ASSOSA UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF NATURAL AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY

RESEARCH PAPER ENTITLED AS:-

Jurassic Brachiopods from Dejen-Gohatsion Section,
Blue Nile Basin, Central Ethiopia
BY
BIKILA ARGETA

ASSOSA ETHIOPIA

OCTOBER 2024
 ABSTRACT
A Jurassic Brachiopod fauna from Blue Nile basin from Dejen to Gohatsion was represented by
two articulated class Ryhnchellida and Terbatullida. The class comprises of five species viz.,
Dhagnirynchia sp, Somalirhynchia, Cymatorhynchia, Monsardithyris, Cererithyris, The material
studied herein was collected from three sections. The study presents morphological description
of Jurassic brachiopod fauna from the Blue Nile basin of central Ethiopia. This taxonomically
study aid in establishing the history of brachiopod species and their evolution within the Blue
Nile basin. The data compiled as a result of these studies enable us to interpret the
biogeographic history of the Blue Nile basin, as well as gain insight into the structure and
palaeoecology of its marine communities. It also contributes to define faunal- and province-
realm boundaries with greater accuracy. From the compiled data Correlation of the brachiopod
fauna of the area with those of Mekelle and Dire Dawa regions is similar.
In combining the new data with fossil occurrence data from the Paleobiology Database the
conducted taxonomic analyses to assess biogeographic patterns and the delineation of the
Ethiopian Province for the Callovian to Kimmeridgian stages. Results suggest that an Ethiopian
Province is indeed evident for our focal groups, but this is more confined than traditionally
assumed. The so defined Ethiopian Province includes Tunisia, the Levant, Arabia and much of
East Africa, but excludes Tanzania and India. The special status of India and Tanzania is
perhaps due to latitudinal gradients in faunal composition.

KEY WORDS:- Dhagnirynchia, callovian, paleobiology, province, Thyatan

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 CHAPTER ONE

1. INTRODUCTIONS

1.1 Background
Sedimentary basins are regions of large depression due to prolonged crustal subsidence, in which
sediments are accumulated (Philip and John, 2005). Excluding the thin Quaternary and
unconsolidated sediments, which are deposited in the main Ethiopian rift valley, sedimentary
regions of Ethiopia covers a major part of the country and mainly exposed in five distinct basins
they are the Ogaden Basin, the Blue Nile Basin, the Gambela Basin, the Mekele outlier and the
Southern Rift Basins (Ethiopian Ministry of Mines, (2011). The development of most of these
basins is related to the extensional tectonic events that have taken place since the Late Paleozoic
time (Merla et al., 1979).

From sedimentary rocks Carbonate rocks, are characterized by containing important and varied
textures, sedimentary structures and fossils that yield important information about ancient marine
environments, paleoecological conditions and the evolution of life forms, particularly marine
organisms, through time.

According to Geni et al The Blue Nile Basin is located in the North Western Ethiopia plateau,
was formed due to rifting during the Mesozoic era (250Ma – 66Ma) with the breakup of
Gondwana. Between the Triassic and early Jurassic about 300m of fluvial sediments were
deposited by river and stream. During the Jurassic (200Ma – 115Ma) the basin was twice
covered by an arm of the Indian ocean for extended periods, creating a lower limestone sediment
450m thick. In the late Jurassic and early cretaceous periods the basin rose and the 280m upper
sandstone sediments, both alluvial and fluvial, were deposited in total about 1.4km of sediment
was deposited over the basement rock in this period. Late the Afar mantle plume caused volcanic
eruption in the early and late Oligocene (34.23Ma), depositing volcanic rocks between 500m and
200m thick with further eruptions in the quaternary depositing another zoom of rock. These
layers have been exposed were the Blue Nile River has cut through the strata creating 1600m
Gorge where the rock of different periods can be studied.

In general, the Early Jurassic saw the separation of India from Africa and the emergence of the
Indian Ocean. With increasing subsidence of the Blue Nile Basin, a shallow marine embayment

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was formed that extended northwestwards from the Indian Ocean and thus, submerged the newly
formed NW–trending basin. This Early Jurassic initial marine transgression marked the
deposition of the glauconitic sandy mudstone followed by continued basin deepening and the
deposition of Early–Middle Jurassic marine sediments. Cyclic flooding and drying of the basin
turned it into an evaporate basin for most of the Middle Jurassic, and thereafter, was followed by
a second phase of marine transgression during the Middle–Late Jurassic.
In the Mesozoic sedimentation history of Ethiopia Most limestone are ultimately biogenic in
origin and understanding of biological and palaeobiological factors is essential in knowing their
formation. The remains of animals or plants preserved as a fossil in carbonate rock are used for
the interpretation of depositional environment, the geological record dating, and correlation of
strata.
The Brachiopod fossils are preserved in carbonate rocks of Blue Nile basin so systematic study
of this fossils in Blue Nile basin from Dejen to Gohatsion area, their stratigraphic column and
paleontology provide the recognition of periods in the history of the earth in terms of geological
record, paleoenvironmental changes.

