Journal of the (Marine Science)/Vol. 8/No. 28/ June 2017/22/19-40

Systematic Paleontology, Distribution and Abundance of Cenozoic Benthic from , Persian Gulf,

Fahimeh Hosseinpour1, Ali Asghar Aryaei1*, Morteza Taherpour-Khalil-Abad2

1- Department of Geology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran 2- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

Received: January 2017 Accepted: June 2017

© 2017 Journal of the Persian Gulf. All rights reserved. Abstract Foraminifera are one of the most important fossil microorganisms in the Persian Gulf. During micropaleontological investigations in 5 sampling stations around the Kish Island, 14 genera and 15 species of dead Cenozoic benthic foraminifera were determined and described. Next to these assemblages, other organisms, such as microgastropods and spines of echinids were also looked into. In this study, the statistical analysis of foraminiferal distribution was done in one depth-zone (60-150 m and compared with the Australian-Iran Jaya Continental margin depth- zone.

Keywords: Foraminifera, Distribution analysis, Kish Island, Persian Gulf, Iran

Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021 1. Introduction approximately 226000 km2. Its average depth is about 35 m, and it attains its maximum depth about Persian Gulf is the location of phenomenal 100 m near its entrance - the Straits of Hormuz (for hydrocarbon reserves and an area of the world where more details see details in Seibold and Vollbrecht, the oil industry is engaged in intense hydrocarbon 1969; Seibold and Ulrich 1970). It is virtually exploration and extraction. It forms the northern surrounded by arid land and connected to the Indian portion of the anticlockwise-moving Arabian Plate. It Ocean only by the 60 km wide Straits of Hormuz. is perhaps the archtype of Holocene arid carbonate The entire basin lies upon the continental shelf ramp, extending northeast across the gently sloping whose margin and slope occur in the Gulf of . Arabian shield as water depth increases from largely Its elongate bathymetric axis separates two major emergent sabkhas to depths in excess of 80 meters geological provinces - the stable Arabian Foreland along the fordeep of Iran. The and the unstable Iranian Fold Belt - which are Persian Gulf measures some 1000 km in length and reflected in the contrasting coastal and bathymetric 200-300 km in width, covering an area of morphologies of Arabia and Iran. It occupies a clastic foreland basin, filled in part by the terrigenous * Email: [email protected]

19 Aryaei et al. / Systematic Paleontology, Distribution and Abundance of…

sediments delivered axially by the Tigris and drops quickly more than 2000 meters within 200 Euphrates rivers from the northwest and in part from kilometers far from the Strait. The bathymetry of the allochtonous carbonate sediments generated across Persian Gulf shallows to the northwest and to the the ramp surface. The Persian Gulf has a gently west coasts. The broad region of shallow water off inclined sea floor lacking "shelf edges" comparable the southern coasts of the Persian Gulf features many with those of modern Caribbean carbonate provinces small islands and lagoons where it is exteremely (Ghazban, 2007). difficult to operate oceanographic vessels. Tectonic- The formation of the Persian Gulf can be seen in driven subsidence in the Persian Gulf has locally context of three events as follows: a) movement of deepened the seafloor in the to 200- the Arabian Plate into its present position, b) 300 meters and produced a 70-95 meters deep trough influence of tectonic movements on the longitudinal the Iranian side of the southern half of the Persian morphological features on either side of the Persian Gulf and c) formation of submarine platforms during the Holocene transgression. Nowadays Persian Gulf is a shallow depression tectonically evolved during the Late Tertiary. The steep slope on the Iranian side is related to the folding of the Zagros orogeny, whereas the low-dipping slope on the Arabian side is due to gentler tectonic movements (Ghazban, 2007). The islands of the northern Persian Gulf have two geological origins during the Tertiary Period. The islands northwest of Kish Island as well as Qeshm Gulf [Figure 1]. Island are the continuation of sedimentary layer outcrops from the Zagros Mountain Range on the Fig 1: Bathymetrical map of the Persian Gulf mainland. The others have been uplifted by a salt (Created by Ocean Data View software) dome intrusion from the sea bottom (a unique Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021 tectonic feature of the area). The The Strait of Hormuz and the basin trough are Eastern Islands which are situated in the Straight of separated by a broad sill in the western approaches to Hormuz are greatly influenced by the less saline and the Strait. A southward widening channel leads from nutrient-rich oceanic waters from Indian Ocean, the Strait south across a series of sills (water depth of while the Inner Islands tolerate a more saline and less ~110 m) and shallow basins to the shelf edge fertile condition prevailed in nearly entire region (Ghazban, 2007; Seibold and Ulrich, 1970). (Fatemi and Shokri, 2001). The Persian Gulf has a maximum depth of 90-130 2. Geological setting meters in its north-eastern side near the coast of Iran and Strait of Hormuz, but the average depth is only Kish Island is a 91.5 km2 resort island in the 35 meters. The Persian Gulf is separated from the Persian Gulf. It is part of the County by Strait of Hormuz, which is only 56 in of Iran. Kish is located in kilometers wide at its narrowest point. There is no the Persian Gulf 19 km from mainland Iran with an sill in the Strait of Hormuz; the trough simply outer boundary of 40 km with a nearly elliptical deepens more than 100 meters through the Strait and

20 Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)/Vol .8/No. 28/ June 2017/22/19-40

shape [Figure 2]. Along Kish's coast are coral reefs African continental plate and separated from Africa and many other small islands. The Island is and joined to Asia. The force of this movement into positioned along the 1359 km long Iranian coastline the southwest of Iranian platue led to high folding of north of the Persian Gulf, at the first quarter from the Zagros Mountains. The heigh of Zagros Mountains Hormuz entrance to the Persian Gulf. There is no decreases from Dena summit to the Persian Gulf. Its topographical phenomenon such as mountain or even extension is hidden as folds in the depth of the high hills on the surface of this Island. About 200 Persian Gulf. Kish Island is a part of anticlines of mya, had moved to the north with these foldings (Ghazban, 2007).

