A. H. Rahiminejad; M. Yazdi; A. R. Ashouri
Abstract
Shallow marine gastropod assemblages of the recently discovered marine sequence of the Bakhtiari clastic succession in the Zagros Basin are studied in the Shalamzar area. The systematic studies of the fauna yielded 21 genera and 9 species of gastropods from 20 families distributed in 7 facies. The molluscs ...
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Shallow marine gastropod assemblages of the recently discovered marine sequence of the Bakhtiari clastic succession in the Zagros Basin are studied in the Shalamzar area. The systematic studies of the fauna yielded 21 genera and 9 species of gastropods from 20 families distributed in 7 facies. The molluscs are from the following families: Turritellidae, Cerithiidae,Volutidae, Ranellidae, Strombidae, Muricidae, Conidae , Naticidae, Mitridae(?), Olividae, Cancellariidae, Triforidae, Melongenidae, Aclididae, Plesiotrochidae,Cypredae Sorbeoconcha,Trochidae , Turbinidae and Buccinidae (?)indet. The abundant species and genera belong to the families of Cerithiidae, Strombidae, Turritellidae and Turbinidae. Detailed paleoecology interpretation was made based on the trophic habitats of the gastropods. The habitats are distinguished as four types of trophic categories including Carnivores, Herbivores, Omnivores and facultative mobile suspension feeders. The herbivorous gastropods dominate the faunal assemblages due to the high accumulation of detritus and plant organic matters within the sediments. The distribution of the gastropods is controlled by their trophic habitats that directly depend on the environmental changes such as water turbulence, sedimentation and suspension rates, detritus input, and water energy. The gastropod assemblages describe an environment ranging from the higher energy intertidal zone to the deeper and lower stage of an oligophotic zone within a middle ramp. The test size of the molluscs was also controlled by the ecological factors. Abundant nutrients as well as deeper basin conditions decreased the shell size of some groups of gastropods. The larger shells appeared in the shallower depth zones with a lack of nutrients. The occurrence of the mentioned gastropod taxa and Miocene faunistic relationship with adjacent bioprovinces represent a faunal exchange between the Zagros basin and Mediterranean and Parathethys seaway by a shallow pathway trough. A weak marine connectivity with Caribbean Sea and Indian Ocean is also reflected by the faunal groups.