1.2. Geographic Setting of the Area

1.2.1. Location and Accessibility

The study area is located in the Blue Nile gorge of central Ethiopia. It is around 180 km north of
the capital, Addis Ababa. It lays in UTM zone 37 with a Geographical extent of 1105467m to
1124549m Northing and 398989m to 422888 m Easting. It has a total area of 456.1 km2.
Gohatsion and Dejen are two small towns located just outside the gorge in the south and in the
north side of the gorge respectively. Figure 1 clearly shows the location of the study area.
The study area can be reached easily using the asphalt road that goes from Addis Ababa to the
northern part of the country. The road passes through the gorge crossing the two small towns in
the north and south edge of the valley. Since the topography is very rugged it is impossible to
drive away from the road in both sides. But in some places it can be accessed on foot to the
vicinity of the road. Total coverage of the Blue Nile basin is approximately 42 km2 and study is
undertaken on two locally selected stratigraphic section in Dejen and Gohatsion section.

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1.3 Significance of the study
This taxonomically study will aid in establishing the history of brachiopod species and their
evolution within the Blue Nile basin. The data compiled as a result of these studies will enable us
to interpret the biogeographic history of the Blue Nile basin, as well as gain insight into the
structure and palaeoecology of its marine communities. Furthermore, the study attempts to
determine the position of the brachiopod fauna in the Indo-African Faunal Realm, and its
possible relation with the Tethyan Realm, within the Ethiopian Province. It also contributes to
define faunal and province realm boundaries with greater accuracy.

1.4 Statement of problem

Brachiopod fossils are poorly known from the Ethiopian Jurassic sedimentary rocks mostly from
the Blue Nile, Mekelle and Dire Dawa regions (Blanford, 1870; Douvillé, 1886; Merla and
Minucci, 1938; Wells, 1943; Arkell, 1956; Jaboli, 1959; ZuffardiComerci, 1959; Ficcarelli,
1968; Jordan, 1971). In the Blue Nile basin of central Ethiopia, previous studies have focused on
sedimentology, stratigraphy, and geochemistry (Beyth, 1972; Bosellini et al., 1995, 1997;
Martire et al., 1998; Worash and Valera, 2002).

However taxonomic study of invertebrates helps to interpret the biogeographic history of the
basin, as well as the palaeoecology of its marine communities, systematic paleontological study
on marine invertebrates in the basin is poorly known. This paper attempts to present
morphological description of Jurassic brachiopod fauna from the Blue Nile basin of central
Ethiopia.

1.5. Objectives

1.5.1 General objective

The main objective of this research is taxonomic study of Jurassic brachiopod fauna in Dejen –
Gohatsion area from the Blue Nile basin of central Ethiopia.

1.5.2 Specific objective

The specific objectives of this research are as follows:

➢ Conducting morphological description of Jurassic brachiopod sin study area

➢ Description of stratigraphic succession of Blue Nile basin.

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 ➢ Interpretation of the depositional environment of study area
➢ Reconstruction of the palaeoecology of brachiopod communities in the basin
➢ Correlate of the brachiopod fauna of the area with those of Mekelle and Dire Dawa
regions
➢ Determining the brachiopod fauna in the Indo-African Faunal Realm, and its possible
relation with the Tethyan Realm within the Ethiopian Province

1.6 Methodology and Materials

1.6.1 Methodology
To successfully accomplish this thesis, different methodology will have been applied. In order to
reduce difficulty during the work and achieve objectives three phases of methodology will be
applied. These are: - phase I (pre-field) or preparation, Phase II (during-field) or main field work
and phase III (post-field). Each method was followed by its own detailed activities.

[Link] Phase I (Pre-Fieldwork)

Before the main fieldwork, office preparation has been undertaken. These includes review of
previous work and available base maps, previous geological map in order to have an overview
about the geology of the study area and their surrounding region, collecting of secondary data
geological map, preparation of working plan and scheduling the various research activities,
finalization of the methodology to be adopted for the proposed study and preparation for the
fieldwork (equipment, base map, transport and personal preparation).

