GeolCarp_Vol62_No6_575

www.geologicacarpathica.sk

GEOLOGICA CARPATHICA

, DECEMBER 2011, 62, 6, 575—578 doi: 10.2478/v10096-011-0041-8

SHORT COMMUNICATION

Mogharaeceras priscum

(Douvillé, 1916) a peculiar

Barremian ammonite (Desmoceratoidea, Barremitinae)

from Northern Sinai (Egypt)

LUC GEORGES BULOT

, JEAN-LOUIS LATIL

, JEAN VERMEULEN

and MOHAMED FOUAD ALY

EA 4234, Laboratoire de Géologie des Syst

mes et des Réservoirs Carbonatés, Centre de Sédimentologie-Paléontologie, case 67,

3 place Victor Hugo, Université de Provence, F-13331 Marseille Cedex, France; lucgbulot@aol.com

Le Maupas, 05300 Lazer, France; g.r.e.g.b@wanadoo.fr

Grand rue, 04330, Barr

me, France; jean-vermeulen@hotmail.fr

Geology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; mf_alyaly@hotmail.com

(Manuscript received July 14, 2011; accepted in revised form November 7, 2011)

Abstract: The type material of the poorly known and monotypic genus Mogharaeceras is revised. Relationship with
Pulchelliidae, Engonoceratidae and Barremitinae are discussed. All the available evidence suggests that Mogharaeceras
is an offshoot of Barremitites and that it should be classified in the Barremitinae. New material from Egypt allows us to
establish the Late Barremian age of this taxon.

Key words: Cretaceous, Upper Barremian, Egypt, Sinai, paleontology, Barremitinae, Ammonitina.

Introduction

Since the early monographic work of Douvillé (1916), a limit-
ed number of paleontological studies have been published on
the Lower Cretaceous ammonites of Northern Sinai. Most re-
cent authors have concentrated efforts on the Late Aptian and
Albian  part  of  the  successions  (Aly  &  Abdel-Gawad  2001;
Aly 2006, with references). The Barremian and Lower Aptian
faunas  are  in  need  of  a  revision.  Among  the  material  de-
scribed by Douvillé (1916), Knemiceras priscum, type species
of  the  genus  Mogharaeceras  Breistroffer,  1940,  remains  a
poorly understood species whose systematic position and age
are  uncertain.  Access  to  Douvillé’s  original  material  and  a
new  finding  published  by  Abu-Zied  (2008)  allow  a  revision
of the taxonomy of Mogharaeceras priscum.

Conventions: All dimensions of specimens are given in

millimeters: Dmax = larger measurable diameter, D = diame-
ter, Wb = whorl breadth, Wh = whorl height, U = umbilical
diameter. Figures in parentheses are dimensions as a percent-
age of the diameter at the point of measurement.

The suture terminology is that of Korn et al. (2003): E = ex-

ternal lobe; A = adventive lobe; U = umbilical lobe, I = inter-
nal lobe.

The following acronyms are used to indicate the reposito-

ries  of  specimens  mentioned  in  the  text:  FSL  –  Ecole  des
Mines  now  housed  at  Université  Claude  Bernard,  Lyon;
MNHNP – Collections de la Sorbonne, Université Pierre et
Marie  Curie,  Paris  VI,  now  housed  at  the  Muséum  National
d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris.

Systematics

Superfamily: Desmoceratoidea Zittel, 1895

Family: Desmoceratidae Zittel, 1895

Subfamily: Barremitinae Breskovski, 1977

Genus: Mogharaeceras Breistroffer, 1940

T y p e s p e c i e s : Mogharaeceras priscum (Douvillé, 1916),

by original designation of Breistroffer (1940).

O r i g i n o f t h e n a m e : From Gabal Maghara, type local-

ity of the original material.

D i a g n o s i s : Small ammonites. Shell discoidal and invo-

lute. Whorl section subogival. Ventral area narrow, slightly
grooved, bicarenate. Umbilicus small, with abrupt wall, almost
carenate umbilical edge. Flanks convex. Surface smooth except
for irregular flexuous striae and feeble flat costae. Suture sim-
ple marked by a lateral lobe divided by a very narrow and high
saddle. This saddle is trifid and dissymmetric.

C o n t e n t : As herein understood, the genus Mogharaeceras

is monospecific.

