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The Gastropod Fossil Snail Discohelix tunisiensis (Cox, 1969) from the Matmor Formation (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) of Southern Palestine By: Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher KhalafSakerfalke von Jaffa
The Fossil of the Gastropod Snail Discohelix tunisiensis (Cox, 1969) from the Matmor Formation (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) of southern Palestine. (Apical side). http://woostergeologists.scotblogs.wooster.edu/files/2013/07/Discohelix-tunisiensisapical-copy.jpg Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 127 – July 2015
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During a Wooster Expedition in summer 2013, the Geologists Lizzie Reinthal and Steph Bosch collected the above specimen from the Matmor Formation (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) of southern Palestine. The Geology Professor Mark Wilson from the College of Wooster, Ohio, United States of America, simply assumed it was an ammonite, especially because they were anxious to find ammonites to further reinforce their biostratigraphic framework. When he later tried to identify it by searching through the Jurassic ammonite literature, he could find nothing like it. Prof. M. Wilson then sent a photograph to his friend the Paleontology Professor Zeev Lewy, a prominent ammonite expert recently retired from the Geological Survey of Israel. His answer was a surprise: this fossil is the Gastropod Snail Discohelix tunisiensis Cox, 1969 (Wilson, 2013). How could this be a snail when it looks so much like a cool, multi-whorled planispiral ammonite, complete with ribs? Well, it is not planispiral, if you look at it again. Below you see the other side (adapical side) of the specimen, with its slightly depressed center. Most ammonites don’t show such asymmetry. This actually is a gastropod, and it represents an ancient group (the clade Vetigastropoda) with primitive features reminiscent of Paleozoic marine snails (Archaeogastropoda). It is not as much that the snail has converged on an ammonite style of shell; it’s that the ammonites developed a similar shell much later for entirely different reasons (swimming, for example). Discohelix was likely an herbivore grazing in patchy coral reefs like it was represented in the Matmor Formation. It has become a useful index fossil for the Jurassic of the Tethyan Realm, although this is the first time it was found in Palestine (Wilson, 2013). The Jurassic Matmor Formation is the name given to the thick 100 meter unit that is exposed in HaMakhtesh HaGadol. The Matmor Formation contains fossils from a Jurassic equatorial shallow marine environment. Bivalves, gastropods, sponges, corals, echinoderms, and sclerobionts are present in the Matmor Formation to various degrees (Wilson et al., 2010). The stratigraphy of the Matmor Formation consists of alternating layers of limestone and marl (Hirsch and Roded, 1996) (Wikipedia). Matmor Stratigraphy The Iraq Petroleum Company originally described the Jurassic sequence in HaMakhtesh HaGadol (The Big Crater) of Palestine in the 1930s (Hudson, 1958). These findings were later described and published by Blake in 1935. Shaw (1947) published a limited summary of the stratigraphy. Hudson (1958) later subdivded the rocks into the Callovian, Divesian, Argovian, Sequanim biostratigraphic stages. In 1963, Goldberg subdivided the section into the Zohar, Kidod and Be'er Sheva formations. Goldberg (1963) further divided the Zohar formation into the Ziyya and Madsus members. In 1966, Mayac dated the Callovian and what Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 127 – July 2015
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appeared to be the Lower Oxfordian stages with Foraminifera (Mayac, 1966, in Hirsch and Roded, 1996). Further biostratigraphic work by Hirsch et al. (1998) and Grossowicz et al. (2000) show that the Matmor Formation is entirely Upper Callovian (Wikipedia).
The Fossil of the Gastropod Snail Discohelix tunisiensis (Cox, 1969) from the Matmor Formation (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) of southern Palestine. (Adapical side). http://woostergeologists.scotblogs.wooster.edu/files/2013/07/Discohelix-tunisiensisadapical.jpg HaMakhtesh HaGadol (The Big Crater) is a makhtesh, a geological erosional landform of Palestine's Naqab (Negev) desert. It measures 5 x 10 km (Wikipedia).
