Middle Jurassic terebratulide brachiopods from the Jordan Valley (northwestern Jordan)

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Middle Jurassic terebratulide brachiopods from the Jordan Valley, northwestern Jordan, are herein revised and systematically described and new taxa are added to the faunal list. A new genus and species Jordanithyris ardainensis gen. et sp. nov., is introduced from the upper Bathonian (Hamam Formation) and lower Callovian (Mughanniyya Formation) of the Arda section. In the upper Bathonian Hamam Formation (consisting of limestone, dolomite, alternating sandstone, and marlstone beds), Ptyctothyris quillyensis occurs. The assemblage Arabatia bihinensis, Ectyphoria sinaiensis, Ptyctothyris quillyensis, Dorsoplicathyris dorsoplicata, and Tubithyris jurayfahiensis is recorded in the lower Callovian limestone beds with marlstone interbeds of the Mughanniyya Formation. Brachiopods of the Jordanian Hamam and Mughanniyya formations can be correlated with the fauna of the Aroussiah Formation in Sinai and the Zohar and Matmor formations in southern Israel. The sedimentary environment is interpreted as the protected shallow inner shelf, and nutrient rich habitat resulting in high faunal diversity. The high degree of endemism of this fauna is yet another confirmation of the representative pronounced Middle Jurassic endemism along the southern Tethyan margin of the Ethiopian Province.