S t r a t i g r a p h i c d i s t r i b u t i o n : Despite the recent illus-

tration of the fauna associated with M. priscum at El Tourku-
manyia section (Gabal Lagama) (Abu-Zied 2008), the precise
age of the species remains poorly constrained. The assem-
blage from bed 25 includes Barremites sp. [ = Barremites diffi-
cilis d’Orb., fig. 5, N—Q, in Abu-Zied 2008], Hemihoplitidae
gen. and sp. nov. [ = Paracrioceras hammatoptychum (Uhlig),
fig. 8, C—F in Abu-Zied 2008] and a fragment of heteromorph
too poorly preserved for specific identification. The rest of the

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GEOLOGICA CARPATHICA, 2011, 62, 6, 575—578

fauna is either not illustrated or composed of stratigraphically
non  significant  Lytoceratidae.  This  view  is  confirmed  by  the
occurrence,  at  a  slightly  higher  level  (bed 33)  of  a  single
Colchidites  sp.  (Abu-Zied  2008:  fig. 8,  L—N).  In  our  opinion,
and if the specimen is not affected by post-mortem distortion,
this specimen should rather be identified as Kutatissites sp. and
indicate  a  level  close  to  the  Barremian/Aptian  boundary.  It
should also be noted that Abu-Zied (2008: fig. 8, I—J) reported
Acrioceras  zulu  Klinger  &  Kennedy,  1992  from  a  slightly
lower  level  (bed 22).  The  specimen  illustrated  superficially
matches  the  finely  ribbed  South  African  forms  (Klinger  &
Kennedy 1992: p. 111, fig. 26) but is too worn and fragmen-
tary  to  assume  identification.  In  any  case,  the  Early  Aptian
age  generally  accepted  for  Mogharaeceras  (Wright  et  al.
1996) must be dismissed, and its Late Barremian age is now
retained. By comparison with the successions of the western
Tethys,  this  assemblage  indicates  the  Late  Barremian  and
most likely a level between the Gerhardtia sartousiana Zone
and the Imerites giraudi Zone sensu Reboulet et al. (2009).

G e o g r a p h i c a l d i s t r i b u t i o n : The genus was never re-

ported outside Northern Sinai (Gabal Lagama).

S y s t e m a t i c p o s i t i o n : When introduced, Knemiceras

priscum  was  classified  as  a  Pulchelliidae  sensu  Douvillé
(1890).  In  its  original  concept,  this  family  grouped  all  the
Cretaceous genera characterized by a suture with wide, shallow
and feebly denticulate elements. Since this family was emended
(Vermeulen 2003), it is now understood as a phylletic lineage
that ranges from the base of the Upper Hauterivian (Subsaynella
sayni  Zone)  to  the  middle  part  of  the  Upper  Barremian
(Gerhardtia  sartousiana  Zone).  Despite  the  revision  of  the
Pulchelliidae,  M.  priscum  was  rarely  mentioned  in  the  litera-
ture. It was usually maintained in the Pulchelliidae. This is the
case of Wright et al. (1996) who consider Mogharaeceras as a
younger  subjective  synonym  of  Subpulchellia  Hyatt,  1903.  In
contrast  to  previous  authors,  Vermeulen  &  Klein  (2006)  con-
sider M. priscum as a primitive member of the Engonoceratidae
Hyatt, 1900 of uncertain origin.

The concept of Subpulchellia has evolved since its introduc-

tion  by  Hyatt  (1903).  As  herein  understood,  it  is  restricted  to
Subpulchellia oehlerti (Nickles, 1894) [with Subpulchellia cas-
tellanensis Hyatt, 1903 as a junior synonym] and Subpulchellia
argoti Vermeulen, 1999. Subpulchellia oehlerti shows superfi-
cial similarities with Mogharaeceras but differs in its fascicu-
late ribs that develop in ventrolateral clavi – a feature that is
unknown  in  Mogharaeceras.  Moreover,  the  steep  wall  with
sharp  umbilical  seam  of  Mogharaeceras  is  not  represented  in
Subpulchellia.

Most species formerly included by authors in Subpulchellia

were  transferred  since  to  Kotetishvilla  by  Vermeulen  (1997,
2003).  As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  general  morphology  and  orna-
mental features of M. priscum show similarities with species of
Kotetishvilla  Vermeulen,  1997  such  as  Kotetishvilla  sauvagei
(Hermite,  1879).  Nevertheless,  there  are  significant  differences
that distinguish Mogharaeceras from any species of Kotetishvilla:
the whorl section is more ogival, the venter is larger and more
concave, the external falcate ribs are less prorsiradiate and reg-
ularly spaced, and the umbilicus is always larger. Moreover, M.
priscum is characterized by its steep umbilical wall, sharp um-
bilical edge and intercalary ribs that are unknown in Kotetish-
villa.  The  suture,  though  simplified  in  both  genera,  does  not

show the same number of saddles and the first lateral saddle is
more asymmetrical in Mogharaeceras. Because of the differ-
ences listed above, Mogharaeceras cannot be included in the
Pulchelliidae and its synonymy with Subpulchellia is rejected.

