GEOLOGICA CARPATHICA, 53, 5, BRATISLAVA, OCTOBER 2002
327 — 332
URGONIAN (EARLY CRETACEOUS) ECHINOIDS
OF THE MIRDITA ZONE (SOUTHEAST ALBANIA)
LUFTULA H. PEZA and JIŘÍ ŽÍTT
Institute of Geology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Rozvojová 135, 165 00 Praha 6, Czech Republic;
peza@gli.cas.cz, zitt@gli.cas.cz
(Manuscript received January 29, 2002; accepted in revised form June 18, 2002)
Abstract: Remains of regular echinoids are described for the first time from Urgonian (Barremian—Aptian) strata of the
central and southern Mirdita Zone (Albania). Based on spines, five species are distinguished, “Cidaris” strombecki
Desor, ?Hirudocidaris gr. uniformis (Sorignet), “Cidaris” sp. 1, sp. 2 and sp. 3. Extremely rare coronal plates here
described as “Cidaris” sp. are associated. The taphonomic features of these echinoid remains, the character of the
associated fauna and the lithology correspond well to the shallow-water nature of the settings studied.
Key words: Albania, Lower Cretaceous, Mirdita Zone, regular echinoids, taphonomy.
Introduction
Between 1980 and 1985, one of the authors (LHP) collaborat-
ed in a project on the stratigraphy and paleogeography of Up-
per Jurassic-Cretaceous deposits of the Mirdita Zone, fi-
nanced by the Ministry of Geology and Mines of Albania
(Peza & Garori 1985; Peza 1988). Numerous outcrops in
these Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous deposits were studied
within this project, which also resulted in a large collection of
macrofossils (molluscs, corals, amongst other groups) includ-
ing a small set of echinoid remains. Echinoids are exception-
ally rare in these sections and are restricted to Urgonian (Bar-
remian—Aptian) strata. The poor preservation of this material,
consisting prevailingly of primary spines, preclude firm taxo-
nomic assignments and, for this reason, most taxa are here re-
ferred to in open nomenclature. Despite these uncertainties,
these are the first echinoids to be recorded from the Lower
Cretaceous of Albania. All specimens are deposited in the In-
stitute of Geology, Tirana (L. H. Peza collection).
Geographic and geologic setting
The Mirdita Zone is situated in the eastern part of Albania
(Fig. 1), and comprises Paleozoic, Triassic, Jurassic, Creta-
ceous, Tertiary and Quaternary deposits. Ophiolites of Middle
Jurassic age occupy an important position in the Mirdita
Zone. Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous deposits are widely dis-
tributed in this zone and form the sedimentary cover of the
ophiolites. These sediments are subdivided into four cycles,
which rest transgressively over one another, namely:
– the Kimmeridgian-Valanginian cycle, consisting of basal
conglomerates and pelagic deposits with Calpionella in the
upper part;
– the Barremian-Lower Turonian cycle, consisting of basal
conglomerates, followed by conglomeratic limestones and
the Urgonian type of limestones;
– the Santonian-Lower Campanian cycle, comprising lime-
stones;
Fig. 1. Map of Albania showing tectonic units; solid triangles refer
to sections which have yielded echinoid material: 1 – Farreti, 2
– Llënga, 3 – Voskopi, 4 – Radanj (Përroi and Omit).
328 PEZA and ŽÍTT
– and the Upper Maastrichtian-Middle Eocene cycle, repre-
sented by pelagic limestones and marls with flysch deposits of
the latest Maastrichtian and earliest Paleogene age at the top.
Prior to the start of each cycle, the Mirdita Zone emerged and
was exposed (Peza & Garori 1985; Peza 1988).
Localities
Four localities in the Mirdita Zone have yielded echinoid re-
mains (for locations see Fig. 1): 1 – Farreti near the village of
Farreti (Fig. 2), 2 – Llënga near the village of Llënga (Fig. 3),
3 – Voskopi west of the town of Korça (Fig. 4), and 4 – two
outcrops (Përroi and Omit) near Radanj, near the city of Lesk-
ovik (Fig. 5).
