Tethyan Non-rudist Associations from the Cretaceous Rudist Formations in Northern Egypt

Abstract

The Cretaceous marine successions of North Egypt are rich in rudists and their associations. The Egyptian rudists are generally recorded from late Barremian to Turonian carbonate ramp sections in North Egypt. These sections are best exposed in Sinai with limited occurrence in north Eastern and Western Deserts. Approximately 65 rudist species were recorded during this interval. These rudists were reported in thirteen levels and eight sub-levels alternated or associated with fossiliferous horizons rich in algae, benthic foraminifera, ostracodes, coralline sponges, corals, bivalves, gastropods, ammonites, brachiopods, bryozoan and echinoids. The study is a focus on stratigraphic distribution, occurrences and paleoecology of algae, orbitolinid and alveolinid foraminifera, coralline sponges, corals, Chondrodonta, oysters, nerineids and actaeonellids. The majority of the non-rudist associations occur as banks or biostromes.