[Link] Phase II (Field data collection)

Field trip would be carried for one month from December 05/04/2012 to January 05/052012
during the field work collection of lithology and fossil samples were done. Each rock unit and
their stratigraphic relationship to other rock units were identified, description of all the
lithological variation in color, textures, sedimentary structures, mineral composition and
macrofossils based on fossil association.

360 brachiopod fossil samples were collected. Sample selection will be done aiming at having
complete succession of units. Photographs will also take at each layer to document fossil

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associations. Collections of fossil will be conducted in the selected stratigraphical section. The
fossil that needs to be collected in the field are brachiopod fossil and have alr from the rock those
can be easily collected and some fossils remain embedded in the rock. This fossils are collected
in three locality namely Gelegele, Dembeza and Filikilik area. The sample codes are SG1, SG2,
SG3, SG4, SD1, SD2 and SF1, SF2, SF3, SF4 are for somaliranchia sp in three localities for
instance (SG1 somaliranchia species in Gelegele area), CG1,CG2,CG3,CG4 CG5,CG6 CD1,
CD2,CD3,CD4 and CF1,CF2,CF3,CF4 for Cymatorychia species(CG1 Cymatorychia species
in Gelegele area) and DG1 ,DG2 ,DD1 ,DF1 and DF2 for Daghanirhynchia species ( DG1
Daghanirhynchia species in Gelgele area).
[Link] Phase III (Post Fieldwork)
During this phase the collected samples were washed in the laboratory and selected for
descriptions. To reduce difficulty during systematic study 38 good samples are selected and
coded.

1.7.2 Materials
Instruments which are necessary for data collection and laboratory analysis to accomplish this
research study. Field instruments that will be used to perform field work are camera, Brunton
compass, geological hammer, dilute 50% H2O2, GPS, sample bag, plastic sample bag, marker,
pen, note book, meter stick, hand lenses and Dejen -Gohatsion topographic map.

1.8 Limitation of the study

The principal limitation of this study is shortage of brachiopod species from many additional
sections due to accessibility problems. Most of the limestone outcrops located in the Blue Nile
Canyon, which is very ragged and steep to access on foot. Lack of representative sections that
are distributed throughout the basin highly affect the reliability of the data, with regard to
determining the paleoecological conditions under which they existed during the Jurassic.
Moreover, lack of laboratory equipment’s, such as Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), for the
analysis of shell microstructures and shortage of instruments for preparation of serial section
hinders the proper identification brachiopod species.

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 CHAPTER TWO

2. LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1. Regional Geology

Geology of Ethiopia is characterized by the occurrence of a very wide variety of rocks, differing
in their age, origin and evolution. The rocks in the country classified into three broad categories;
Tertiary and Quaternary volcanic rocks which occupy large parts of the country along the rift
valley and plateau, continental and marine of late Paleozoic to Mesozoic sedimentary rocks and
Precambrian basement complexes (Tefera et al. (1996). The East African region has been
affected by two major phases of rifting. The first phase was the widespread rifting in Karoo
times (Late Carboniferous to Early Jurassic) which stretches from Ethiopia to South Africa
corresponds to the initiation of the break-up of Gondwanaland in that further subsidence took
place. This subsidence combined with sea-level fluctuation produce cyclic patterns of shallow-
marine carbonates, shales, evaporites and minor clastic deposits. The second rifting relates to the
formation of the East African rift system from Cenozoic to Recent (Bosellini, 1989).

According to Beyth (1972a; 1972b), Sedimentary regions of Ethiopia cover a significant portion
of the country. They classify into five distinct basins, namely: The Ogaden, Abbay, Gambela,
Southern rift and Mekele basin. Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary successions of Ethiopia are
unconfarmably overly Precambrian basements. Most of sedimentary succession of the country is
part of the vast sedimentary succession of East Africa which was deposited during the Mesozoic
transgression. But also there are some late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic sedimentary rocks mainly
sandstones and minor tillite, shale, siltstone and conglomerate present in some parts of the
country. The Mesozoic succession of Ethiopia is present in the Mekele outlier, Blue Nile Basin
and Southeastern Ethiopia with adjacent in the Ogaden Basin (Kazmin, 1973; Merla et al., 1979;
Bosellini et al., 2001; Beyth 1972a; 1972b; Getaneh Assefa; 1991; Russo et al., 1994).