Systematic descriptions
Echinoidea
Cidaroida Claus, 1880
“Cidaris” strombecki Desor, 1858
(for synonymy see Smith & Wright 1989, p. 100)
Fig. 6a,b; Fig. 7.16—20
M a t e r i a l : 2 complete and 6 incomplete spines.
O c c u r r e n c e a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n : Urgonian (Barremi-
an-Aptian), Radanj (Përroi and Omit sections).
Fig. 2. Farreti section. A – conglomerates transgressively overly-
ing ophiolites; B – conglomeratic limestones; C – sandy clayey
limestones with limonitic layers; D – limestones with chert lenses
and sandy clayey limestones, both rich in fossils: gastropods (e.g.
Multiptyxis prefleuriaui (Delpey), Diptyxis munellae Kollmann &
Peza, and others), corals (e.g., Epismilia robusta (Koby), and oth-
ers) and algae (e.g., Cylindroporella sugdeni Elliot, and others)
(Peza 1988; Kollmann & Peza 1997); E – Eocene yellow sand-
stones and marls.
Fig. 3. Llënga section. A – thick-bedded to massive conglomerates
trangressively overlying ophiolites (clasts representing mainly ophi-
olite, as well as Triassic, Upper Jurassic and Neocomian lime-
stones); B – limestones with rudists; C – sandstones; D – lime-
stones with sandstone intercalations; E – limestones (rich faunas
occur in units D and E, for example, nerineacean gastropods Aptix-
iella libanotica (Delpey), Nerinea vogti Mortillet, and microfossils
Carpathoporella fontis (Patrulius), Palaeodictyoconus arabicus
(Henson), amongst others) (Peza & Garori 1985; Peza 1988); F –
Oligocene marls and sandstones.
Fig. 4. Voskopi section. A – grey conglomerates (Barremian—Ap-
tian) transgressively overlying ophiolites (effusives and serpen-
tinites). Ophiolite pebbles prevail, and blocks of pelagic lime-
stones with ammonites and calpionellids of Kimmeridgian
—Berriasian age are present (the conglomerate matrix contains a
rich fauna, for example, the gastropod Pchelintsevia coquandi
(d’Orbigny), and corals Dimorphocaenia sp., Eugyra sp.); B –
reddish conglomerates (Aptian—Cenomanian) (Peza & Garori
1985; Peza 1988).
URGONIAN ECHINOIDS OF THE MIRDITA ZONE 329
D e s c r i p t i o n: Spines stout and tapering at both ends
with circular cross-sections. Maximum diameter lies in the
middle part (Fig. 6a,b) or in upper third (Fig. 7.18). Neck is
short and smooth, milled ring relatively acute. Base is poorly
preserved but its perforation is distinct in a single specimen.
The shaft is covered with large granules proximally, densely
arranged or in rather irregular vertical rows. These granules
may rapidly pass into ribs distally (Fig. 7.16,19), or may only
Fig. 5. Radanj (Përroi and Omit sections). A – conglomerates
covering the ophiolite bedrock and Triassic limestones; B – con-
glomeratic limestones; C – limestone (Plesioptyxis preolisipon-
ensis (Delpey) var. delpeyi Peza, Nerinea sp., and Orbitolina sp.
are the principal faunal components in units B and C; this section
has yielded most of the echinoid remains) (Peza & Garori 1985;
Peza 1988); D – Middle Eocene sandstones and other deposits.
be elongated. More massive ribs alternate with narrow ones,
which may disappear distally. The widest ribs occasionally
terminate in large tubercles or blunt processes distally (Fig.
7.16), or coalesce into a relatively sharp point (Fig. 6b).
R e m a r k s : “Cidaris” strombecki is known only by its
spines, which makes the generic assignment uncertain (Smith
& Wright 1989). All material referred to in the literature
comes from the Albian—Cenomanian of England, France and
Germany (see, e.g. Cotteau 1862; Geinitz 1871; Smith &
Wright 1989; Wright 1864). The bilaterally symmetrical spine
in Fig. 7.20 is only provisionally assigned to “C.” strombecki
on account of the poor preservation of its surface ornament.
? Hirudocidaris gr. uniformis (Sorignet, 1850)
Fig. 7.9,10,13
M a t e r i a l : 6 spine fragments.
