Early Ordovician Fauna of Morocco
13th April 2008

This Early Ordovician fauna from Morocco is reminiscent of Chengjiang in preservational style. The fossils were once pyritized, but are now oxidized to iron oxy-hydroxides and small oxidized pyrite framboids can be observed scattered in the mudstone matrix.

Arthropods and echinoderms are commonly preserved in an articulated state. Limbs of arthropods are well preserved and soft-part preservation has been seen in specimens of machaeridian worms and graptolites.

Some of the faunal elements are reminiscent of the preceding Cambrian (for example the sponges and marrelamorph arthropods) whereas others record the growing importance of echinoderms in the Ordovician and the appearance of horseshoe crabs.

<-- Index | Showing 1-20 of 20 pictures | Index -->
Pirania auraeum, a complete 13 mm non-lithistid demosponge. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco.
Pirania auraeum, a complete 13 mm non-lithistid demosponge. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco.
 Pustulose trilobite and a number of well-preserved limbs, 10 mm with graptolite. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco.
Pustulose trilobite and a number of well-preserved limbs, 10 mm with graptolite. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco.
 Pustulose trilobite and a number of well-preserved limbs, 10 mm with graptolite. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco.
Pustulose trilobite and a number of well-preserved limbs, 10 mm with graptolite. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco.
 22 mm asaphid trilobite with a 5mm juvenile and a bivalve. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco.
22 mm asaphid trilobite with a 5mm juvenile and a bivalve. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco.
An Early Ordovician xiphosurid, 45 mm long exhibiting preservation of limbs. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco. This form is currently being studied by Peter van Roy of UCD.
An Early Ordovician xiphosurid, 45 mm long exhibiting preservation of limbs. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco. This form is currently being studied by Peter van Roy of UCD.
 Drawing of Early Ordovician xiphosurid, 45 mm long exhibiting preservation of chelicera, chelate limb and pushing limb.
Drawing of Early Ordovician xiphosurid, 45 mm long exhibiting preservation of chelicera, chelate limb and pushing limb.

Detail of counterpart.
Detail of counterpart.
Undescribed synziphosuran arthropod, 6 mm long. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco.
Undescribed synziphosuran arthropod, 6 mm long. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco.
 A primitive asteroid, 2 cm. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco. Possible tube feet are preserved.
A primitive asteroid, 2 cm. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco. Possible tube feet are preserved.
A primitive asteroid, 2 cm. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco. Possible tube feet are preserved.
A primitive asteroid, 2 cm. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco. Possible tube feet are preserved.
 A carpoid, 2 cm around the curve. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco.
A carpoid, 2 cm around the curve. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco.
Cothurnocystis sp. carpoid, 2 cm. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco.
Cothurnocystis sp. carpoid, 2 cm. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco.
 Cothurnocystis sp. carpoid, 2 cm. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco.
Cothurnocystis sp. carpoid, 2 cm. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco.
Rhopalocystis destombesi , 5 cm crown of an eocrinoid in part and counterpart. Upper Tremadoc, Zagora region, SE Morocco.
Rhopalocystis destombesi , 5 cm crown of an eocrinoid in part and counterpart. Upper Tremadoc, Zagora region, SE Morocco.
Rhopalocystis destombesi , 5 cm crown of an eocrinoid in part and counterpart. Upper Tremadoc, Zagora region, SE Morocco.
Rhopalocystis destombesi , 5 cm crown of an eocrinoid in part and counterpart. Upper Tremadoc, Zagora region, SE Morocco.
Hyolithids, 10 mm. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco.
Hyolithids, 10 mm. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, SE Morocco.
 Furca sp (short spine form), 25 mm. Ca 480 Million years old. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, southeastern Morocco.
Furca sp (short spine form), 25 mm. Ca 480 Million years old. Basal Upper Fezouata Formation (lower Arenig, or lower Floian), north of Zagora, southeastern Morocco.
© 1998-2009 - All copyrights rest with the Author
[ PDF contact sheet | Index ]