Cenomanian ostracode faunas from Sinai peninsula, Egypt

Abstract

Detailed study of the ostracode faunas from the Cenomanian sequence of Sinai yielded 39 ostracode species belonging to 22 genera. Out of these, six species namely Cytherella dhalalensis, Cytherella gunnaensis, Neocyprideis boukharyi, Sarlatina babinoti. Glenocythere abdulrazzaqae and Peloriops aegyptiaca are new to literature. Stratigraphically, three kinds of ostracode species are distinguished: three species known since the Albian, sixteen species restricted to the Cenomanian and five species extending higher into the lower Turonian. The recorded ostracode faunas are dominated by open marine species, however, levels yielding transitional marine and brackish water species are also recognized. Most of the elements recorded here have a wide geographic distribution along the southern Tethyan realm from Morrocco in the west to the Arabian Gulf region in the east.