Fig 2: The location map of Kish Island in Persian Gulf

3. Previous studies in the area Kashfi (2000), Fatemi and Shokri (2001), Pollastro Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021 (2003), Alavi (2004), Wilkinson and Drummond The sedimentology of the Persian Gulf was first (2004), Bashari (2005), Seyrafian and Mojikhalifeh studied by Emery (1956) and Houbolt (1957) and (2005), Konyuhov and Maleki (2006), Aali et al. further extended in the 1973s through the benchmark (2006), Farzadi (2006), Bruthans (2006), Ghazban work by Pursur and others. Understanding of (2007), Moradpour et al. (2008), Ghasemi-Nejad sedimentary processes and the pattern of sediment (2009), Motiei (2009), Esrafili-Dizaji and accumulation is achieved with the publication of the Rahimpour-Bonab (2009), Rahimpour Bonab et al. Persian Gulf (Purser, 1973). Recent works by Uchupi (2009), Mukherjee (2010), Alizadeh et al. (2012), et al. (1999) and Swift and Ross (2002) have resulted Pouresmaeil et al. (2012), Vega et al. (2012), Sajadi in the current state of the art sedimentology of the et al. (2014), Mojtahedin et al. (2015), Sajadi et al. . The other works on Persian Gulf (2016). are done by several researchers such as Mina et al. (1967), Clarke and Keij (1973), Saint-Marc (1978), 4. Materials and Methods Murris (1981), Koop and Stoneley (1982), Read (1985), Burchette and Wright (1992), Motiei (1995), Foraminifera are marine protozoa, which are non-

21 Aryaei et al. / Systematic Paleontology, Distribution and Abundance of…

tissue-forming one-celled . They are and sizes, and occur in many different environments, characterized by having tests (shells) that exhibit from near shore to the deep sea, and from near pseudopodia (temporary organic projections) with surface to the ocean floor. They are extremely web-like filaments either granular, branched and abundant in most marine sediments and live in fused (rhizopodia), or pencil-shaped and pointed marine to brackish habitats. Most foraminifera grow (filopodia) emerging from the cell body. These an elaborate, solid calcite skeleton made of a series single-celled organisms have inhabited the oceans of chambers (Figures 3-4). The complexity of their for more than 500 million years. Both living and shell structures (and their evolution in time) is the fossil foraminifera come in a wide variety of shapes basis of their geological usefulness.

Fig 3: A schematic pattern of inner structures of a foraminifera; Equatorial section of Elphidium excavatum (after Boudagher-Fadel, 2008 [40]). P: Proloculus; Ch: Chamber; PC: Penultimate Chamber; YC: Youngest Chamber; PA: Primary Aperture; SA: Septal Aperture

Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021

Fig 4: Microstructures of Heterostegina depressa d’Orbigny (after Boudagher-Fadel, 2008)

22 Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)/Vol .8/No. 28/ June 2017/22/19-40

Simple forms of foraminifera appeared in the Because the island is coral reef, it was not possible and were common in the Early Palaeozoic. to sample easily, except one station where the They had become abundant, with the evolutionary sampling is done in 25 m far from the beach. The development of relatively large and complicated test rests are sampled in the time of tide. The samples architecture, by the Late Palaeozoic, and provide a were dried and sieved. After that, they were put in model example of evolutionary diversity throughout cells and foraminifera were separated. Selected ones the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. This long and well- are captured by Scanning Electron Microscope recorded evolutionary record makes foraminifera of (SEM) and genus determination and species level outstanding value in zonal stratigraphy, were done by different paleontological catalogues palaeoenvironmental, palaeobiological and such as Loeblich and Tappan (1964, 1988), Clarke palaeoceanographic interpretation and analysis and Keij (1973), Hayward et al. (2010), Hayward (BouDagher-Fadel, 2008). The materials are (2012), Hayward et al. (2015). gathered from 5 stations in the Kish Island (four ones During this research, foraminifera samples have in the beach and one in far from the beach) [Fig. 5 & been counted and analyzed for systematical study Table 1]. purposes. The count was performed with the light microscope and only the check of species taxonomy

was done with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Also, the samples are plotted in their distributional patterns by Ocean Data View (ODV) software. All of the studied samples which were collected by the authors are housed in the repository system of Geological Survey of Iran and Geosciences Research Center, NE territory (M. Taherpour Khalil Abad collection).

5. Results Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021

Fig 5: Location map of the studied stations in 5.1. Systematic paleontology the Kish Island (the geographical coordinations The following systematic describes diagnostic are listed in details in Table 1). features and biometric calculations (the six linear

parameters, which were measured on specimens to Table 1: The geographical cordinations of each evaluate the morphological variations as well as sampled stations finding any relations between variables, the results of Station Latitude Longitude these calculations are described). number

1 26.497501 N 54.006351 E Phylum FORAMINIFERA (d'Orbigny 1826) 2 26.523559 N 53.910980 E Class GLOBOTHALAMEA Pawlowski, Holzmann & Tyszka, 2013 3 26.523610 N 53.910812 E Order ROTALIIDA Delage & Hérouard, 1896 4 26.547497 N 53.903866 E Superfamily ROTALIOIDEA Ehrenberg, 1839 Family ROTALIIDAE Ehrenberg, 1839 5 26.562147 N 54.019199 E Subfamily AMMONIINAE Brünnich, 1772

