The First Jurassic Thecideide Brachiopods from the Middle East: a New Species of Moorellina from the Upper Callovian of Hamakhtesh Hagadol, Southern Israel

Publication Date

2011

Document Type

Article

Issue

1

Abstract

The Matmor Formation is a set of late Callovian marls and limestones exposed in the Matmor Hills, Hamakhtesh Hagadol, southern Israel. It was deposited during a regional transgression which produced patch reefs across a shallow carbonate platform in this area. The thecideide brachiopods described here were part of a diverse sclerozoan community which encrusted the calcareous surfaces of sponges and corals. These brachiopods represent a new, very small species of Moorellina and the only thecideide brachiopod found in the Jurassic deposits of the Middle East. A gall-like structure interpreted as the trace of the parasitic (ascothoracid?) infestation has been recorded in one specimen of Moorellina negevensis sp. nov.

Keywords

Ascothoracida, Brachiopods, Israel, Jurassic, Moorellina, Parasites, Thecideida

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