran. Co-occurrence with conodonts of the lowermost Paroistodus proteus Biozone suggests an uppermost Tremadocian age. This assemblage includes four taxa, including one new genus and two new species, Damghanampyx ginteri nov. gen. nov. sp. and Asaphellus fecundus nov. sp. The third diagnosable species from the formation is Taihungshania miqueli (Bergeron, 1894) which has previously been reported from southern France and the Turkish Taurides, suggesting north Gondwanan faunal affinities.
Ordovician trilobites from Deh-Molla, eastern Alborz, Iran Mansoureh Ghobadi Pour
Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology , 2019
Seventeen species from 14 genera of Tremadocian and Darriwilian trilobites, plus two taxa recognizable only down to family level, have been documented from the Lower to Middle Ordovician succession of the Deh-Molla area, southeast of Shahrud in northern Iran. Two species, Asaphellus intermedius and Conophrys multituberculatus, are new to science. Unlike previously documented Iranian faunas, the early Tremadocian trilobite assemblage is characterized by proliferation of the olenid Chungkingaspis sinensis, which is also known as the eponymous taxon of the basal Ordovician trilobite biozone in South China. This is the first record of the occurrence of the olenid biofacies in the Ordovician of Iran. Overall, both the Tremadocian and Darriwilian trilobite assemblages show distinct similarity to the contemporaneous faunas of South China down to species level. Trilobite-based correlation with the Ordovician succession of South China confirms the existence of a hiatus at the base of the Ordovician succession in the eastern Alborz and a significant gap, with the upper Tremadocian, Floian and Dapingian parts of the succession completely missing in Deh-Molla.
Species of the Devonian aulacopleurid trilobiteCyphaspidesfrom southeastern Morocco
Journal of Paleontology, 2019
Three new species of Cyphaspides are proposed: C. ammari, C. nicoleae, and C. pankowskiorum. These species are based on specimens obtained from Middle Devonian (Eifelian) strata of the Bou Tchrafine Group, near Erfoud, in the Province of Errachidia, southeastern Morocco. The present contribution enhances our knowledge of Cyphaspides by providing details of three new species that are based on well-preserved, complete, and articulated types. The genus Cyphaspides is discussed, and an emended diagnosis is provided. The paleobiogeography, ontogeny, and relationships of the genus are discussed.
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2006
Late Palaeozoic sediments in central Morocco and the High Atlas Mountains document the development of this area during the formation of the Mauretanide part of the Hercynian orogeny. Continental basins formed during the Stephanian and Permian. Although scattered in time, they provide valuable biogeographical and climatic information for the Mauretanides as a link between the Variscides in the east, the Appalachians in the west and the Karoo in the south. New blattid insects in the Souss Basin enable correlation to Early Stephanian B. Furthermore, we document the oldest African tetrapod tracks (Batrachichnus, Dromopus). Litho-and biofacies indicate seasonally wet and dry phases. Wet red beds of the Khenifra Basin have produced tetrapod bones and the tracks Limnopus, Batrachichnus and Dromopus. Macrofloras give a transitional Autunian/Saxonian age. This fits well into the Artinskian wet phase. Similar facies pattern in the Tiddas Basin are correlated by tetrapod tracks as transitional Artinskian to Kungurian. Advanced tetrapod tracks of Synaptichnium and Rhynchosauroides were discovered in the Ikakern Formation of the Argana Basin, dated by pareiasaur remains as Wuchiapingian. Red beds of similar type are known in Europe, for example, from the Late Permian of the Lodève Basin. They originated during the Wuchiapingian wet phase.
Species of the Devonian aulacopleurid trilobite Cyphaspides from southeastern Morocco
Journal of Paleontology
Three new species of Cyphaspides are proposed: C. ammari, C. nicoleae, and C. pankowskiorum. These species are based on specimens obtained from Middle Devonian (Eifelian) strata of the Bou Tchrafine Group, near Erfoud, in the Province of Errachidia, southeastern Morocco. The present contribution enhances our knowledge of Cyphaspides by providing details of three new species that are based on well-preserved, complete, and articulated types. The genus Cyphaspides is discussed, and an emended diagnosis is provided. The paleobiogeography, ontogeny, and relationships of the genus are discussed.UUID: http://zoobank.org/4a7aab8f-8c8e-4498-9cc2-6f8c69b85213