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Figure 1 Figure 2 shows Mesozoic sediments and basins of Ethiopia (Source: Ethiopian Institute of Geological Survey, by
Mengesha Tefera et al., 1996)

2.2 General Stratigraphic Succession of Northwestern Ethiopia Plateau

Different studies have confirmed that stratigraphically wide rock units were present in
Southeastern and Northwestern Ethiopia which ranges from older Precambrian up to recent.
From those, Blanford, 1869; Kazmin 1973; Merla et al., 1979; Bosellini et al., 2001; Mengesha
Tefera et al., 1996; Abiyyu Hunegnaw et al., 1998; Balemwal Atnafu (2003); Asfawossen Asrat
2015; G/yohannes Habtezeghi, 1984; Workineh Haro, 2010; Russo, et al. (1994); Gilamechael
Kidanemariam et al.,(2009) Turi et al. (1980) ; Gani et al. (2008) and Wondafrash et al.
(1993),Dawit and Bussert, (2009); Dawit, (2010) are given some contribution to describe the
stratigraphy of Blue Nile basin.

As it is stated by Wolela Ahmed (2007), the Blue Nile basin part of Northwestern Ethiopian
Plateau contains thick Mesozoic sedimentary section and this thick Mesozoic deposit is underlain
by Neoproterozoic basement rocks and overlain by early–late Oligocene volcanic rocks. Rabben

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et al., (1979), Beicip (1985) and Balemwal Atnafu (2012) also elaborately discuss the
stratigraphy and history of sedimentation in the Abay basin.

Based on this study and the data reported by Mohr (1963), Assefa (1991) and Russo et al. (1994),
the complete succession in the Blue Nile Basin consists of a crystalline basement (precamberia)
rocks, Paleozoic sediments (pre-Adigrat sandstone), Adigrat Sandstone, Gohatsion Formation,
Antalo Limestone, Mugher Mudstone, Debre libanose and Tertiary Volcanic rock in ascending
order.

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 CHAPTER FOUR

4. DISCUSSION AND RESULT

4.1 Systematic Paleontology

The Brachiopod fauna of Blue Nile basin from Dejen to Ghatsion was represented by two
articulated group’s class Ryhnchellida and Terbatullid. The class comprises of six species viz.,
Dhagnirynchia sp, Somalirhynchia, Cymatoryhynchia, Amydroptycus, Monardityris,
Cererityries, Colpotoria and Septaliphoria which have been described by Kiessling (2011).
During the course of present investigation, I have collected well preserved Brachiopod
specimens which belong to Dhagnirynchia sp, Somalirhynchia, Cymatoryhynchia,
Amydroptycus, Monardityris, Cererityries, species. All the specimens will be coded during the
field.
The classification adopted by Moore (1965) in his “Treatise on invertebrate paleontology part-
H” has been followed in the present work.

Daghnirhynchia Sp. (fig 4.1 A)

Systematic paleontology
Phylum Brachiopoda Duméril, 1806
Subphylum Rhynchonelliformea Williams et al. 1996
Class Rhynchonellata Williams et al. 1996
Order Rhynchonellida Kuhn, 1949
Family Tetrarhynchiidae Ager, 1965
Subfamily Tetrarhynchiinae Ager, 1965
Genus Daghanirhynchia Muir-Wood, p. 82-83, 1935
Daghanirhynchia sp (fig 4.1A)
Type species Daghanirhynchia daghaniensis Muir Wood, 1935: 82; by original designation
Materials 5 individuals 2 from Gelgele area, 1 from Ddembeza area and 2 from Filkik with
sample code DG1 ,DG2 ,DD1 ,DF1 and DF2
Dimensions; DG1
Length (L) - 16 mm

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Width (W) - 18 mm
Thickness (T) - 0.9 mm
Description: The genus Daghanirhynchia is characterized by Dorsi- biconvex shell outline.
Wider (13-18 mm) than length (12-16 mm) with maximum thickness (0.7 to 0.9 mm) In smaller
specimens, width is greater than length but comparatively in larger specimens length is more or
less equal to its width. Maximum width of the test is at the middle. Gently arched to
rectimarginate anterior commissure, no fold recognizable on the dorsal valve, short acute beak,
numerous fine costae, sometimes irregularly branched. Brachial valve convexity is greater than
pedicle valve and anterior commissure area is slightly flattened giving a resupinate shape in
section. Pedicle valve is slightly depressed in the middle portion near the commissure, producing
a furrow in the central region of the commissural line, flanked by two concomitant bulged
portions in the side. Fine ridges radiating from the beak are present in both the valves. These
ridges of both the valves give the anterior commissural line, a denticulate pattern with a ‘W’
shaped out line. Both the beaks are curved but P-valve beak is to some extent erect. Prominent
pedicle opening is present in the P-valve.
Remarks: Daghanirhynchia consists of several species; most of them are identified by internal
morphology. Externally my material resembles mostly D. dagahnesis Muir-Wood.
Locality: Filklik, Gelegele and Dembeza areas of Blue Nile Basin.
Horizoan: Top most layer of marly limestone beds.

