First occurrence of the Ichnogenus Selenichnites from the Middle Jurassic Strata of the Skoura Syncline (Middle Atlas, Morocco); Palaeoecological and palaeoenvironmental context

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• 作者：Mostafa Oukassou^a ; ^{mostafa.oukassou@gmail.com" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author} ; ^{mostafa.oukassou@univh2m.ma" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author} ; André ; Charriè ; re^b ; Abdelouahed Lagnaoui^c ; ^d ; Stacey Gibb^e ; André ; Michard^f ; Omar Saddiqi^g
• 关键词：Selenichnites ; Limulids ; Subtidal palaeoenvironment ; Middle Jurassic ; Skoura ; Middle Atlas
• 刊名：Comptes Rendus Palevol
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：April-June 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：15
• 期：5
• 页码：461-471
• 全文大小：5375 K

文摘

Mesozoic strata of North Africa yield the first occurrence of the ichnogenus Selenichnites. The trace fossils occur on the top surface of a sandy carbonate deposit in the axis of a Middle Atlas syncline (Skoura Syncline, NE Morocco). The ichnofossil-bearing horizon belongs to the Late Bajocian–Early Bathonian Ich Timellaline/Bou Akrabene Formation. The trace fossils are crescent-shaped and the best preserved exhibits a posterior central axial impression (possible telson tail impression). They are interpreted as feeding burrows (fodinichnia) or hiding depressions of Xiphosurids or Limulids (horseshoe crabs) on a sandy carbonate substrate beneath a veneer of muddy deposits. The sedimentological character suggests a relatively protected shallow water subtidal palaeoenvironment preceding the Bathonian regression of the Atlas domain. This discovery provides the first evidence of xiphosurans or xiphosuran-like organisms inhabiting the southern shores of the Tethys in the Middle Jurassic.