Late Cretaceous Echinoids from the Seymareh member (Lopha Limestone member), KabirKuh Anticline, Southwest of Iran

Abstract

In the present study, Kabir kuh Section, related to the Seymareh or Lopha Limestone member (Gurpi Formation) have been Selected. The member has yielded a rich echinoid fauna and 21 species of Echinoid belonging to 14 genera are recognized and described. The Kabir Kuh section yielded two regular echinoid taxa: Salenia nutrix and Goniopygus superbus, one holectypoid taxa: Coptodiscus noemiae, two conulid taxa: Conulus douvillei and Globator bleicheri, six cassiduloid taxa: Parapygus cotteauanus, Parapygus declivis, Parapygus inflatus, Parapygus vassilini, Vologesia tataosi and Pygurostoma morgani, one holasteroid species: Hemipneustes persicus and nine spatangoid taxa: Iraniaster douvillei, I. morgani, I. nodulosus, Hemiaster noemiae, Hemiaster opimus, Mecaster kanepanensis, Mecaster longus, Proraster morgani and Epiaster lamberti, that indicating Campanian age. Some of this taxa are known from the similar age Campanian of Saudi Arabia such as: Coptodiscus noemiae, and Globator bleicheri and Salenia nutrix comes from Maastrichtian deposits of UAE and Oman and also some specimen are reported from Campanian deposits of Afghanistan such as: Hemiaster noemiae, H. opimus and Parapygus vassilini.