Somalirhynchia Sp. (fig 4.1 B)

Systematic paleontology
Phylum Brachiopoda Duméril, 1806
Subphylum Rhynchonelliformea Williams et al. 1996
Class Rhynchonellata Williams et al. 1996
Order Rhynchonellida Kuhn, 1949
Family Tetrarhynchiidae Ager, 1965
Subfamily Tetrarhynchiinae Ager, 1965
Genus Somalirhynchia Weir, 1935

Somalirhynchia Africana Weir (Fig. 4.1 B)

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Type species Somalirhynchia Africana Weir by original designation
*
1925 Somalirhynchia africana sp. nova. Weir: 80, pl. 12, Figs. 20–30.
v. 1935 Somalirhynchia africana Muir-Wood: 94, text-figs 7–8, pl. 10, Fig. 7-a.
v. 2001 Somalirhynchia africana Feldman et al: 641, text-figs3, pl. 1, Figs. 7–15.
Materials: 10 samples 4 from Gelgele, 2 from Dembeza and 4 from Filkilik area with sample
code of SG1,SG2,SG3,SG4 ,SD1,SD2 and SF1,SF2,SF3,SF4.
Dimensions: SG1
Length (L) - 25 mm
Width (W) - 27 mm
Thickness (T) - 19 mm
Description: Shell is large, roundly subtrigonal to subpentagonal in shell outline sub medially
widest and thickest, moderately tumid, rather coarsely ribbed with 30-35 ribs on the dorsal valve.
Maximum width of test and also both of the valves are at the middle. Lateral commissure
deflected ventrally; anterior commissure strongly uniplicate. Dorsal valve evenly convex; fold
distinct, broad and moderately raised over slopes, with rounded top Costae numerous, coarse and
subangular, on each valve numbering 26-34, with 5-8 on fold and 4-7 in sulcus, growth lines
fine, visible on whole shell. Beak is strong and massive, beak ridges subangular to obtuse well
defined and slightly concave with fine transverse lines.
Remarks: This genus is similar to Daghanirhynchia both externally and internally; some young
forms of Somalirhynchia africana could hardly be separated from the species of the latter. These
two genera are separable mainly in chronology rather than morphology (Shio and Grant).
Nevertheless, Somalirhynchia generally is much larger and broader than Daghanirhynchia, and
usually has more developed and clearly defined interareas.
Locality: Dembeza, filkilik and Gelgele area of Blue Nile basin.
Horizon: mostly from filiklik area and few specimens from the two sections
Age and Distribution: Oxfordian to Kimmeridgian; North and East Africa, Ethiopia, Middle
East, and Europe
Cymatorhynchia Sp. Zieten, 1830 (Fig 4.1C)
Systematic paleontology
Phylum Brachiopoda Duméril, 1806
Subphylum Rhynchonelliformea Williams et al. 1996
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Class Rhynchonellata Williams et al. 1996
Order Rhynchonellida Kuhn, 1949
Family Tetrarhynchiidae Ager, 1965
Subfamily Tetrarhynchiinae Ager, 1965
Genus Cymatorhynchia Zieten, 1830

Cymatorhynchia Sp. Zieten, 1830 (Fig 4.1C)

Type species Cymatorhynchia quadriplicata (Zieten, 1830)

