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406135

Taxonomy, Paleoecology and Paleobiogeography of the Middle Eocene Nautiloid Cephalopods from the Midawara Formation, Fayum, Egypt

Article

Last updated: 01 Feb 2025

Subjects

-

Tags

Geology and its applications

Abstract

This paper focuses on the nautiloid fauna of the Middle Eocene (Lutetian) Midawara Formation in the Fayum Depression, Egypt. Four species belonging to four genera were identified: Euciphoceras regale, Eutrephoceras (Simplicioceras) centrale, Aturoidea parkinsoni, and Deltoidonautilus sowerbyi. Two species of them (E. regale and D. sowerbyi) are recorded for the first time in Egypt. Paleoecologic analysis reveals that these nautiloids were deposited in a shallow-marine environment and experienced various diagenetic processes. Evidence of abrasion, bioerosion, and encrustations suggests limited post-mortem transportation. Paleoecological reconstruction indicates a nekton-benthic lifestyle for these nautiloids. Furthermore, the presence of rhyncholites (calcic jaws of cephalopods) indicated that these nautiloids inhabited shallow-water areas, and most likely died during nocturnal migrations. Paleogeography of the studied nautiloid in the Lutetian Stage shows a widespread distribution, adaptability and resilience in diverse marine environments across the Tethys Sea, Africa, Asia and Europe. The co-occurrences of predators (such as whales, sharks, gastropods and cephalopods) and scavengers (e.g., crabs) indicate a complex food web and the prosperity of marine life. The significant turnover of the abundance and diversity of nautiloid assemblage from Lutetian to Bartonian ages may be corresponded to severe environmental conditions that dominate during brief warming event of the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO).

DOI

10.21608/sjdfs.2025.333212.1195

Keywords

Eocene, Lutetian, Paleoecology, Paleobiogeography, Tethys

Authors

First Name

Soad

Last Name

Raafat

MiddleName

Ahmed

Affiliation

Geology Department, Faculty of science, Damietta University

Email

soadrafat91@gmail.com

City

-

Orcid

0000-0001-8935-9252

First Name

Mahmoud

Last Name

Kora

MiddleName

Ahmed

Affiliation

Department of Geology, Mansoura University, Mansoura

Email

kora@mans.edu.eg

City

-

Orcid

0000-0001-6949-8060

First Name

Zaki

Last Name

Abdel-Fattah

MiddleName

Ali

Affiliation

Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta City, Egypt

Email

zabdelfattah@gmail.com

City

Damietta

Orcid

-

Volume

14

Article Issue

3

Related Issue

53216

Issue Date

2024-12-01

Receive Date

2024-11-04

Publish Date

2024-12-01

Page Start

25

Page End

41

Print ISSN

2314-8594

Online ISSN

2314-8616

Link

https://sjdfs.journals.ekb.eg/article_406135.html

Detail API

http://journals.ekb.eg?_action=service&article_code=406135

Order

406,135

Type

Original articles

Type Code

2,045

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Scientific Journal for Damietta Faculty of Science

Publication Link

https://sjdfs.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Taxonomy, Paleoecology and Paleobiogeography of the Middle Eocene Nautiloid Cephalopods from the Midawara Formation, Fayum, Egypt

Details

Type

Article

Created At

01 Feb 2025