Abstract

Recent investigations of the upper Oligocene Sub-Numidian Claystone (Numidian Formation) in the Ouarsenis Mountains of the Tell Atlas in northwestern Algeria have revealed abundant examples of the trace fossil Tubulichnium (= Tubotomaculum) mediterranensis containing isolated faecal pellets. Two coprolite ichnospecies have been identified (1) cylindrical, oblong to oval pill-shaped pellets assigned to Coprulus oblongus; and (2) rod-shaped pellets attributed to Coprulus bacilliformis. Comparisons with other trace fossils from coeval peri-Mediterranean successions suggest that C. oblongus is a key feature in the identification of T. mediterraneum. The preservation of these coprolites may be due to bacterial mediation. This is the first report of the ichnogenus Coprulus from Algeria. Mohammed Nadir Naimi* [mohammednadirnaimi@gmail.com], Laboratoire de Géodynamique des Bassins Sédimentaires et des Orogènes, FSTGAT, Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediene, B.P. 32 El Alia, Bab Ezzouar 16111, Algiers, Algeria Chikh Younes Mahboubi [mahboubi_32@hotmail.com], Laboratoire de Paléontologie Stratigraphique et Paléoenvironnement (LPSP), FSTU, Université Oran 2 Mohamed Ben Ahmed, 1524 El M’naouer, 31000 Oran, Algeria.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.