Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

A Late Devonian (Frasnian) bryozoan fauna from central Iran

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A bryozoan fauna from the Late Devonian (Frasnian) of the Bahram Formation of the Zefreh section in central Iran contains four species: three trepostomes and one rhabdomesine cryptostome. Two species are new: the trepostome Coeloclemis zefrehensis sp. nov. and the rhabdomesine cryptostome Euthyrhombopora tenuis sp. nov. The trepostome species Cyphotrypa definita Morozova, 1960 and Anomalotoechus ramosus Morozova, 1960 were recorded previously from the Upper Devonian (Frasnian) of the Kuznets Basin. The genera Coeloclemis and Euthyrhombo-pora are recorded from the Devonian for the first time. The fauna is dominated by the erect ramose Euthyrhombopora tenuis sp. nov., with rare occurrences of the massive Cyphotrypa definita Morozova, 1960. The bryozoans indicate low to moderate water energy environment of middle to outer ramp position.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adhamian, A. (2003). Middle Devonian (Givetian) conodont biostratigraphy in the Soh area, north of Esfahan, Iran. Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, 245, 183–193.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amini, Z. Z., Adabi, M. H., Burrett, C. F., & Quilty, P. G. (2004). Bryozoan distribution and growth form associations as a tool in environmental interpretation, Tasmania, Australia. Sedimentary Geology, 167(1–2), 1–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anstey, R. L., & Perry, T. G. (1970). Biometric procedures in taxonomic studies of Paleozoic bryozoans. Journal of Paleontology, 44(3), 383–398.

    Google Scholar 

  • Astrova, G. G. (1965). Morphology, history of development and systematics of the Ordovician and Silurian Bryozoa. Trudy Paleontologicheskogo Instituta Akademii Nauk SSSR, 106, 1–432 (in Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Astrova, G. G. (1978). The history of development, system, and phylogeny of the Bryozoa: order Trepostomata. Trudy Paleontologicheskogo Instituta Akademii Nauk SSSR, 169, 1–240 (in Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Astrova, G. G., & Morozova, I. P. (1956). On systematics of the order Cryptostomata. Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR, 110(4), 661–664 (in Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bahrami, A., Corradini, C., & Yazdi, M. (2011a). Upper Devonian-lower carboniferous conodont biostratigraphy in the Shotori Range, Tabas area, Central-East Iran Microplate. Bollettino della Società Paleontologia Italiana, 50(1), 35–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bahrami, A., Gholamalian, H., Corradini, C., & Yazdi, M. (2011b). Upper Devonian conodont biostratigraphy of Shams Abad section, Kerman Province, Iran. Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia, 117(2), 199–209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bahrami, A., Boncheva, I., Königshof, P., Yazdi, M., & Ebrahimi Khan-Abadi, A. (2014). Conodonts of the Mississippian/Pennsylvanian boundary interval in central Iran. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 92, 187–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bahrami, A., Königshof, P., Boncheva, I., Tabatabaei, A. S., Yazdi, M., & Safari, Z. (2015). Middle Devonian Givetian) conodonts from the northern margin of Gondwana (Soh and Natanz regions, north-west Isfahan, central Iran): biostratigraphy and palaeoenvironmental implications. Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 95(4), 555–577. doi:10.1007/s12549-015-0205-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bassler, R. S. (1952). Taxonomic notes on genera of fossil and Recent Bryozoa. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences, 42, 381–385.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berberian, M., & King, G. C. P. (1981). Towards a paleogeography and tectonic evolution of Iran. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 18, 210–265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boardman, R. S. (1960). Trepostomatous Bryozoa of the Hamilton group of New York State. Geological Survey Professional Paper, 340, 1–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borg, F. (1926). Studies on Recent cyclostomatous Bryozoa. Zoologiska Bidrag från Uppsala, 10, 181–507.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brice, D., Jenny, J., Stamfli, G., & Bigey, F. (1978). Le Devonian de l’Elbourz oriental: stratigraphie, paléontologie (brachiopodes et bryozoaires), paléogeographie. Rivista Italiana di Paleontogia e Stratigrafia, 84, 1–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, H. (1939). Trepostomatous Bryozoa from the Traverse group of Michigan. Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan, 5(10), 171–270.