1918 Cymatorhynchia quadriplicata (Zieten); Buckman 1918: 53–54
1966 Cymatorhynchia quadriplicata (Zieten); Almeras 1966: 70–97
Materials 14 individuals 6 from Gelgele area, 4 from Ddembeza area and 4 from Filkik with
sample code CG1,CG2,CG3,CG4 CG5,CG6 CD1, CD2,CD3,CD4 and CF1,CF2,CF3,CF4.
Dimensions; CG2
Length (L) - 24 mm
Width (W) - 23 mm
Thickness (T) - 18 mm
Description: Shells are medium to large, subpentagonal to subquadrate in outline, moderately
dorsibiconvex, and maximum width near midlength. Anterior commissure is uniplicate. Ventral
beak short, suberect to erect, deltidial plates disjunct to conjunct; costae subangular to sharp
numbering about 16–17; growth lines barely visible near anterior commissure.
Ventral valve moderately to strongly convex posteriorly but less convex anteriorly; a broad,
shallow sulcus originates just past one−third of valve length bearing 3–4 strong subangular
costae, 5–6 costae on ventral flank; foramen round, small to medium sized.
Dorsal valve more globose posteriorly, flattened toward anterior commissure; moderately convex
in lateral view; a broad, low fold originates just posterior to midlength bearing 4 costae with 6
costae on dorsal flank.
REMARKS: Cymatorhynchia is important in the early Middle Jurassic of the Tethyan Realm.
Most of its species were recorded from the Middle to Upper Bajocian, except Cymatorhynchia
cymatophorina Buckman, the type-species, which was reported from the Aalenian and is far less
known than Cymatorhynchia quadriplicata (Zieten). The genus is externally similar to
Kutchirhynchia Buckman, which Ager (1965a) thought might be synonymous with this genus.
Generally, Cymatorhynchia has stronger and fewer costae, a less tumid dorsal umbo, and a

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stronger beak. Internally, Cymatorhynchia has a less massive septum and slightly incurved crura.
There is little doubt that these two genera are closely related, and possibly Cymatorhynchia had
led to the Kutchirhynchia- Daghanirhynchia-Somalirhynchia group that constituted a main
lineage of the subfamily Tetrarhynchiinae in the Bathonian to Oxfordian on the south shore of
Tethys.
Age and Distribution: Aalenian to Upper Bajocian; Europe, Africa, Arabia, India, Burma,
China, and Tibet.
Locality: Filklik, Gelegele and Dembeza areas of Blue Nile Basin.
Horizoan: Marly limestone beds.

Monsardithyris Sp (fig 4.1 D)

Phylum Brachiopoda Duméril, 1806
Subphylum Rhynchonelliformea Williams et al. 1996
Class Rhynchonellata Williams et al. 1996
Order Terebratulida Waagen, 1883
Suborder Terebratulidina Waagen, 1883
Superfamily Loboidothyridoidea Makridin, 1964
Family Lissajousithyrididae Cooper, 1983
Subfamily Lissajousithyridinae Cooper, 1983
Genus Monsardithyris Alméras, 1971
Type species: Terebratula ventricosa Hartmann
Monsardithyris Sp (fig 4.1 D)
Material: 3 individuals from 1 from Gelgele, 1 from Dembeza and 1 from Filiklik with sample
code of MG1, MD1 and MF1.
Dimensions; MF1
Length (L) - 20 mm
Width (W) - 18 mm
Thickness (T) - 14 mm
Description: Shells subcircular in outline or elongated. Surface is smooth. Anterior margin
gently rectimarginate to uniplicate but sulcus and fold is not recognizable on shell surface.
Growth lines are gently visible at anterior margin. Beak is short with large foramen.

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Remarks: The specimens are rather small in comparison to other Monsardithyris Taxa. This
may explain the faint development of sulcus and fold, which are more clearly developed in larger
forms. Therefore, we interpret our material as young adult forms.
Age and Distribution: Jurassic in age Europe, Africa, Arabia, India, Burma, China, and Tibet.
Locality: Filklik, Gelegele and Dembeza areas of Blue Nile Basin.
Horizoan: Marly limestone beds.

Cererithyris sp (fig 4.1 E)

Phylum Brachiopoda Duméril, 1806
Subphylum Rhynchonelliformea Williams et al. 1996
Class Rhynchonellata Williams et al. 1996
Order Terebratulida Waagen, 1883
Family Loboidothyrididae Makridin
Genus Cererithyris Buckman
Cererithyris sp. (fig 4.1 E)
Type species: Terebratula intermedia J. Sowerby
Material: 5 individuals 2 from Fililik, 1 from Dembeza and 1 from Gelgele with sample code of
CrD1, CrG1 and CrF1, CF2.
Dimensions; CrG1
Length (L) - 14 mm
Width (W) - 13 mm
Thickness (T) - 11 mm
Description: Shells elongate and quite globular, biconvex in longitudinal section. Beak is low
with large foramen. Anterior is margin sulciplicate. Very weak sulucus with broad but low
median costa which starts shortly anterior of hinge line.
Remarks: Taxa of Cererithyris are characterized by a strong intraspecific variability. At this
stage of research it is impossible to identify the material to species level.
Age and Distribution: Aalenian to Upper Bajocian; Europe, Africa, Arabia, India, Burma,
China, and Tibet.
Locality: Filklik, Gelegele and Dembeza areas of Blue Nile Basin.
Horizoan: Marly limestone beds.

