Carboniferous brachiopod communities from Wadi Araba, western side of the Gulf of Suez, Egypt: Paleontology, paleoecology and paleobiogeography

Abstract

Rod El-Hamal area was considered as one of the most important outcrops in the western side of the Gulf of Suez where the Carboniferous marine sediments are exposed. 12 brachiopod species fauna identified from the late Carboniferous Rod El-Hamal Formation in the study area. The identified brachiopod fauna is dominated by diverse species of Athyridida, Orthotetida, and Productida. Composita is the dominant brachiopod genus that represented by six species. The bryozoans are also diverse group including Cystoporata, Fistuliporoida, Trepostomata and Fenestrata, which are known from the limestone beds in Rod El-Hamal Formation. Grainstone and Rudstone are the main microfacies in the bryozoa-bearing limestone beds. The facies associations of Rod El-Hamal Formation show fluctuation between the carbonate and siliciclastic inner shelf. The articulated shells of the Brachiopoda display damage resulting from predation. The paleobiogeography of the benthic assemblages including brachiopods and bryozoans was highlighted.