The classification in the Engonoceratidae proposed by Ver-

meulen  &  Klein  (2006)  cannot  be  accepted  either.  It  should
first be noted that it is now established that the age of the older
Engonoceratidae is now well established as (?) topmost Aptian to
basal  Albian  (Bulot  2010;  Latil  2011).  Even  if  the  origin  of
Engonoceratidae  remains  unknown,  none  of  the  known  Aptian
ammonites  link  Mogharaeceras  with  the  first  Parengonoceras
Spath, 1924 ( = Platiknemiceras Bataller, 1954) and Knemiceras
Böhm,  1898  of  the  Iberian  Plate,  Arabian  Plate,  and  southern
margin of the Tethys (Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria).

From a morphological point of view Mogharaeceras shows

superficial  similarities  to  Parengonoceras.  The  feebly  orna-
mented  Parengonoceras  species,  such  as  Parengonoceras
bassei  (Bataller,  1954),  differ  mainly  by  their  early  whorls
with subtriangular whorl section and flat sides, indistinct flex-
uous ribs and suture line that is typically engonoceratid with
frilled bifid saddles.

Among the Late Barremian genera (Gerhardtia sartousiana

Zone  and  above),  Mogharaeceras  shows  similarities  with
some  Barremitinae,  such  as  Barremitites  of  the  strettostoma
(Uhlig,  1883)  group.  The  two  genera  share  the  same  type  of
ogival whorl section, involute umbilicus, steep umbilical wall
and  sharp  umbilical  edge,  and  ribbing.  The  main  differences
concern  the  shape  of  the  venter  and  the  suture  line.  Many
specimens of the Barremitites strettostoma group show a nar-
row ventral area that is similar to that of Mogharaeceras at a
younger  stage.  Development  of  a  bicarenate  concave  venter
from a sharp flat venter is not uncommon in Cretaceous am-
monites  and  has  already  been  observed  in  Oosterellidae
(Company,  1987)  and  Pulchelliidae  (Vermeulen,  2003).  The
additional  saddle  in  Mogharaeceras  priscum  could  have
evolved from the distinctive small adjacent saddle that marks
the internal side of the first lateral saddle of the Barremitinae
complex suture line. Additionally, Avram (1997) showed the
existence  of  specimens  with  simplified  suture  line  in  the
Barremitites  strettostoma  group.  As  a  consequence,  we  sug-
gest that Mogharaeceras should be included in the Barremitinae
and is most likely an offshoot of Barremitites.

Mogharaeceras priscum Douvillé, 1916

Figs. 1—3

1916 Knemiceras priscum nov. sp., Douvillé, pl. 16, fig. 7a—b, 8a—b;

text-figs. 36, 37

1996 Subpulchellia prisca (Douvillé) – Wright et al., Fig. 85, 4a—c;

(reproduction of Douvillé, 1916, pl. 16, fig. 7a—b)

2008 Subpulchellia oehlerti (Nickl

s) – Abu-Zied, figs. 2Q, 6P—Q

L e c t o t y p e : Knemiceras priscum Douvillé, 1916, pl. 16,

fig. 7a—b, herein designated.

T y p e l o c a l i t y : Bir Lagama, Gabal Maghara, Northern

Sinai, Egypt.

M a t e r i a l : 5 specimens

including

the

lectotype

(FSL.EM1871), all from the original collection studied by
Douvillé (1916).

D i a g n o s i s : Small to middle size, discoidal, involute am-

monites with convex flanks. Subogival whorl section truncat-

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Fig. 3. 1—4 – FSL.EM1871, the lectotype, Bir Lagama, Sinai, Bartoux collection. 5—8 – FSL.EM1870, paralectotype, Bir Lagama, Sinai,
Bartoux collection. 9—12 – MNHNP.J10143, paralectotype, Bir Lagama, Sinai, Bartoux collection. 13—14 – MNHNP.J10144, paralectotype,
Bir Lagama, Sinai, Bartoux collection. 15—17 – MNHNP.J10145, paralectotype, Bir Lagama, Sinai, Bartoux collection.

ed on the venter. Ventral area bicarenate and grooved. Umbi-
licus small, with abrupt wall, almost carenate umbilical edge.
Composite  ornamentation  of  flexuous  striae  and  feeble  flat
costae.  All  costae  and  striae  show  a  marked  bending  on  the
outer part of the flank while the primaries flatten. Uppermost
part  of  the  flank  almost  smooth.  Suture  simple  marked  by  a
lateral  lobe  divided  by  a  very  narrow  and  high  saddle.  This
saddle is trifid and dissymmetric.

