The Campaniane Maastrichtian of the Aures basin, Algeria Paleobiogeographical distrubution of Ostracods

Citation:

Sana B, Abdelouahab Y. The Campaniane Maastrichtian of the Aures basin, Algeria Paleobiogeographical distrubution of Ostracods. Elsevier Cretaceous ResearchElsevier Cretaceous Research. 2016;Vol. 58 :pp.86-107.

Date Published:

2016

Abstract:

A detailed biostratigraphic study of four sections (El Kantara, Menaa, Tighanimine and El Gaâga) in the Campanian–Maastrichtian of the Aures Basin in Algeria allows the identification of 109 ostracod species belonging to 50 genera. From a biochronostratigraphic point of view, none of the identified ostracod assemblages are typically restricted to the Campanian or to the Maastrichtian, but rather characterize a range covering the Campanian–Maastrichtian. As regards the paleobiogeography, the presence of species in common between Algeria and other countries or regions enables us to compile four maps showing the distribution of two provinces that developed during the Santonian-Paleocene, i) the South-West and South Tethyan Margins Province, including North Africa, the Middle East and Arabian Peninsula, and ii) the East Atlantic Margin Province, bordering West and Central-West Africa. We can also recognize relationships between the different regions making up these provinces, which remained under more or less arid, subtropical to tropical climates, with ostracods migrating according to the directions of ocean currents during the Late Cretaceous. The dispersal of the ostracods reflects marine communication between these provinces and India, the southern USA and Jamaica, Brazil and Europe.