Pabdeh Formation
Geologic formation in Iran
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The Pabdeh Formation is a Late Eocene to Early Oligocene-aged[1][2] geological formation in Iran. It outcrops along the Zagros Mountains. It was deposited in a deepwater environment in the upper bathyal zone of the Paratethys Sea,[3] with these abyssal sediments being lifted high above sea level from the uplift of the Zagros fold and thrust belt as part of the Alpide orogeny.
| Pabdeh Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Late Eocene to Early Oligocene, | |
| Type | Formation |
| Unit of | Zagros fold and thrust belt |
| Underlies | Asmari Formation |
| Overlies | Gurpi Formation |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Marl, limestone |
| Other | Oil shales |
| Location | |
| Country | Iran |
A high number of fossil fishes are known from this formation, the majority of which appear to have pelagic and deepwater affinities. These are mostly known from two localities near Elam and Istehbanat.[4] The age of these localities have been disputed, and have previously been considered to be Early Oligocene, but are now generally thought to be middle to late Eocene in age, most likely Priabonian.[5] Some fossils of migratory insects (a locust and ant alates), as well as fish and birds, are also known from presumed early Oligocene-aged strata near Babaheidar.[3]
Paleobiota
Cartilaginous fishes
| Genus | Species | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiphodolamia | X. serrata | A xiphodolamiid shark.[6] |  |
Bony fishes
Based primarily on Arambourg (1967), with taxonomic changes made where necessary:[4]
| Genus | Species | Locality | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluvarus | A. praeimperialis | Elam | The larva of a percomorph of uncertain affinities, once thought to be a louvar relative.[7] |  |
| Arambourgthurus | A. scombrurus | Istehbanat | A surgeonfish. One of the only known surgeonfish to inhabit a pelagic ecosystem.[8] | |
| Argyropelecus | A. iranicus | Babaheidar | A marine hatchetfish.[9] |  |
| A. zagrosensis |  | |||
| ?Astronesthes | ?A. simus | Elam | An apparent stareater, taxonomic affinity uncertain. |  |
| Babelichthys | B. olneyi | Elam | A bizarre crestfish.[10] | .png) |
| Berycomorus | B. firdoussi | Elam | A beryciform. | |
| Bregmaceros | B. filamentosus | Elam | A codlet. |  |
| Caucasiganus | C. sp. | Istehbanat | A relative of rabbitfish.[11] | |
| Cheilinus | C. longifillis | Istehbanat | A wrasse. |  |
| Cottopsis | C. gaudryi | Elam | An oceanic basslet.[12] | |
| Dussumieria | D. elami | Elam | A rainbow sardine. |  |
| Eosternoptyx | E. discoidalis | Elam | A deep-sea hatchetfish.[13] | |
| Epinnula | E. cancellata | Elam | A snake mackerel. |  |
| Etrumeus | E. hafizi | Istehbanat | A round herring. |  |
| Grammatorcynus | G. scomberoides | Istehbanat, Elam | A mackerel. |  |
| Iraniplectus | I. bakhtiari | Babaheidar | A pufferfish-like tetraodontiform.[14] |  |
| Maurolicus | M. morgani | Elam | A pearlside. | .gif) |
| ?Myroconger | ?M. rouslami | Elam | An apparent thin eel, taxonomic affinity uncertain. |  |
| Opisthonema | O. persicum | Elam | A thread herring. | .jpg) |
| Palaeorhynchus | P. altivelis | Istehbanat | A palaeorhynchid billfish. |  |
| Palimphyes (=Dipterichthys) | P. nematophorus | Elam | A euzaphlegid.[15] |  |
| P. leptosomus | ||||
| Paucaichthys | P. elamensis | Elam | A pomfret.[16] | |
| Praewoodsia | P. mesogeae | Elam | A bristlemouth. | |
| Priacanthopsis | P. crassispinus | Elam | A bigeye. | |
| Proserrivomer | P. mecquenemi | Elam | A sawtooth eel. | |
| Propteridium | P. douvillei | Elam | A viviparous brotula. | |
| Pristigenys | P. macropus | Istehbanat | A bigeye. |  |
| Protolophotus | P. elami | Elam | A crestfish. |  |
| ?Psenes | ?P. macrolepis | Elam | A driftfish, taxonomic identity uncertain. |  |
| Pseudoholocentrum | P. cristatum | Elam | A holocentrid. | |
| Rybapina | R. orientalis | Elam | A driftfish.[17][18] | |
| Scomber | S. saadii | Istehbanat | A mackerel. |  |
| Scomberomorus | S. speciosus | Istehbanat | A mackerel. |  |
| Scopeloides | S. glarisianus | Elam | A bristlemouth. |  |
| Sphyraena | S. longimana | Istehbanat | A barracuda. |  |
| Thyrsitoides | T. zarathoustrae | Elam | A relative of the blacksail snake mackerel. |  |
| ?Urosphen | ?U. iranensis | Elam | A urosphenid syngnathiform. |  |
Birds
| Genus | Species | Locality | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diomedeoides (=Frigidafrons) | D. babaheydariensis | Babaheidar | A diomedeoidid seabird.[19] |  |
Arthropods
Crustaceans
Based on Garassino, Bahrami, Yazdi & Vega (2014):[20]
| Genus | Species | Locality | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eogordonella | E. iranianiensis | Babaheidar | A solenocerid shrimp. | |
| Eopabdehus | E. babaheydariensis | A penaeid shrimp. | ||
| Parsacus | P. eocenicus | A slipper lobster. |
Insecta
| Genus | Species | Locality | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acrididae indet. | Babaheidar | A short-horned grasshopper of uncertain affinities, potentially in a migratory locust-like phase.[3] | ||
| Formicidae indet. | A potentially myrmicine ant of uncertain affinities, migratory alates.[3] |