D e s c r i p t i o n : The lectotype FSL.EM1871 is the larger

specimen at our disposal (Dmax = 73 mm) (Fig. 3.1). It is an
adult specimen with the body chamber. On the body chamber
the whorl section is clearly ogival with the larger whorl breadth
on the lower quarter of the flanks. The venter is narrow, bi-
carenate and clearly grooved. Ornamentation raises just above
the umbilical area. It remains straight and prorsiradiate until the
middle of the flanks. On the lower part of the flank, the striae
and costae are dense, low, and poorly marked. Some are single,
others are bifurcate or fasciculate. All shows a concave arc at
about mid flank, bending backward first, then forward. Some of
the costae get stouter and could almost be regarded as primary
ribs. They show a distinct flattening that fades progressively to-

Cat. N°

Dmax D

Wb/Wh U/Wh

FSL.EM1871

73.0

66.0 39.0 (0.59) 18.0 (0.27) 4.9 (0.07)

0.46

0.13

FSL.EM1870

30.8

24.0 12.8 (0.53) 6.5 (0.27)

3.0 (0.13)

0.51

0.23

MNHNP.J10143

28.2

25.2 14.7 (0.58) 7.3 (0.29)

3.2 (0.13)

0.50

0.22

MNHNP.J10144

22.1

18.5 9.8 (0.53)

4.0 (0.22)

2.4 (0.13)

0.41

0.25

MNHNP.J10145

15.2

15.2 8.1 (0.53)

3.8 (0.25)

0.47

Measurements

Fig. 1.
MNHNP.J10143:
2 last sutures at
D = 15 mm.

Fig. 2.
MNHNP.J10144:
last sutures at
D = 9.2 mm.

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GEOLOGICA CARPATHICA, 2011, 62, 6, 575—578

ward the upper part of the flank. On the last half whorl of the
shell, there are 15 of those primary costae. The intercalary
striae are minute and their number varies from 1 to 3 between
two successive costae. The suture (Figs. 1, 2) is conform to the
figures of Douvillé (1916: figs. 36, 37). The lateral lobe is di-
vided in two parts (l’v et I’d in Douvillé 1916) separated by a
high, narrow, trifid and dissymmetric saddle.

The remaining specimens allow a better understanding of

the ontogenetic and intraspecific variation of the species. The
younger stages, until D = 5 mm, are smooth and truncation of
the venter seems to occur on the earliest growth stages
(Fig. 3.15—17). The appearance of the flat principal costae var-
ies from one specimen to the other (5 to 10 mm) (Fig. 3.5—17).
This is also the case of the strength and density of ornamenta-
tion. Slight variation of the whorls and ventral breadth can
also be observed.

D i s c u s s i o n : Since its original description by Douvillé

(1916), no new specimen of Mogharaeceras priscum was de-
scribed or illustrated under that name in the literature. Most
recently, Abu-Zied (2008: figs. 2Q, 6P—Q) illustrated a single
specimen of what he believed to be Subpulchellia oehlerti.
Comparison with the material at our disposal (MNHNP.J10143
and 10144) leaves no doubt that Abu-Zied’s specimen is con-
specific with Mogharaeceras priscum.

S t r a t i g r a p h i c d i s t r i b u t i o n : Upper Barremian (in-

terval between the Gerhardtia sartousiana Zone and the
Imerites giraudi Zone sensu Reboulet et al., 2009).

G e o g r a p h i c d i s t r i b u t i o n : As for the genus, Northern

Sinai (Gabal Lagama, Maghara area).

Acknowledgments: We thank Isabelle Rouget (Paris) and
Abel Prieur (Lyon) for allowing one of us (JLL) to access the
collections in their charge. Eugen Gradinaru (Bucharest) and
Didier Bert (La Mure, France) are gratefully acknowledged
by one of us (LGB) for supplying literature. We also wish to
thank William Wimbledon (Bristol) for improving the original
English manuscript.

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