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 CHAPTER FIVE

5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 CONCLUSION
The Jurassic Ethiopian Province includes Tunisia, the Levant, Arabia and much of East Africa,
but excludes Tanzania and India. They consider that the special status of India and Tanzania is
possibly due to latitudinal gradients in faunal composition. In this paper the researcher believe
that the Ethiopian Province consists of today’s Arabian Peninsula, Jordan, the Sinai Peninsula
and other neighboring basins, the Horn of Africa, parts of the eastern Mediterranean coast, and
northeastern Africa. During the Middle Jurassic it was part of the southern Tethys with a
characteristic faunal content. Strata of the Ethiopian Province were studied intensely during
petroleum exploration after the First World War; however, primary attention was paid to
structural geology and sedimentology. Italian and British geologists made large fossil collections
that were described piecemeal by paleontologists (e.g. Weir 1925, 1929; Hudson, 1958; Jaboli,
1959; Ficcarelli, 1968). Special attention was paid to the ammonite and foraminiferal faunas
because of their stratigraphical value. Referring to the brachiopod faunal assemblages, Weir
(1925, 1929) and Muir-Wood (1935, 1936) described the brachiopod fauna from Somalia; Weir
(1929) from Kenya, Cooper (1983, 1989) from Saudi Arabia, and Feldman (1986, 1987),
Feldman et al. (1991, 2012a), and Hegab (1989, 1992) from Sinai; Feldman et al. (2001) and
Krawczynski and Wilson (2011) from Israel, and Feldman et al. (2012b) from Jordan. A more
detailed stratigraphical summary of the Jurassic strata in Somalia (formerly British Somaliland)
can be found in Weir (1929) and Muir-Wood (1935). Cooper (1989) described brachiopods from
Saudi Arabia that were collected from 1125.6m of Jurassic strata.
Overall correlation of the faunas among these regions on a larger scale is, with few exceptions,
still lacking.
This paper is dealing with systematic paleontology of Jurassic brachiopods and their correlation
with various regions within the Ethiopian Province. However, its first species were described by
Weir (1925) and subsequently Cooper (1989) described additional species. Cooper (1989) and
Shi and Grant (1993) discussed the inclusion of taxa assigned to other genera into brachiopod.

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The Brachiopod species occurs in the Sinai Peninsula at Gebel Engabashi (Feldman, et al.,
2012a) and Saudi Arabia (Cooper, 1989) however this distribution is a bit puzzling since it is
apparently missing from correlative strata in the Negev.
The Jurassic Brachiopod fossil fauna was found in different regions of the world. A large number
of invertebrate fossils were explored including the Brachiopods from Blue Nile basin.

Paleontological data from the Blue Nile basin of central Ethiopia allow evaluating the
significance of an Ethiopian Province in the late Jurassic. The Jurassic Ethiopian Province was
originally defined for ammonites (Uhlig, 1911; Arkell, 1956) and belemnites (Stevens, 1963) but
has also been noted for bivalves (Hallam, 1977; Liu et al., 1998) and brachiopods (Ager and Sun,
1988; Feldman et al., 2001), whereas little is known about Brachiopods provinciality in the
Jurassic. The distinctive character and spatial extent of the Ethiopian province has been
discussed repeatedly, even for ammonites (Hillebrandt et al., 1992; Enay and Cariou, 1997).

The analyses, based on recorded brachiopod fauna data from the PaleoDB, confirm that a distinct
African province was indeed evident in Callovian – Kimmeridgian times incorporating a vast
region from Tunisia in the north to Madagascar in the south. Ethiopia, situated approximately in
the center of this province, deserves being eponymous of this province.

The spatial extent of the Ethiopian Province was perhaps smaller than usually assumed, at least
for brachiopods and bivalves. India and Tanzania should probably not be included in the
Ethiopian Province. These countries exhibit similar faunal associations but plot far from other
countries of the Ethiopian Province.