23 Aryaei et al. / Systematic Paleontology, Distribution and Abundance of…

Genus Ammonia Brünnich, 1772 Material: From 200 calculated samples in all Ammonia beccarii (Linnaeus, 1758) studied stations, 30 samples belong to this species Pl. 2, figs. 1, 9-10, 13, 15; Pl. 3, Fig. 8 which are well preserved are selected for Material: From 200 calculated samples in all paleontological studies. studied stations, 47 samples belong to this species which are well preserved are selected for Diagnostic Features: According to Loeblich and paleontological studies. Tappan (1988), "Test in a low trochospiral coil, planocon•vex to biconvex, chambers flat to centrally Diagnostic Features: According to Loeblich and elevated on the spiral side, commonly inflated and Tappan (1988), "Test biconvex, with low trochospiral produced around the umbilicus, with a prominent coil of 3 to 4 volutions, spiral side evolute, umbilical umbilical shoulder surrounding a large solid side involute and may have large umbilical plug umbilical plug of clear shell material that may be surrounded by umbilical fissure, final whorl with broken out in preservation, intercameral septa deeply incised umbilical, radial, and intraseptal imperforate, doubled secondarily by attachment of a spaces, sutural fissures straight or branching and septal flap, sutures gently curved back at the appear feathered on the umbilical side, umbilical periphery on the spiral side, radial, depressed, and and intraseptal spaces of earlier whorls filled by may be fissured on the umbilical side, periphery secondary lamellae, leaving only one vertical carinate, peripheral outline lobulate: wall passage from each chamber of the penultimate whorl calcareous. perforate, optically radial, surface to the junction of the umbilical fissure and smooth to pustulose; aperture interiomarginal. intraseptal space of the final whorl, early chambers Extending obliquely up the apertural face, closed toward umbilicus, no spiral canal present. intercameral foramen areal, comma shaped due to Periphery rounded to carinate: wall calcareous, the attachment of an imperforate toothplate at the optically radial, primarily bilamellar, moderately proximal margin of the penultimate cham•ber coarsely perforate, both surfaces may be ornamented foramen, toothplate extending to the distal or outer margin of the aperture, the upper free part being

Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021 by pillars and umbilical side may have transverse ridges resulting from the feathered umbilical sutures spatulate in form". when these are present: primary aperture an Age: Late (Coniacian) to Holocene. interiomarginal extraumbilical arch, bordered by a protruding lip at the umbilical end, space between

the lip and umbilical pillars may be filled by Superfamily NUMMULITOIDEA Blainville, 1827 secondary lamellae as new chambers form". Family NUMMULITIDAE Blainville, 1827 Age: Middle Turonian to Late Paleocene. Genus Heterostegina d'Orbigny, 1826 Heterostegina depressa d'Orbigny, 1826 Pl. 2, figs. 2, 4, 16 Subfamily PARAROTALIINAE Reiss, 1963 Genus Pararotalia Le Calvez, 1949 Material: From 200 calculated samples in all Pararotalia sp. studied stations, 41 samples belong to this species Pl. 1, Fig. 15 which are well preserved and selected for paleontological studies.

24 Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)/Vol .8/No. 28/ June 2017/22/19-40

Diagnostic Features: According to Loeblich and Family ELPHIDIIDAE Galloway, 1933 Tappan (1988), "Test involute to evolute, centrally Subfamily ELPHIDIINAE Galloway, 1933 thickened, megalospheric proloculus followed by up Genus Elphidium Montfort, 1808 to sixteen operculinoid and unfolded septa, larger Elphidium craticulatum (Fichtel & Moll, 1798) and relatively rare microspheric test with about Pl. 1, Fig. 14 thirty unfolded septa, then with chamberlets formed by complete secondary septa produced by folds of Material: From 200 calculated samples in all the septal flap, no communication between adjacent studied stations, 2 samples belong to this species chamberlets of the same chamber, marginal cord which are well preserved and selected for consists of an anastomosing bundle of canals in the paleontological studies. peripheral band that are continuous with those in the spiral septum of earlier whorls, intraseptal canals Description: According to Loeblich and Tappan formed from part of former marginal canals as new (1988), "Test large, lenticular, planispirally enrolled, chamber is added, and connect the marginal canals involute or partially evolute, biumbonate, may have of successive whorls, secondary sutural canals in the umbilical plug on each side, seven to twenty septula forming the chamberlets connect successive chambers in the final whorl, deeply incised sutures sutural canals, and those in peripheral position may form interlocular spaces that communicate with an lead into the marginal canals, apertures of umbilical spiral canal system, may have vertical proloculus and early undivided chambers form the umbilical canals leading from the spiral canal to the primary stolons or apertural or foraminal tubes, surface of the umbilical plug. Externally ponticuli later chambers and chamberlets of a single chamber span the gently curved sutures and fossettes between connected by radial stolons or tubes and may also the ponticuli open into the intercameral space, have annular stolons or tangential tubes, so-called internally may have retral processes, periphery because of their position. Y-shaped supplementary carinate: wall calcareous. Optically radial or less stolons occur at the distal tip of the secondary commonly granular, finely perforate, bilamellar, septula in the median plane, smaller connections septal flap partly or completely covering previous Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021 occur between the chamber lumen and peripheral septa as the new chamber is formed. Surface with canals of the final whorl and spiralling canals of the openings of canal system in the plugs and along the underlying whorl and may also lead to the sutures and may have pustules or spiralling striae or intraseptal canals, canal system opens through small ridges: aperture and foramina, a single branches or trabeeulae into the relatiyek large pores interiomarginal pore or multiple, and may have or openings of the mammal. Septal and secondary additional areal openings". septal canals aid to the exterior: wall calcareous. Age: Late Eocene to Holocene. Finely perforate. Chambers and stolons with organic

baning but none present in the canal system, up to six interseptal pillars present on the & octal Superfamily PLANORBULINOIDEA Schwager, 1877 chamberlet walls: openings of the canal system Family CYMBALOPORIDAE Cushman, 1927 along the periphery may serve for ingestion of Subfamily CYMBALOPORINAE Cushman, 1927 nutrients. Waste excretion and exit of the protoplasm Genus Cymbaloporella Cushman, 1927 from the test at the time of sexual reproduction". Cymbaloporella tabellaeformis (Brady, 1884) Age: Late Eocene to Holocene. Pl. 2, Fig 5; Pl. 3, Fig. 11

25 Aryaei et al. / Systematic Paleontology, Distribution and Abundance of…

Material: From 200 calculated samples in all finished; aperture interiomarginal, a low arch studied stations, 4 samples belong to this species against the previous chamber". which are well preserved and selected for Age: Holocene. paleontological studies.