  • Ehrenberg, C.G. (1831). Symbolae Physicae, seu Icones et descptiones Corporum Naturalium novorum aut minus cognitorum, quae ex itineribus per Libyam, Aegiptum, Nubiam, Dongalaam, Syriam, Arabiam et Habessiniam, studia annis 1820–25, redirent. Pars Zoologica, 4, Animalia Evertebrata exclusis Insectis. Berolini, 10 pls.

  • Ernst, A., & Mohammadi, M. (2009). Stenolaemate Bryozoans from the Geirud Formation (Upper Devonian/Lower Carboniferous) of Central Alborz (Iran). Paläontologische Zeitschrift, 83, 439–447.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ernst, A., Tolokonnikova, Z., & Yarahmadzahi, H. (2012). Upper Devonian (Frasnian) Bryozoa from the Shishtu Formation of Niaz area (northeast Iran). Revue de Paléobiologie, 31(1), 1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gholamalian, H. (2003). Age-implication of Late Devonian conodonts from the Chah-Riseh area, northeast of Esfahan, central Iran. Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, 245, 201–207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gholamalian, H. (2005). New data on the Famennian conodonts from Esfahan area, central Iran. Iranian International Journal of Sciences, 6(1), 27–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gholamalian, H. (2007). Conodont biostratigraphy of the Frasnian-Famennian boundary in the Esfahan and Tabas areas, central Iran. Geology Quarterly, 51, 453–476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Girty, G. H. (1911). On some new genera and species of Pennsylvanian fossils from the Wewoka Formation of Oklahoma. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 21, 119–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gorjunova, R. V., & Lavrentjeva, V. D. (2007). New bryozoans from the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary beds of Transcaucasia. Paleontological Journal, 81(2), 146–155.

  • Hageman, S. J. (1993). Effects of nonnormality on studies of the morphological variation of a rhabdomesine bryozoan, Streblotrypa (Streblascopora) prisca (Gabb and Horn). The University of Kansas Paleontological Contributions, 4, 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Königshof, P., Carmichael, SK., Water, J., Jansen, U., Bahrami, A., Boncheva, I. & Yazdi, M. (2017). Palaeoenvironmental study of the Palaeotethys Ocean: the Givetian-Frasnian boundary of a shallow-marine environment using combined facies analysis and geochemistry (Zefreh section/central Iran). In: B. Mottequin, L. Slavik, & P. Königshof (Eds.) Climate change and biodiversity patterns in the mid-Palaeozoic. Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments 97(3). doi:10.1007/s12549-016-0253-0 (this issue).

  • Ma, J.-Y., Buttler C.J., & Taylor, P.D. (2014). Cladistic analysis of the ‘trepostome’ Suborder Esthonioporina and the systematics of Palaeozoic bryozoans. In: A. Rosso, P.N. Wyse Jackson, & J.S. Porter (Eds.), Bryozoan Studies 2013. Studi Trentini di Scienze Naturali 94, 153–161.

  • Meek, F. B. (1872). Report on the paleontology of eastern Nebraska. In F. V. Hayden (Ed.), Final report on the United States Geological Survey of Nebraska and portions of adjacent territories (pp. 81–239). Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mistiaen, B., Gholamalian, H., Gourvennec, R., Plusquellec, Y., Bigey, F., Brice, D., Feist, M., Feist, R., Ghobadipour, M., Kebriaee, M., Milhau, B., Nicollin, J.-P., Rohart, J.-C., Vachard, D., & Yazdi, M. (2000). Preliminary data on the Upper Devonian (Frasnian, Famennian) and Permian fauna and flora from the Chariseh area (Esfahan province, central Iran). Annales de la Societe Geologique du Nord, 2ne Serie, 8, 93–102.

  • Morozova, I. P. (1960). Devonskie mshanki Minusinskikh i Kuznetskoy kotlovin [Devonian Bryozoa of the Minusinsk and Kuznetsk basins]. Trudy Paleontologischeskogo Instituta Akademii Nauk SSSR, 86, 1–207 (in Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Motaghi, K., Tatar, M., Priestley, K., Romanelli, F., Doglioni, C., & Panza, G. F. (2015). The deep structure of the Iranian Plateau. Gondwana Research, 28(1), 407–418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, C. S., Hyden, F. M., Keane, S. L., Leask, W. L., & Gordon, D. P. (1988). Application of bryozoan zoarial growth-form studies in facies analysis of non-tropical carbonate deposits in New Zealand. Sedimentary Geology, 60, 301–322.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scotese, C.R. (2001). Atlas of Earth history. Paleogeography, vol. 1. Paleomap Project, Arlington, Texas, 52 pp.

