Occurrence of Phoebodus gothicus (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii) in the middle Famennian of northwestern Iran (Province East Azerbaijan)

Abstract

Teeth of the stratigraphically relevant elasmobranch Phoebodus gothicus were recovered from samples collected from the Ilan-Ghareh Formation in the neighbourhood of Zonuz in East Azerbaijan province, Iran. The associated fauna confirms a middle Famennian age, marginifera and trachytera conodont Zone. Comparisons with European, North American, African and other Asian locations show a stratigraphically restricted distribution of Phoebodus gothicus in the Famennian, Early marginifera to Middle praesulcata Zone. The Zonuz sample furthermore contains conodonts, ostracods, gastropods, crinoids as well as tooth and bone fragments of other chondrichthyans, placoderms, and osteichthyans. The ostracods indicate a neritic, shallow water environment with a probable high nutrient flux.