Description: According to Loeblich and Tappan Class Pawlowski, Holzman & (1988), "Test up to 1 mm in diameter, early stage Tyszka, 2013 trochospiral, spiral side flattened, later chambers in Order Delage & Hérouard, 1896 Suborder MILIOLINA Delage & Hérouard, 1896 approximately cyclic series, those of successive Superfamily MILIOLOIDEA Ehrenberg, 1839 cycles alternating in position, chambers inflated, of Family HAUERINIDAE Schwager, 1876 somewhat irregular form. Sutures depressed. Deeply Subfamily HAUERININAE Schwager, 1876 umbilicate on the convex umbilical side, periphery Genus Hauerina d'Orbigny, 1839 Hauerina fragilissima (Brady, 1884) broadly rounded. Peripheral outline lobulate: wall Pl. 1, Fig. 16; Pl. 3, Fig. 6 calcareous, optically radial, coarsely perforate. An organic layer giving a brownish color to chambers Material: From 200 calculated samples in all of the early whorl: aperture consists of rows of large studied stations, 5 samples belong to this species pores along each suture on the umbilical side". which are well preserved and selected for Age: Holocene. paleontological studies.

Description: According to Loeblich and Tappan Subclass TEXTULARIIA Mikhalevich, 1980 (1988), "Test discoidal, periphery subacute, sides Order TEXTULARIIDA Delage & Hérouard, 1896 flattened, early chambers in quinqueloculine Suborder TEXTULARIINA Delage & Hérouard, 1896 arrangement, later planispiral with three chambers Superfamily TEXTULARIOIDEA Ehrenberg, 1838 Family TEXTULARIIDAE Ehrenberg, 1838 per whorl; wall calcareous, porcelaneous; aperture Subfamily TEXTULARIINAE Ehrenberg, 1838 multiple, of numerous pores in a trematophorelike Genus Textularia Defrance, 1824 plate at the end of the final chamber". Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021 Textularia agglutinans d'Orbigny, 1839 Pl. 1, Fig. 1-2; Pl. 1-3 Age: Eocene to Holocene.

Material: From 200 calculated samples in all studied stations, 8 samples belong to this species Genus Quinqueloculina d'Orbigny, 1826 which are well preserved and selected for Quinqueloculina sp. Pl. 1, figs. 6, 9-10 paleontological studies.

Material: From 200 calculated samples in all Diagnostic Features: According to Loeblich and studied stations, 11 samples belong to this species Tappan (1988), "Test with planispiral coil of one which are well preserved and selected for whorl, chambers laterally produced, internally a paleontological studies. secondary septum cuts off the outer part of each chamber, leaving no connection from the distal Description: According to Loeblich and Tappan chamberlet to the main chamber lumen; wall (1988), "Test ovate in outline, early chambers agglutinated, commonly of calcareous fragments, quinqueloculine in both microspheric and noncanaliculate, surface smoothly to roughly

26 Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)/Vol .8/No. 28/ June 2017/22/19-40

megalospheric generations, or may be Material: From 200 calculated samples in all quinqueloculine, depending on the degree of overlap studied stations, 3 samples belong to this species of successive chambers, chambers one-half coil in which are well preserved and selected for length, added in planes of coiling that are 72° apart, paleontological studies. successive chambers added 144° apart, commonly with five chambers visible at the exterior, of which Description: According to Loeblich and Tappan four are visible from one side and three from that (1988), "Test ovate in outline, sides flattened to opposite, chambers with floors at least in the mature concave, periphery bluntly rounded, chambers one- stage; wall calcareous, imperforate, porcelaneous; half coil in length, widest at the base that curves to aperture ovate, flush with the surface, provided with occupy much of the aboral end, tapering toward the a bifid tooth". aperture and produced as a short tubular neck: wall calcareous, imperforate, surface granular in Age: Cretaceous to Holocene. appearance; aperture terminal on the short neck,

multiple, with a trematophorelike plate in the Genus Lachlanella Vella, 1957 opening". Lachlanella sp. Pl. 3, Fig. 10 Age: Holocene.

Material: From 200 calculated samples in all Superfamily SORITOIDEA Ehrenberg, 1839 studied stations, 5 samples belong to this species Family Schultze, 1854 which are well preserved and selected for Genus Montfort, 1808 paleontological studies. Peneroplis pertusus (Forskal, 1775) Pl. 1, Fig. 3

Description: According to Loeblich and Tappan Material: From 200 calculated samples in all (1988), "Test elongate ovate, chambers one-half coil studied stations, 10 samples belong to this species in length, quinqueloculine, five chambers visible which are well preserved and selected for

Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021 from the exterior, subquadrate in section, slightly paleontological studies. eccentric, the base of each chamber covering the end of the test, and the straight apertural end of the Description: According to Loeblich and Tappan chamber resulting in the aperture being on one (1988), "Test planispiral, closely coiled, and involute margin, chambers without a floor and lying against in the early stage, later slightly evolute and the previous whorl; wall calcareous, imperforate, biumbilicate, numerous narrow and cribrate porcelaneous; aperture large, with subparallel sides chambers per whorl, sutures radial, depressed, the and everted rim, provided with a long slender tooth areal position of the aperture results in a with short bifid termination". chomatalike appearance in equa•torial sections as in Age: Oligocene (Rupelian) to Holocene. Charentia; wall agglutinated of fine calcareous particles; aperture areal, ovate to triangular".

Family SPIROLOCULINIDAE Wiesner, 1920 Remarks: Test in the last part of the growth Genus Spiroloculina d'Orbigny, 1826 stages is becoming in stratight line. Spiroloculina sp. Pl. 1, Fig. 5; Pl. 3, Fig. 7 Age: Holocene.