O c c u r r e n c e a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n : Urgonian (Barremi-
an—Aptian), Radanj, Voskopi, Llënga and Farreti sections.
D e s c r i p t i o n : Spines oblong and cylindrical of circular
cross-section. Neck is very short and shaft longitudinally
ribbed. The most massive ribs extend from the tip of spine
down to the base (Fig. 7.13), while thinner secondary ones oc-
cur between the middle shaft and neck. Some ribs occasionally
coalesce distally reflecting tapering of the spine. Base poorly
preserved.
R e m a r k s : Because of poor preservation, assignment of
these spines is uncertain. The species H. uniformis (Sorignet)
comprising the uniformis and essenensis subspecies is known
from the Upper Albian—Middle Cenomanian of England
(Smith et al. 1988; Smith & Wright 1989) and the Cenomanian
of France and Germany (Lambert 1894; Schlüter 1892; for ad-
ditional references see Smith & Wright 1989). Spines de-
Fig. 6. Echinoid spines and test plates of the Mirdita Zone. a, b – “Cidaris” strombecki Desor (Nos. 238/1, 238/3); c—e – “Cidaris” sp.
3 (Nos. 238/2, 1296/2, 1296/1); f, g – “Cidaris” sp. (Nos. 238/4, 238/5). Barremian—Aptian, Radanj (a—c, f, g), Llënga (d, e). Scale bar =
10 mm. All specimens in L. H. Peza collection at the Institute of Geology, Tirana.
330 PEZA and ŽÍTT
Fig. 7. Urgonian echinoid spines of the Mirdita Zone. 1—6 – “Cidaris” sp. 1 (1—4 – Nos. 235/1— 235/4; 5, 6 – Nos. 238/6, 238/7); 7,
8, 11, 12, 14, 15 – “Cidaris “ sp. 2 ( Nos. 238/8— 238/13); 9, 10, 13 – ? Hirudocidaris gr. uniformis (Sorignet) (Nos. 238/14 —238/16);
16—20 – “Cidaris” strombecki Desor (Nos. 238/17—238/21). Scale bar = 10 mm. All specimens are from Barremian-Aptian deposits at
Radanj (Geological Institute, Tirana, collection of L. H. Peza).
URGONIAN ECHINOIDS OF THE MIRDITA ZONE 331
scribed as Cidaris lardyi Desor, 1856 (see Mitrović-Petrović
1977 – Pl. 1: Fig. 7, except central specimen) from the Neo-
comian and Urgonian (Barremian—Aptian) of Serbia also are
similar, but longitudinal ribs are composed of granules (for a
new revision of this species see Smith & Wright 1989).
“Cidaris” sp. 1
Fig. 7.1—6
M a t e r i a l : 8 more or less fragmentary spines.
O c c u r r e n c e a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n: Urgonian (Barremi-
an—Aptian), Radanj (Përroi and Omit sections).
D e s c r i p t i o n : Cylindrical spines of circular cross-sec-
tions, with long narrow shafts and slightly expressed short
necks and low collars. Base of the only better preserved speci-
men has a crenulate margin and shallow acetabulum. Shaft is
covered with many small granules arranged in longitudinal se-
ries, distally coalescing into thin ribs.
R e m a r k s : This species partly resembles Cidaris lardyi
Desor, 1856 from the Lower Cretaceous (Urgonian) of Swit-
zerland (see e.g. de Loriol 1873) from which it differs in its
less pronounced shaft ornament. Similar specimens are also
known from the Neocomian and Urgonian (Barremian—Ap-
tian) of Serbia (see Mitrović-Petrović 1977 – Pl. 1: Fig. 7,
central specimen) and the Aptian of Bulgaria (Dimitrova 1979
– Pl. 1: Fig. 10a,b; text-Fig. A, 4). The studied spines differ
from those of the Upper Aptian of Faringdon, England (Smith
& Wright 1989 – Pl. 11: Figs. 7—9), mainly by their denser
granulation and slight ribs developed only distally.
“Cidaris” sp. 2
Fig. 7.7,8,11,12,14,15
M a t e r i a l : 20 spines and fragments.