Oceanographic clines, linked to latitudinal temperature gradients are responsible for the distinct
character of India and Tanzania, which were situated at approximately 30_S in the Late Jurassic.
Interestingly, a distinct South Gondwana Province was suggested based on ostracods to comprise
Tanzania, India and Madagascar (Mette, 2004) and Enay and Cariou (1997).

So this thesis work on the Jurassic brachiopod species of Dejen to Gohatsion of Blue Nile basin
central Ethiopia are Dagniranchia sp, Somaliranchiya sp, Cymatoranchia sp are classified
under class of Rychonellide and Monsardithyris Sp, Cererithyris sp are classified under class of
Terbatullide.

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5.2 Recommendation
Knowledge of Brachiopod morphology, life history, ecology, biogeography, and the like is
far too general, and makes it dangerously possible to over generalize to the entire phylum
on the basis of information from a small number of species. Establishing the nature and
degree of variation among extant species is critical to be able to generate and test informed
hypotheses about extinct species.

This thesis needs to develop a deeper and more detailed understanding of the relationship
between morphology, development, and genetics, as well as genomics and proteomics. How
do brachiopod morphological features develop, what are the developmental genetics
regulating the expression of morphology, and how do they relate to the phylogenetic
patterns of morphological characters that can generate? It is vitally important that can
reach a better understanding of the processes governing morphology in such a
paleontologically important group in which well over 95% of species are extinct.

The paper needs to more paleontologists work on questions of brachiopod evolution. Very
fortunately, more and more intelligent, creative, and enthusiastic younger scientists over
the past decade have become intrigued by brachiopods and the fascinating
interdisciplinary questions our current knowledge of their evolution raises. I sincerely
hope this trend continues; our future knowledge of brachiopod evolution requires their
diligence and their scientific passion.
In general the present Brachiopod fauna offers an important contribution to our knowledge of the
group in Blue Nile basin of central Ethiopia.

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REFERENCES
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from southern Turkey. Bulletin of the Mineral Research and Exploration Institute
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(Saone−et−Loire): Genres Cymatorhynchia S.

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Plate 1 Dhagnirynchia sp
All fossils are from the Jurassic of Blue Nile basin. All figures in scale of 19 mm size.

A1) Dorsal view, A2) Ventral view, A3) Posterior view, A4) Anterior view, A5) Lateral view

Plate 2, Somalirhynchia sp
B1) Dorsal view, B2) Ventral view, B3) Posterior view, B4) Anterior view, B5) Lateral view

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Plate 3 Cymatorhynchia sp
C1) Dorsal view, C2) Ventral view, C3) Posterior view, C4) Anterior view, C5) Lateral view

Plate 4 Monsardithyris sp
D1) Dorsal view, D2) Ventral view, D3) Posterior view, D4) Anterior view, D5) Lateral view

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APENNDEX

Table 1 Measurement (in mm) of Dhagnirynchia sp Weir 1935

Specimen Length Width Thickness

DG1 18 14 9
DG2 16.4 13.2 8
DD1 16 12 9
DF1 18 13 9
DF2 17 14.2 7

Table 2 Measurement (in mm) of Somaliranchia sp

Specimen Length Width Thickness

SG1 25 27 19
SG2 25.5 26 18.7
SD3 26 24 19.2
SD4 25.5 25.4 19
SG1 27 24.2 17
SG2 25 26 29
SF1 22 27 19.5
SF2 25.8 25.3 19
SF3 26 24 18
SF4 25 23 19.5

Table 3 Measurement (in mm) of Cymatorhynchia Sp. Zieten, 1830

Specimen Length Width Thickness

CG1 24 23 18
CG2 23 23 18.2
CG3 25 22.8 18
CG4 23.5 23.1 17.9
CG5 24.5 23.7 16.8
CG6 24 22.5 17
CD1 23.4 22.8 18.3
CD2 24.3 23 16.7
CD3 24.7 23 18
CD4 23.4 23.6 17.6
CF1 24.4 23.2 18
CF2 24.7 23.9 17.8
CF3 24 22 18
CF4 23 22.7 17.5

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Table 4 Measurement (in mm) of Monsardithyris Sp, Alméras, 1971

Specimen Length Width Thickness

MG1 20 18.3 14.5
MD1 20 18 14
MF1 19 17 13.5

Table 5 Measurement (in mm) of Cererithyris Sp. Buckman 1918

Specimen Length Width Thickness

CrG1 14 13 11.5
CrD1 14 12.6 11
CrF1 13.5 13 11.5
CrF2 14 12.9 11.6

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