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A makhtesh has steep walls of resistant rock surrounding a deep closed valley. One of five makhteshim in Palestine and seven in the world, HaMakhtesh HaGadol is the second largest, being exceptional in that it is drained by one river, River Wadi El-Jemen or El-Hadire (Nahal Hatira). Makatesh Gadol was discovered and named before Makhtesh Ramon which is the largest Makhtesh in Palestine (Wikipedia). HaMakhtesh HaGadol is near Tel Rahma (Yeruham), dating back to the 10th century BCE. On the outskirts of Yeruham is an ancient well, Be'er Rahma. Some archeologists have identified it as the well where the biblical Hagar drew water for her son Prophet Ishmael (Wikipedia).
The above is the marine snail Pseudotorinia (Architae-group) retifera. It used to be called Discohelix retifera, and you can see why. It may not be in the same genus, but you can see that this modern group and Discohelix are closely related. Discohelix itself is now known only from the fossil record (Wilson, 2013). http://woostergeologists.scotblogs.wooster.edu/files/2013/07/Pseudotorinia-Architaegroup-retifera.jpg Vetigastropoda is a major taxonomic group of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks that form a very ancient lineage. Taxonomically the Vetigastropoda are Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 127 – July 2015
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sometimes treated as an order, although they are a clade in Bouchet and Rocroi, 2005 (Wikipedia). Vetigastropods are considered to be among the most primitive living gastropods, and are widely distributed in all oceans of the world. Their habitats range from the deep sea to intertidal zones. Many have shells with slits or other secondary openings. One of their main characteristics is the presence of intersected crossed platy shell structure. Most vetigastropods have some bilateral asymmetry of their organ systems (Wikipedia).
Discohelix was named as a genus in 1847 by Wilhelm Bernhard Rudolph Hadrian Dunker (1809-1885), a German natural scientist with interests in geology, paleontology and marine zoology. Like so many 19th Century paleontologists, Dunker started with a practical training in mining engineering and then followed a passion for fossils and modern shells. He had a huge collection of materials that eventually ended up in the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin. He traded and corresponded with many top scientists of his day, including Charles Darwin. He also published many monographs on modern and fossil molluscan taxa. In 1846, he and Hermann von Meyer established the journal “Palaeontographica”. This journal survives to this day in two descendants: “Palaeontographica A” (Paleozoology, Stratigraphy) and “Palaeontographica B” (Paleobotany) (Wilson, 2013). http://woostergeologists.scotblogs.wooster.edu/files/2013/07/Dunker.jpg
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Discohelix tunisiensis (Gastropoda : Discohelicidae) was named by L. R. Cox in 1969. It is not extant. Its type locality is Derachra (Location in Tunisia: 32.6° N, 10.3° E: paleocoordinates 21.1° N, 11.3° E), which is in a Callovian shallow subtidal limestone/marl in the Tataouine Formation (Early/Lower Callovian 164.7 - 161.2 Ma) of Tunisia (Paleobiology Database).