27 Aryaei et al. / Systematic Paleontology, Distribution and Abundance of…

Genus Peneroplis Montfort, 1808 Description: According to Loeblich and Tappan Peneroplis planatus (Forskål, 1775) (1988), "Test discoidal, thick, megalospheric Pl. 1, figs. 4, 12; Pl. 2, figs. 3, 6-8, 11-12; Pl. 3, figs. 4-5 juvenarium of proloculus, flexostyle and one undivided chamber, then with a few peneroplid Material: From 200 calculated samples in all chambers, microspheric test peneropline in early studied stations, 26 samples belong to this species stage, later stage of both generations with annular which are well preserved and selected for series of small chamberlets that are symmetrical with paleontological studies. respect to the equatorial plane, separated by a median annular passage that appears circular in Description: Test flabelliform, bilaterally section, crosswise-oblique stolon system connects compressed (peneropline) with lobulate periphery. chamberlets with two chambers of the preceding The subspherical proloculus is followed by series and two chambers of the following series, planispiral to weakly trochospiral early stage of stolons in a single plane; wall calcareous, considerable dimensions and laterally in position as porcelaneous, smooth; aperture a single row of regards the elongation axis; this stage is composed openings with protruding rims and with figure 8 by 9-10 scythe-like chambers increasing very outline resulting from the crosswise-oblique stolons, regularly in dimension during the ontogenesis and shell material may bridge the narrow part of the arranged in 1,5-2 tour of the spira. The very opening to form two openings; adult test may developed later uncoiled stage, rapidly increasing in produce reproductive chambers". breadth, is composed by 6-10 larger than high Age: Miocene to Holocene. arched chambers with simple and undivided interior.

The chambers, jutting out towards the outer side of

the test, are divided by slightly depressed sutures. Subfamily MILIOLINELLINAE Vella, 1957 The first 4-6 chambers increasing very slightly in Genus Pseudotriloculina Cherif, 1970 height as are added, while the last 2-3 chambers are Pseudotriloculina sp. Pl. 3, Fig. 9 cleary lower than the formers. Wall calcareous, Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021 imperforate, porcelanaceous, made up by a single Material: From 200 calculated samples in all layer; external surface ornamented by radial striae. studied stations, 2 samples belong to this species Age: Holocene. which are well preserved and selected for paleontological studies.

Family SORITIDAE Ehrenberg, 1839 Description: According to Loeblich and Tappan Subfamily SORITINAE Ehrenberg, 1839 (1988), "Test large, up to 1.9 mm in length, elongate Genus Sorites Ehrenberg, 1839 Sorites sp. ovate in outline, somewhat flattened, periphery Pl. 3, Fig. 12 rounded to slightly carinate, chambers one-half coil in length in quinqueloculine or Material: From 200 calculated samples in all cryptoquinqueloculine arrangement, later whorls studied stations, 5 samples belong to this species strongly overlapping so that commonly only two or which are well preserved and selected for three chambers are visible from the exterior in the paleontological studies. adult, although rarely five may still be present; wall calcareous, porcelaneous and opaque, surface

28 Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)/Vol .8/No. 28/ June 2017/22/19-40

smooth and polished adjacent to the aperture, cryptoquinqueloculine, at least in the microspheric elsewhere with numerous fine pseudopores indented generation, but this stage may be lacking in the up to about half the thickness of the wall, and megalospheric generation, later triloculine or arranged in longitudinal or slightly oblique rows: triloculine, only three chambers visible from the aperture terminal, a simple narrow and elongate slit exterior, chambers without a floor: wall calcareous. bordered by smooth and slightly arched lips that Imperforate, porcelaneous: aperture rounded, at the occupy the breadth of the final chamber". end of the final chamber, with a short bifid tooth".

Age: Holocene. Age: Middle Eocene to Holocene.

6. Statistical distribution analysis Subfamily MILIOLINELLINAE Vella, 1957 Genus Triloculina d'Orbigny, 1826 Triloculina sp. For the statistical analysis of distribution for Pl. 1, Fig. 7, 11 founded dead foraminifera, 200 samples have been

Material: From 200 calculated samples in all calculated in all studied stations [Fig. 6]. The studied stations, 1 sample belong to this species counting was performed with the light microscope which are well preserved and selected for and related analysis plots are done by ODV (Ocean paleontological studies. Data View) software. The analysis for each species is as follows (Figs. 7-9): Description: According to Loeblich and Tappan A) Heterostegina depressa: the rate of abundance (1988), "Test ovate in outline, equilaterally for this species in the western parts of Kish Island is triangular or subtriangular in section, chambers very low while its abundance toward south and one-half coil in length, early stage southwest of this island (Stations 1-3) is increasing.

Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021

Fig 6: The abundance diagram of determined benthic foraminiferal taxa

29 Aryaei et al. / Systematic Paleontology, Distribution and Abundance of…

Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021

Fig 7: Distribution pattern of Heterostegina depressa, Lachlanella sp., Peneroplis pertusus, Elphidium craticulatum and Sorites sp

30 Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)/Vol .8/No. 28/ June 2017/22/19-40

Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021

Fig 8: Distribution pattern of Cymbaliporella tabelaeformis, Triloculina sp., Hauerina fragilissima, Spiroloculina sp. and Pseudotriloculina sp

31 Aryaei et al. / Systematic Paleontology, Distribution and Abundance of…

Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021

Fig 9: Distribution pattern of Quinqueloculina sp., Peneroplis planatus, Pararotalia sp., Ammonia beccarii and Textularia agglutinans

B) Peneroplis pertusus and Lachlanella sp.: the rate of abundance for these species in the southern and of abundance for these species in the southern parts western parts of Kish Island is very low while its of Kish Island is very low while its abundance abundance toward southwestern parts of this island toward western parts of this island (Stations 4-5) is (Stations 2-3) is increasing. increasing. D) Pararotalia sp.: the rate of abundance for this C) Elphidium craticulatum, Sorites sp., species in the south, west and southwestern parts of Cymbaloporella tabellaeformis, Hauerina Kish Island is very low while its abundance toward fragilissima, Triloculina sp., Spiroloculina sp., northwestern parts of this island (Station 5) is Pseudotriloculina sp., Quinqueloculina sp.: the rate increasing.