O c c u r r e n c e a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n : Urgonian (Barremi-
an—Aptian), Radanj, Voskopi, Llënga, and Farreti sections.
D e s c r i p t i o n : Spines are mostly glandiform and bulbous,
with longitudinal ribs in central and distal portions. The ribs
are less pronounced than in ?Hirudocidaris (see above) and
pass into faint granules on the neck. Shaft not sharply demar-
cated from neck. Bases of spines (Fig. 7.12,15) are poorly pre-
served.
R e m a r k s : The spines are reminiscent of those of Cidaris
ryzacantha Gras (see Mitrović-Petrović 1977 – Pl. 1: Fig. 8)
from the Neocomian and Urgonian (Barremian-Aptian) of
Serbia or of those of e.g., Cidaris nesselsdorfensis de Loriol
from the Lower Cretaceous (Valanginian, Hauterivian) of
Štramberk in the Moravian part of the Outer Western Car-
pathians (see de Loriol 1901).
“Cidaris” sp. 3
Fig. 6c,d,e
M a t e r i a l : One complete and two incomplete spines.
O c c u r r e n c e a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n : Urgonian (Barremi-
an—Aptian), Radanj and Llënga sections.
D e s c r i p t i o n : Shaft stout, bulbous with maximum diame-
ter at midlength, tapering to both ends, circular in cross-sec-
tion. Basal part poorly preserved. Shaft covered by densely
packed, small granules, increasing in size distally and ar-
ranged into dense, poorly defined longitudinal rows.
R e m a r k s : These specimens (especially the best-pre-
served one in Fig. 6e) appear to be closely similar to the spine
from the Lower Cretaceous of Serbia described as Pseudoci-
daris sp. (Mitrović-Petrović 1977 – Pl. 2: Fig. 5).
“Cidaris” sp.
Fig. 6f,g
M a t e r i a l : 2 isolated coronal plates.
O c c u r r e n c e a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n : Urgonian (Barremi-
an—Aptian), Radanj (Përroi and Omit sections).
D e s c r i p t i o n : Interambulacral plates with centrally lying
tubercle, which is perforate and slightly crenulate. Surround-
ing areole circular, moderately sunken. Scrobicular circle
composed of about 12 larger tubercles bordering the areole
and some smaller tubercles in between. The remainder of the
plate surface regularly rimming the scrobicule is covered by
densely packed miliary tubercles.
R e m a r k s : Unlike the spines, these plates are not herein
classified as independent species because their pertinence to
some of the described spines is highly probable. The poor
preservation of the plate in Fig. 6g is probably due to diagenet-
ic dissolution and recent weathering rather than the result of
taphonomic processes.
Conclusions
1. In the present paper, the first echinoid remains ever to be
recorded from the Lower Cretaceous of Albania are described.
They were collected from Urgonian (Barremian—Aptian) de-
posits of the central and southern parts of the Mirdita Zone.
2. Echinoid remains are very rare there and their preserva-
tion is such that detailed taxonomic treatment is virtually im-
possible. Therefore, open nomenclature is favoured for most
of them.
3. Echinoids are represented by dissociated skeletal parts,
that is spines and, more rarely, coronal plates. Based on these
spines, five species of regular echinoids (“Cidaris” strombec-
ki Desor, ?Hirudocidaris gr. uniformis (Sorignet), “Cidaris”
sp. 1., sp. 2 and sp. 3) are distinguished. Coronal plates, re-
ferred here to “Cidaris” sp., may belong to one of the species
defined on the basis of spines.
4. The material described indicates complete post-mortem
disarticulation of echinoid tests and relatively short-distance
transportation and rapid burial (frequent fragmentation but
only slight abrasion and relatively good preservation of sur-
face ornament) of their remains. These taphonomic features fit
well with the shallow-water conditions under which the Barre-
mian-Aptian rocks of the Mirdita Zone were deposited (Peza
& Garori 1985; Peza 1988).
Acknowledgement: We thank John W.M. Jagt from the Nat-
ural History Museum Maastrich, for insightful comments to
the manuscript of this paper.
332 PEZA and ŽÍTT
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