Nummulites perforatus (Montfort, 1808) and N. beaumonti: d’Archaic & Haime, 1853: a new record from Gebel Hafit, United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Nummulites perforatus (de Montfort, 1808) (N. burdigalensis group) and N. beaumonti d’Archiac & Haime, 1853 (N. discorbinus group) are recorded from a Priabonian limestone outcrop of the Mazyad Member, Dammam Formation, exposed along the eastern limb of Gebel Hafit Anticline, in the United Arab Emirates. Nummulites perforatus at this site is characterized morphologically by lenticular to inflated lenticular tests with rounded edges, meandering septal filaments, dense granules on, and between, the septal filaments, chambers that are longer than high, and a regular-shaped spire. Biometric studies have demonstrated that this new material from the United Arab Emirites is similar to specimens of N. perforatus previously described by Schaub (1981) and Racey (1995). N. beaumonti is here characterized morphologically by lenticular tests with slightly rounded peripheries, a relatively thick and irregular marginal cord, compact septal filaments that are curved initially but become radial and twisted around the polar area with a slight flexure towards the periphery, tight to lax coiled spire, and chambers that are rectangular in shape and higher than long, including a rudimentary polar pustule. Biometric studies revealed that this material is comparable to specimens of N. beaumonti described by Schaub (1981), Racey (1995) and Abd El Naby et al. (2013). Nummulites perforatus and N. beaumonti span the SBZ19 zone of Serra-Kiel et al. (1998) and are considered to be late Eocene (Priabonian) in age.