  • Soffel, H. C., & Förster, H. G. (1984). Polar wander path of the Central-East-Iran Microplate including new results. Neues Jahrbuch Geologie und Paläontologie Abhandlungen, 168(2/3), 165–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trizna, V. B. (1958). Early Carboniferous bryozoans of the Kuznets depression. Trudy Vsesoyuznogo Neftanogo Nauchno-Issledovatel’skogo Geologo-Razvedochnogo Institua, 122, 1–436 (in Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Troizkaya, T. D. (1968). Devonian Bryozoa of Kazakhstan. Moscow: Nedra (in Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulrich, E. O. (1882). American Palaeozoic Bryozoa. The Journal of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History, 5(121–175), 233–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulrich, E.O. (1883). American Palaeozoic Bryozoa. The Journal of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History, 6, 82–92; 148–168; 245–279.

  • Ulrich, E.O. (1893). On Lower Silurian Bryozoa of Minnesota. Minnesota Geology and Natural History Survey Final Report, No. 3, 96–332.

  • Ulrich, E. O., & Bassler, R. S. (1904). A revision of the Palaeozoic Bryozoa. Part II: on genera and species of Trepostomata. Bulletin of the US Geological Survey, 173, 15–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vine, G.R. (1884). Fourth report of the Committee consisting of Dr. H. R. Sorby and Mr. G. R. Vine, appointed for the purpose of reporting on fossil Polyzoa. Reports of the 53rd Meeting of the British Association for the Advancement in Sciences, 161–209.

  • Volkova, K. N. (1974). Devonian Bryozoa from the South-East Altai. Trudy Instituta Geologii i Geofiziki, 199, 1–182 (in Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Waagen, W., & Wentzel, J. (1886). Salt–range fossils. Productus–limestone fossils: Coelenterata. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India, Paleontologica Indica, Series, 13(1), 835–924.

  • Weddige, K. (1984). Externally controlled late Paleozoic events of the Iran Plate. Neues Jahrbuch Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen, 168, 278–286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wendt, J., Kaufmann, B., Belka, Z., Farsan, N., & Bavandpur, A. K. (2005). Devonian/Lower Carboniferous stratigraphy, facies patterns and palaeogeography of Iran. Part II. Northern and central Iran. Acta Geologica Polonica, 55(1), 31–97.

  • Yang, J., Hu, Z., & Xia, F. (1988). Bryozoans from the Late Devonian and Early Carboniferous of central Hunan. Palaeontologica Sinica, New Series B, 174(23), 1–197.

  • Yazdi, M. (1999). Late Devonian-Carboniferous conodonts from Eastern Iran. Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia, 105(2), 167–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yazdi, M., & Turner, S. (2000). Late Devonian and Carboniferous vertebrates from the Shishtu and Sardar formations of the Shotori Range, Iran. In R. Mawson, J.A. Talent, J.A. Long (Eds.), Mid-Palaeozoic biota and biogeography. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement, 58, 223–240.

  • Yazdi, M., Ghobadipour, M., & Mawson, R. (2000). Late Devonian conodonts from the Chah-Riseh area, central Iran. Record of the Western Australian Museum Supplement, 58, 179–189.

Download references

Acknowledgements

Andrej Ernst thanks the Deutsche Forschungsge-meinschaft (DFG) for financial support (project ER 278/6.1). Peter Königshof acknowledges the funding by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG Project KO-1622/16-1). Jana Anger (Senckenberg) is thanked for preparing the thin sections. Ali Bahrami thanks the University of Isfahan, Iran, for financial and logistic supports. This is a contribution to IGCP 596 (Climate change and biodiversity patterns in the Mid-Palaeozoic – Early Devonian to Early Carboniferous). We thank the reviewers Patrick N. Wyse Jackson and Catherine Reid for valuable comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrej Ernst.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

This article is a contribution to the special issue “Climate change and biodiversity patterns in the mid-Palaeozoic”

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ernst, A., Königshof, P., Bahrami, A. et al. A Late Devonian (Frasnian) bryozoan fauna from central Iran. Palaeobio Palaeoenv 97, 541–552 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12549-016-0269-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12549-016-0269-5

Keywords

Navigation