Middle Jurassic Zoophycos and Chondrites from the Mélah Formation of Saharan Atlas, Algeria

Abstract

The ichnogenera Zoophycos and Chondrites are described for the first time from the Middle Jurassic of Algeria. The trace fossil assemblage recovered from the Mélah Formation contains seven ichnospecies (Chondrites targionii, C. ?intricatus, Zoophycos brianteus, Z. cauda-galli, Zoophycos isp. A, Zoophycos isp. B and Zoophycos isp. C), which all represent the Zoophycos ichnofacies. Chondrites and Zoophycos in the Mélah Formation were made by unknown worm-like invertebrates in a deeper offshore or a shallow bathyal environment (below storm weather wave base) and may indicate oxygen depletion within the sediment.

Keywords

• trace fossils
• zoophycos
• chondrites
• deep offshore
• aalenian
• bajocian
• north africa.