32 Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)/Vol .8/No. 28/ June 2017/22/19-40

E) Peneroplis planatus: the rate of abundance for determinied foraminifera. Due to the limited number this species in the south and southwestern parts of of samples it should be considered as the first Kish Island is very low while its abundance toward approximation. According to determined dead western parts of this island (Stations 4-5) is foraminifera assemblage, one depth zonation can be increasing. considered for the Kish Island which is correlatable with "Zone A: 60-150 m." by Van Marle (1988). The F) Ammonia beccarii: the rate of abundance for this most properties of this depth zone which is species in the western parts of Kish Island is low previously introduced by Van Marle (1988) for the while its abundance toward northwest, west and eastern Indonesia is as follows: The seafloor between southwestern parts of this island (Stations 1-3) is 60-150 m is occupied by a benthic foraminiferal increasing. association dominated by Amphistegina lessonii, G) Textularia agglutinans: the rate of abundance for Operculina ammonoides, Heterolepa dutemplei and this species in the western parts of Kish Island various miliolids. Some taxa, such as Spirillina spp., (Stations 4-5) is very low while its abundance toward Spiroloculina spp., Cibicides lobatulus, Discorbis south and southwestern parts of this island (Stations spp., Cassidulina luevigata and Rosalinu 1-3) is increasing. uilardeboana are also characteristic for zone A, but were excluded by our isobathyal correlation method, 7. Bathymetry and depth zonation in studied area as they showed negative correlation coefficients. Their scattered deeper occurences are probably Based on the determined taxa and previous studies caused by displacement. The sediments in the on the bathymetric distribution of benthic samples of this depth-zone are sandy shell debris, foraminifera in other locations of the world, a depth- with calcium carbonate content always > 70% [Text- zonation can be established for the Kish Island Fig. 1].

Eastern Indonesia Van Marle (1988) Kish Island (this study)

Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021 Amphistegina lessonii Ammonia beccarii Elphidium spp. Cymbaloporella tabellaeformis Hanzawaia nipponica Elphidium craticulatum

150 m. Heterokpa dutemplei - Heterostegina depressa Heterolepa mediocris Peneroplis planatus

Neoconorbina terquemi Quinqueloculina sp. A Zone

Zone A Zone - 150 m. Operculina ammonoides - Sorites sp. -

Peneroplis planatus Spiroloculina sp. 60 Depth Reussella simplex Depth Textularia agglutinans Textukria spp. Textularia spp. Tinoporus spengleri Triloculina sp. div. miliolids Outer60 shelf biofacies: div. miliolids

Boliuina robusta Hanzawaia nipponica - Heterokpa dutemplei

Zone B Zone Heterolepa mediocris - No fossils observed

Lenticulina spp. 400 m. Upper bathyal Textularia spp. Depth biofacies: 150 Uvigerina canariensis

33 Aryaei et al. / Systematic Paleontology, Distribution and Abundance of…

Anomalinoides colligerus Bolivina robusta Bulimina alazanensis Bulimina marginata

Cassidulina carinata 1400 m. Dentalina spp. -

Gauelinopsis lobatulus Heterolepa mediocris

Hyalinea balthica C Zone No fossils observed - Lenticulinaperegrina Osangularia culter Rectoboliuina dimorpha Depth Siphonina bradyana Sphaeroidina bulloides

Uvigerina peregrina biofacies: Middle400 bathyal Valuulineria bradyi Vuluulina pennatula

Cassidulina carinata Ceratobulimina pacifica

Epistominella exigua m. 2120 -

Gaoelinopsis kbatulus 1400

Laticarininapauperata Melonis soldanii

Zone D Zone Oridorsalis umbonatus - No fossils observed

Planulina wuelkrstorfi iofacies: Pullenia bullaides Depth Pullenia quinqueloba Sphaeroidina bulkides Uoigerina hispida

Lower bathyal b

Text-Fig 1: Comparisson of depth-zones by Van Marle (1988) [45] and this study Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021

8. Results and Discussion Cymbaloporella tabellaeformis, Heterostegina depressa, Pseudotriloculina sp., Sorites sp. are Detailed micropaleontological studies of the dead determinied and introduced for the first time from foraminifera taxa from five stations of the Kish the Kish Island surface sediments. Descriptions and Island, led to determination of 14 genera and 15 statistical analysis are done and calculated accurately species. The recognized genus belongs to by the statistic relations following the related chart Cymbaloporidae Cushman, 1927, Elphidiidae and diagrams. Also, the samples are plotted in their Galloway, 1933, Hauerinidae Schwager, 1876, distributional patterns by Ocean Data View (ODV) Nummulitidae Blainville, 1827, Peneroplidae software. Some paleological factors (depth) have Schultze, 1854, Rotalioiidea Ehrenberg, 1839, been studied for the first time in this area. According Spiroloculinidae Wiesner, 1920, Soritidae to the determined taxa and its comparison with other Ehrenberg, 1839, Textulariidae Ehrenberg, 1838, locations of the world a depth-zonation can be families. During this research, some genera and established for the Kish Island which illustrates the species such as Hauerina fragilissima, depth of 60-150 m for them.

34 Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)/Vol .8/No. 28/ June 2017/22/19-40 Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021

Plate 1: (1-2) Textularia agglutinans; (3) Peneroplis pertusus (Pr.: Proloculus, Ch.: Chamber); (4, 12) Peneroplis planatus (ap.: Aperture); (5) Spiroloculina sp.; (6, 9-10) Quinqueloculina sp.; (7, 11). Triloculina sp.; (8) Adelosina bicornis; (13) Rosalina sp.; (14) Elphidium craticulatum; (15) Pararotalia sp.; (16) Hauerina fragilissima (ap.: Aperture).

35 Aryaei et al. / Systematic Paleontology, Distribution and Abundance of…

Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021

Plate 2: (1, 9-10, 13, 15) Ammonia beccarii; (2, 4, 16) Heterostegina depressa; (3, 6-8, 11-12) Peneroplis planatus; (5) Cymbaloporella tabellaeformis; (14) Indet. benthic foraminifera.

