Musculus somaliensis

Musculus somaliensis
† Musculus somaliensis
Temporal range: Late Jurassic, 165–155 Ma
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Mytiloida
Family: Mytilidae
Genus: Musculus
Species: † M. somaliensis
Binomial name
† Musculus somaliensis
Cox, 1935

Musculus somaliensis is an extinct small-sized marine bivalve mollusc in the mussel family Mytilidae. Its size, shape and sometimes color are reminiscent of a pistachio nut.

Contents

Distribution

Musculus somaliensis lived during the late Jurassic possibly throughout the Ethiopian Faunal Province, which consisted of Ethiopia, Somalia, Jordan, Yemen, Kenya, Madagascar, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia according to Kiessling.[1] Fossils of M. somaliensis are known from the Upper Jurassic of Somalia (Callovian/Oxfordian in Jirba Range, Biyo Dader Tug,[2] Bihendula[3]), Ethiopia (Callovian in Mt. Guresu, Marda Pass;[4] Late Oxfordian in Antalo Limestone north of Mekele[1]) and Tunesia (Late Callovian/Oxfordian in Ghomrassen; Middle Callovian/Late Callovian in Ksar Ben Soltane, Krechem el Miit; Callovian/Early Oxfordian in Foum Tataouine Post Optique; Callovian/Oxfordian in Bir Remtha, Faljet Jdar/Ed-Dghaghra[5]).[6]

Habitat

The fossil locations cited were tropical shallow seas,[1] where this mussel lived as a stationary epifaunal suspension feeder.[6]

Description

Musculus somaliensis has a modioliform shape with a straight to weakly convex dorsal margin. A rounded carina runs from the umbo to the postero-ventral corner of the shell, forming an angle of c. 45° with the dorsal margin, ventrally followed by a shallow sulcus. The antero-ventral part of the shell is inflated and has a convex antero-ventral margin. Its carina is more strongly curved and in its distal part forms an angle of c. 60–70° with the dorsal margin. A sulcus is absent, the antero-ventral part is low and limited by a concave antero-ventral margin.[1]

Gallery

  • Musculus somaliensis

  • Musculus somaliensis

  • Musculus somaliensis

  • Musculus somaliensis

  • Musculus somaliensis

References

  1. ^ a b c d W. Kiessling, D. K. Pandey, M. Schemm-Gregory, H. Mewis, and M. Aberhan. 2011. Marine benthic invertebrates from the Upper Jurassic of northern Ethiopia and their biogeographic affinities. Journal of African Earth Sciences 59:195-214
  2. ^ L. R. Cox. 1935. Jurassic Gastropoda and Lamellibranchia. The Mesozoic Palaeontology of British Somaliland, Geology and Palaeontology of British Somaliland, II 148-197
  3. ^ H. M. Muir-Wood. 1935. Jurassic Brachiopoda. The Mesozoic Palaeontology of British Somaliland, Geology and Palaeontology of British Somaliland, II 75-147
  4. ^ D. Jaboli. 1959. Fossili Giurassici dell'Harar (Africa Orientale): Brachiopodi, Lamellibranchi e Gasteropodi /Jurassic fossils from Harar (Eastern Africa): brachiopods, lamellibranchs and gastropods. Missione Geologica dell'Azienda Italiana Petroli (AGIP) nella Dancalia Meridionale e sugli Altipiani Hararini 4(1):3-100
  5. ^ S. Holzapfel. 1998. Palökologie benthischer Faunengemeinschaften und Taxonomie der Bivalven im Jura von Südtunesien. Beringeria - Würzburger geowissenschaftliche Mitteilungen (22)1-199
  6. ^ a b Paleobiology Database [1]

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • List of Gnaphosidae species — This page lists all described species of the spider family Gnaphosidae as of June 18, 2008.Allozelotes Allozelotes Yin Peng, 1998 * Allozelotes dianshi Yin Peng, 1998 China * Allozelotes lushan Yin Peng, 1998 ChinaAmazoromus Amazoromus Brescovit… …   Wikipedia

  • Sibley-Monroe checklist 15 — The Sibley Monroe checklist was a landmark document in the study of birds. It drew on extensive DNA DNA hybridisation studies to reassess the relationships between modern birds. Passeriformes (continued)Sittidae* Sitta europaea Wood Nuthatch *… …   Wikipedia

  • List of African birds — This list of African birds is a listing of all the bird species known from the continent of Africa. TOCrightNotesThere are over 45 billion different species of birds in Africa.The taxonomy of this list adheres to James Clitorus Birds of the World …   Wikipedia

  • List of birds of Sudan — This is a list of the bird species recorded in Sudan. The avifauna of Sudan includes a total of 1013 species, of which 3 are endemic, 1 has been introduced by humans, and 4 are rare or accidental. 10 species are globally threatened.This list s… …   Wikipedia

  • List of birds of Ethiopia — This is a list of the bird species recorded in Ethiopia. The avifauna of Ethiopia includes a total of 924 species, of which 23 are endemic and 3 are rare or accidental.This list s taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families …   Wikipedia

  • List of birds of Somalia — This is a list of the bird species recorded in Somalia. The avifauna of Somalia includes a total of 727 species, of which 8 are endemic, 1 has been introduced by humans, and 1 is rare or accidental. 14 species are globally threatened.This list s… …   Wikipedia

  • List of birds of Kenya — This is a list of the bird species recorded in Kenya. The avifauna of Kenya includes a total of 1132 species, of which seven are endemic, six have been introduced by humans, and three are rare or accidental. One species listed is extirpated in… …   Wikipedia

  • Wildlife of Somalia — The Wildlife of Somalia includes its flora and fauna and their natural habitats. It has 177 species of mammals and 727 species of birds.ubclass: TheriaInfraclass: EutheriaOrder: Afrosoricida (tenrecs and golden moles) The order Afrosoricida… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”