Occurrence of the Late Cretaceous belemnite Belemnitella in the Arabian Plate (Hakkari, SE Turkey) and its palaeogeographic significance

Abstract

Two incomplete rostra belonging to the Late Cretaceous belemnite genus Belemnitella have recently been recorded from the Arabian Plate (Tethyan Realm) and document the southernmost extent of migration in the Late Cretaceous belemnite family Belemnitellidae. The rostra were collected from argillaceous limestones belonging to the Lower Member of the Germav Formation (Late Campanian–Maastrichtian), the horizon in question being dated by benthic and planktic foraminifera as Late Campanian. This belemnitellid occurrence in the Arabian Plate in the Late Campanian suggests a previously unknown migration route connecting the Boreal Realm in the north with the Tethyan carbonate platform areas in the south. Both rostra are tentatively assigned to Belemnitella sp. cf. B. ex. gr. mucronata. The smaller and more complete rostrum probably represents an adolescent individual, suggesting the existence of a breeding population.