36 Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)/Vol .8/No. 28/ June 2017/22/19-40 Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021

Plate 3: (1-3) Textularia agglutinans; (4-5) Peneroplis planatus; (6) Hauerina fragilissima, (7) Spiroloculina sp.; (8) Ammonia beccarii; (9) Pseudotriloculina sp.; (10). Lachlanella sp.; (11) Cymbaloporella tabellaeformis; (12) Sorites sp.

References Alavi, M., 2004. Regional stratigraphy of the Zagros fold-thrust belt of Iran and its proforeland Aali, J.; Rahimpour-Bonab, H.; Kamali, M.R., 2006. evolution. American journal of science, 304(1):1- Geochemistry and origin of the world's largest gas 20. field from Persian Gulf, Iran. Journal of Petroleum https://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.304.1.1 Science and Engineering, 50(3): 161-175. Alizadeh, B.; Najjari, S.; Kadkhodaie-Ilkhchi, A., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2005.12.004 2012. Artificial neural network modeling and cluster analysis for organic facies and burial

37 Aryaei et al. / Systematic Paleontology, Distribution and Abundance of…

history estimation using well log data: A case Persian Gulf. Petroleum Geoscience, 15(4): 325- study of the South Pars Gas Field, Persian Gulf, 344. Iran. Computers & Geosciences, 45: 261-269. https://doi.org/10.1144/1354-079309-817 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cageo.2011.11.024 Farzadi, P., 2006. The development of Middle Bashari, A., 2005. Khuff formation - Cretaceous carbonate platforms, Persian Gulf, carbonate in the Qatar-South Fars arch Iran: constraints from seismic stratigraphy, well hydrocarbon province of the Persian Gulf. First and biostratigraphy. Petroleum Geoscience, 12(1): Break, 23(11). 59-68. https://doi.org/10.1144/1354-079305-654 BouDagher-Fadel, M.K., 2008. The Mesozoic larger benthic foraminifera: the Cretaceous. Fatemi, S.M.; Shokri, M.R., 2001. Iranian coral reefs Developments in palaeontology and stratigraphy, status with particular reference to Kish Island, Elsevier, Publication 21, 215-544. Persian Gulf. In Proceedings of international coral https://doi.org/10.1016/S0920-5446(08)00005-8 reef initiative (ICRI) regional workshop for the Indian Ocean, 97-105. Bruthans, J.; Filippi, M.; Geršl, M.; Zare, M.; Melková, J.; Pazdur, A.; Bosák, P., 2006. Ghasemi-Nejad, E.; Head, M.J.; Naderi, M., 2009. Holocene marine terraces on two salt diapirs in the Palynology and petroleum potential of the Persian Gulf, Iran: age, depositional history and Kazhdumi Formation (Cretaceous: Albian- uplift rates. Journal of Quaternary Science, 21(8): Cenomanian) in the South Pars field, northern 843-857. Persian Gulf. Marine and Petroleum Geology, https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.1007 26(6): 805-816. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2008.05.005 Burchette, T.P.; Wright, V.P., 1992. Carbonate ramp depositional systems. Sedimentary Geology, Ghazban, F., 2007. Petroleum Geology of the Persian 79(1-4): 3-57. Gulf. Tehran University Publication. 707 pp. https://doi.org/10.1016/0037-0738(92)90003-A Hayward, B.W., 2012. The last global extinction Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021 Clarke, M.H.; Keij, A.J., 1973. Organisms as (Mid-Pleistocene) of deep-sea benthic producers of carbonate sediment and indicators of foraminifera (Chrysalogoniidae, Ellipsoidinidae, environment in the southern Persian Gulf. Springer Glandulonodosariidae, Plectofrondiculariidae, Publication, 33-56. Pleurostomellidae, Stilostomellidae), their Late https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-65545-6_3 Cretaceous-Cenozoic history and taxonomy. Geomarine Research, Cushman Foundation for Emery, K.O., 1956. Sediments and water of the Foraminiferal Research Special Publication, 43: Persian Gulf, Bulletin of American Association 408 pp. Petroleum Geology, 40: 2354-2383. https://doi.org/10.1306/5CEAE595-16BB-11D7- Hayward, B.W.; Cedhagen, T.; Kaminski, M.; Gross, 8645000102C1865D O., 2015. World foraminifera database. Accessed through: Hayward, BW, Cedhagen, T., Kaminski, Esrafili-Dizaji, B.; Rahimpour-Bonab, H., 2009. M., and Gross, O. World Foraminifera Database at Effects of depositional and diagenetic http://www. marinespecies. characteristics on carbonate reservoir quality: a org/foraminifera/aphia. case study from the South Pars gas field in the

38 Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)/Vol .8/No. 28/ June 2017/22/19-40

Hayward, B.W.; Grenfell, H.R.; Sabaa, A.T.; Neil, Mojtahedin, E.; Hadavi, F.; Pouresmaeil, A., 2015. H.L.; Buzas, M.A., 2010. Recent New Zealand Investigating of Salinity Chenges in the Persian deep-water benthic foraminifera: Taxonomy, Gulf to East Strait of Hormuz by using of ecologic distribution, biogeography, and use in Braarudosphaera bigelowii. Quaternery Journal of paleoenvironmental assessment. Institute of Iran, 1(3): 181-189. Geological & Nuclear Sciences monograph, 26: Moradpour, M.; Zamani, Z.; Moallemi, S.A., 2008. 363 pp. Controls on reservoir quality in the lower Triassic Houbolt, J.J., 1957. Surface Sediments of the Persian Kangan formation, southern Persian Gulf. Journal Gulf New the Qatar Peninsula. Mouton & of Petroleum Geology, 31(4): 367-385. Company, 148 pp. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-5457.2008.00427.x