References and Internet Websites Cox, L.R. (1969). Gasteropodes Jurassiques du Sud-Est Tunisien [Jurassic gastropods from SE Tunisia]. Annales de Paleontologie, Invertebres 55: 241-268. Goldberg, M. (1963). Reference section of Jurassic sequence in Hamakhtesh Hagadol (Kurnub Anticline). Detailed binocular sample description, including field observations. Israel Geological Survey, Unpublished Report, pp. 1–50. Grossowicz, L.P., Bassoullet, J.P., Hirsch, F., & Peri, M. (2000). Jurassic large Foraminifera from Israel. Geol. Surv. Isr. Current Res, 12, 132-144. Grundel, J. 2005. The genus Discohelix Dunker, 1847 (Gastropoda) and on the content of the Discohelicidae Schroder, 1995. Neues Jahrbuch fur Geologie und Palaontologie-Monatshefte 12: 729-748. Hirsch, F., Bassoullet, J. P., Cariou, E., Conway, B., Feldman, H., Grossowicz, L., Honigstein, A., Owen, E. and Rosenfeld, A. (1998). The Jurassic of the southern Levant. Biostratigraphy, palaeogeography and cyclic events. In: S. CrasquinSoleau and E. Barrier (eds.), Peri- Tethys Memoir 4: Epicratonic basins of the Peri- Tethyan platforms. Mem. Mus. natn. Hist. nat. 179: 213-235. Hirsch, F.; Roded, A. (1996). The Jurassic stratigraphic nomenclature in Hamakhtesh Hagadol, northern Negev. Geological Survey of Israel, Current Research 10: 10–14. Hudson, R.G.S. (1958). The Upper Jurassic faunas of southern Israel. Geological Magazine 95 (5): 415–425. doi:10.1017/S0016756800062993. Khalaf, Norman Ali Bassam (1980). Tabie’t Al-Talawon fi Al-Haywanat (The Colouration of Animals). Al-Biology Bulletin. Number 1. January 1980, Safar 1401. Biological Society, Kuwait University, State of Kuwait. pp. 4-5. (in Arabic). Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam (1992). An Introduction to the Animal Life in Palestine. Gazelle. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Bonn-Bad Godesberg, Federal Republic of Germany. Number 30, Tenth Year, October 1992. pp. 1-7. (in Arabic). Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam (1994). An Introduction to the Animal Life in Palestine. Shqae'q Al-Nouma'n (Anemone coronaria). A Quarterly Magazine Issued by the Program EAI (Education for Awareness and for Involvement). Environmental Education / Children for Nature Protection. In Cooperation with Dept. of General and Higher Education. P.L.O., Palestine. Number 4. Huzairan (June) 1994. pp. 16-21. (in Arabic). Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 127 – July 2015
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Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali (2004). Gazelle: Das Palästinensische Biologische Bulletin. Eine Wissenschaftliche Reise in Palästina, Arabien und Europa zwischen 1983 – 2004 / Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. A Scientific Journey in Palestine, Arabia and Europe between 1983 – 2004. ISBN 3-00-0141219. Erste Auflage, Juli 2004: 452 Seiten. Zweite erweiterte Auflage, August 2004: 460 Seiten. Norman Ali Khalaf, Bonn-Bad Godesberg, Germany. http://drnorman-ali-khalaf-books.webs.com/ Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2009). Flora and Fauna in Palestine. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 91, July 2009, Rajab 1430 AH. pp. 1-31. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://florafauna-palestine.webs.com/ Khalaf-von Jaffa, Dr. Norman Ali Bassam (2009). Fauna Palaestina – Part One. A Zoological Journey in Palestine, Arabia and Europe between 1983 – 2006 / Fauna Palaestina – Teil Eins. Eine Zoologische Reise in Palästina, Arabien und Europa zwischen 1983 – 2006. ISBN 978-9948-03-865-8. Erste Auflage/First Edition, September 2009: 412 Seiten/Pages. Self Publisher: Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates & Rilchingen-Hanweiler, Bundesrepublik Deutschland. http://dr-norman-ali-khalafbooks.webs.com/faunapalaestinapart1.htm Khalaf-von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2010). Fauna Emiratus Part One. Zoological Studies in the United Arab Emirates between 2004 - 2009. / Fauna Emiratus – Teil Eins. Zoologische Studien in die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate zwischen 2004 - 2009. ISBN 978-9948-15-462-4. Erste Auflage/First Edition, November 2010: 350 Seiten / Pages. Self Publisher: Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa, Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates & Rilchingen-Hanweiler, Bundesrepublik Deutschland. http://dr-norman-ali-khalaf-books.webs.com/faunaemiratuspart1.htm Khalaf-von Jaffa, Dr. Norman Ali Bassam (2012). Fauna Palaestina – Part Two. Zoological Studies in Palestine between 1983 – 2009 / Fauna Palaestina - Teil Zwei. Zoologische Studien in Palästina zwischen 1983 – 2009. ISBN 978-9948-16667-2. 