International Geological Journal - Official Journal of the Carpathian-Balkan Geological Association

Sponge assemblage from the Permian reefal limestones of Kuh-e Bagh-e Vang, Shotori Mountains (eastern Iran)

Published: Oct 2005

Pages: 381 - 406

Authors: BABA SENOWBARI-DARYAN, KOOROSH RASHIDI, ALI HAMEDANI

Abstract: An association of sphinctozoid and inozoid sponges and the problematic organism Lercaritubus problematicus are described from the Permian Jamal Formation exposed in Kuh-e Bagh-e Vang, south of the town of Shirgesht, in the Shotori Mountains, eastern Iran. The sponge taxa described, are: “Sphinctozoida”: Amblysiphonella rigbyi nov. sp., Baghevangia minima nov. gen., nov. sp., Shotorispongia permica nov. gen., nov. sp., Shotorispongia biserialis nov. sp., Thaumastocoelia? cf. Th. irregularis Weidlich & Senowbari-Daryan, Sollasia ostiolata Steinmann, Sollasia cylindrica nov. sp., Girtyocoelia beedei (Girty), and Lemonea cylindrica (Girty); “Inozoida”: Peronidella recta grossa Wu, Bicoelia spinosa nov. sp., Heptatubispongia symmetrica Rigby & Senowbari-Daryan, Maeandrostia kansasensis Girty, Maeandrostia radiata nov. sp., Solutossaspongia tabasensis nov. sp. Problematic organism: Lercaritubus problematicus Flügel, Senowbari-Daryan & Di Stefano. The sponge fauna of the Permian Jamal Formation of Kuh-e Bagh-e Vang is represented by at least 7 sphinctozoan genera (2 new) and 9 species (3 new) and 5 inozoan genera with 6 species (3 new). Among the documented genera Amblysiphonella rigbyi nov. sp. seems to be the most abundant species, followed by the inozoid species Maeandrostia kansasensis Girty and Heptatubispongia symmetrica Rigby & Senowbari-Daryan. The sponge fauna of Kuh-e Bagh-e Vang is similar to sponge faunas described by Senowbari-Daryan & Di Stefano (1988) from the Lower Permian reef boulders of Sosio Valley, western Sicily, and from the Permian reefal limestones of Oman. The sponge-bearing reefal carbonates of Kuh-e Bagh-e Vang can be classified as sponge-Tubiphytes-Archaeolithoporella-boundstones.

Keywords: Permian, Iran, Shotori Mts, sponges, sphinctozoans, inozoans, problematica

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