Kashfi, M.S., 2000. Greater Persian Gulf permian- Motiei, H., 1995. Petroleum Geology of Zagros, In triassic stratigraphic nomenclature requires study. A. Hushmandzadeh (Ed.), Treatise on the Geology Oil and Gas Journal, 6: 36-44. of Iran. Geological Survey of Iran Publication, 589 pp. Konyuhov, A.I.; Maleki, B., 2006. The Persian Gulf Basin: Geological history, sedimentary formations, Motiei, H., 2009. Petroleum geology of the Persian and petroleum potential. Lithology and Mineral Gulf. Tehran University Press. Resources, 41(4): 344-361. Mukherjee, S.; Talbot, C.J.; Koyi, H.A., 2010. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0024490206040055 Viscosity estimates of salt in the Hormuz and Koop, W.J.; Stoneley, R.; Ridd, M.F.; Murphy, Namakdan salt diapirs, Persian Gulf. Geological R.W.; Osmaston, M.F.; Kholief, M.M., 1982. Magazine, 147(4): 497-507. Subsidence history of the Zagros https://doi.org/10.1017/S001675680999077X basin, Permian to Recent. Philosophical Murris, R.J., 1981. Middle East-Stratigraphic Transactions of the Royal Society of London A: Evolution and Oil Habitat. AAPG Bulletin, 65(7): Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 1358-1358. Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021 5:149-68. https://doi.org/10.1306/2F919814-16CE-11D7- https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.1982.0031 8645000102C1865D Loeblich, A.R.; Tappan H., 1964. Foraminiferal Pollastro, R.M., 2003. Total petroleum systems of Classification and Evolution. Journal of the the Paleozoic and , greater Ghawar uplift Geological Society of India, 5: 5-39 and adjoining provinces of central Saudi Arabia Loeblich, A.R.; Tappan H., 1988. Foraminiferal and northern Arabian-Persian Gulf (pp. 2202-H). Genera and Their Classification. Springer US Department of the Interior, US Geological Publication, 716 pp. Survey press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-5760-3_5 Pouresmaeil, A.; Hadavi, F.; Lak, R., 2012. Mina, P.; Razaghnia, M.T.; Paran, Y., 1967. Calcareous Nannofossils in Holocene Surface Geological and geophysical studies and Sediments of the Persian Gulf. Journal of the exploratory drilling of the Iranian continental Persian Gulf, 8(3): 35-48. shelf-Persian Gulf: Mexico seventh World Purser, B.H., 1973. The Persian Gulf (Holocene Petroleum Congress Proceedings, 2: 771-903. Carbonate sedimentation and diagenesis in a

39 Aryaei et al. / Systematic Paleontology, Distribution and Abundance of…

shallow epicontinental sea). Springer Publication, Gebrüder Borntraeger, 31-56. 469 pp. Seyrafian, A.; Mojikhalifeh, A., 2005. Rahimpour‐Bonab, H.; Asadi‐Eskandar, A.; Sonei, Biostratigraphy of the Late Paleogene-Early R., 2009. Effects of the Permian-Triassic boundary Neogene succession, north-central border of on reservoir characteristics of the South Pars gas Persian Gulf, Iran. Carbonates and Evaporites, field, Persian Gulf. Geological journal, 44(3): 341- 20(1): 91-97. 364. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03175452 https://doi.org/10.1002/gj.1148 Swift, S.A.; Ross, D.A., 2002. Neogene stratigraphic Read, J.F., 1985. Carbonate platform facies models. development of the Persian Gulf, Woods Hole AAPG Bulletin, 69(1):1-21. Oceanographic Institution Ma Dept Geology and https://doi.org/10.1306/AD461B79-16F7-11D7- Geophysics, 215 pp. 8645000102C1865D https://doi.org/10.21236/ADA625817 Saint-Marc, P., 1978. Arabian peninsula. The Uchupi, E.; Swift, S.A.; Ross, D.A., 1999. Late Phanerozoic geology of the world II: The Quaternary stratigraphy, paleoclimate and Mesozoic. Elsevier Publication, 435-462. neotectonism of the Persian Gulf region. Marine Geology, 160: 1-2. Sajadi, S.H.; Baghbani, D.; Daneshian, J., 2014. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-3227(99)00011-0 Facies distribution, paleoecology and sedimentary environment of the oligocene-miocene (Asmari Van Marle, L.J., 1988. Bathymetric distribution of formation) deposits, in , SE Persian benthic foraminifera on the Australian-Irian Jaya Gulf. Advances in Environmental Biology, 2407- Continental margin, Eastern Indonesia. Marine 2419. Micropaleontology, 13: 97-152. https://doi.org/10.1016/0377-8398(88)90001-1 Sajadi, S.H.; Baghbani, D.; Daneshian, J.; Moezabad, M.K., 2016. Stratigraphy of Vega, F.J.; Gholamalian, H.; Hassani, M.J.; Sajadi, Oligocene-Miocene salt deposits in the SE Persian S.H.; Schaaf, P., 2012. Miocene Crustacea from Downloaded from jpg.inio.ac.ir at 9:20 IRST on Monday October 4th 2021 Gulf. Carbonates and Evaporites, 31(3): 277-288. northern Bandar Abbas, South Iran. Neues https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-015-0263-4 Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie- Abhandlungen, 265(3): 221-234. Seibold, E.; Ulrich, J., 1970. Zur Bodengestalt des https://doi.org/10.1127/0077-7749/2012/0247 nordwestlichen Golfs von Oman. Meteor Forschungsergebnisse: Reihe C, Geologie und Wilkinson, B.H.; Drummond, C.N., 2004. Facies Geophysik, 3:1-4. mosaics across the Persian Gulf and around Antigua-stochastic and deterministic products of Seibold, E.; Vollbrecht, K., 1969. Die Bodengestalt shallow-water sediment accumulation. Journal of des Persischen Golfs. Meteor Sedimentary Research, 74(4): 513-526. Forschungsergebnisse: Herausgegeben von der https://doi.org/10.1306/123103740513 Deutschen Forschungsgesellschaft. Berlin: Aryaei et al. / Systematic Paleontology, Distribution and Abundance of… Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)/Vol .8/No. 28/ June 2017/22/19-40 Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)/Vol. 8/No. 28/ June 2017/22/19-40

40