1. Auflage / First Edition : July 2012, Shaaban 1433 H. 208 Seiten / Pages (Arabic Part 120 Pages and the English Part 88 Pages). Publisher: Dar Al Jundi Publishing House, Al-Quds (Jerusalem), Palestine. http://dr-norman-alikhalaf-books.webs.com/faunapalaestinapart2.htm Khalaf-von Jaffa, Dr. Norman Ali Bassam (2013). Fauna Palaestina – Part Three. Zoological Studies in Palestine between 2005 – 2012 / Fauna Palaestina - Teil Drei. Zoologische Studien in Palästina zwischen 2005 – 2012. ISBN 978-9950-383-35-7. Erste Auflage / First Edition : July 2013, Shaaban 1434 H. 364 pages (English Part 350 Pages and the Arabic Part 14 Pages). Publisher: Dar Al Jundi Publishing House, Al-Quds (Jerusalem), State of Palestine. http://dr-norman-ali-khalafbooks.webs.com/faunapalaestinapart3.htm Khalaf-von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Bassam (2014). Fauna Palaestina – Part Four. Zoological Studies in Palestine between 1983 – 2014 / Fauna Palaestina Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 127 – July 2015
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Teil Vier. Zoologische Studien in Palästina zwischen 1983 – 2014. ISBN 978-9950383-77-7. Erste Auflage / First Edition : July 2014, Ramadan 1435 H. pp. 456 (English part 378 pages and Arabic part 78 pages). Publisher: Dar Al Jundi Publishing House, Al-Quds (Jerusalem), State of Palestine. http://fauna-palaestina-part-1.webs.com/faunapalaestina4.htm Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2015). The Terrestrial Gastropods in Palestine. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 126, June 2015. pp. 1-16. Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://animals-of-palestine.webs.com/terrestrialgastropods Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2015). The Gastropod Fossil Snail Discohelix tunisiensis (Cox, 1969) from the Matmor Formation (Middle Jurassic, Callovian) of Southern Palestine. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 127, July 2015. pp. 1-8. Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://animals-ofpalestine.webs.com/snail-discohelix-tunisiensis Paleobiology Database. Discohelix tunisiensis. Gastropoda – Discohelicidae. http://paleobiodb.org/cgibin/bridge.pl?a=checkTaxonInfo&taxon_no=173559&is_real_user=0 Tëmkin, I., Glaubrecht, M. and Köhler, F. (2009). Wilhelm Dunker, his collection, and pteriid systematics. Malacologia 51: 39-79. Wendt, J. (1968). Discohelix (Archaeogastropoda, Euomphalacea) as an index fossil in the Tethyan Jurassic. Palaeontology 11: 554-575. Wilson, Mark (2013). Wooster’s Fossil of the Week: An almost planispiral gastropod from the Middle Jurassic of southern Israel. (11th August 2013). http://woostergeologists.scotblogs.wooster.edu/2013/08/11/woosters-fossil-ofthe-week-an-almost-planispiral-gastropod-from-the-middle-jurassic-of-southernisrael/ Wilson, M.A.; Feldman, H.R.; Krivicich, E.B. (2010). Bioerosion in an equatorial Middle Jurassic coral-sponge reef community (Callovian, Matmor Formation, southern Israel). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 289: 93– 101. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2010.02.019. Wikipedia. HaMakhtesh HaGadol. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HaMakhtesh_HaGadol Wikipedia. Matmor Formation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matmor_Formation Wikipedia. Vetigastropoda. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vetigastropoda Wikipedia. Yeruham. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeruham
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