Cenomanian bivalves from Batna Mountains (Saharan Atlas, NE Algeria)

Abstract

In the Batna Mountains, the Cenomanian Marnes de Smail Formation yield fossiliferous deposits mostly dominated by bivalves. Thirty-five bivalve species were identified, belonging to nine orders, 19 families and 26 genera. Five of them are mentioned for the first time from the Cenomanian of the study area (i.e., Nucula ? cf. margaritifera Douvillé, Barbatia (Barbatia) aegyptiaca Fourtau, Cucullaea trigona Seguenza, Arctica inornata d’Orbigny, and A. cordata Sharpe). Their distribution provided interesting insights on the marine paleoenvironment of the Cenomanian times. The paleobiogeographic distribution of the studied bivalves corresponds to the Tethys Realm. Keywords: Bivalvia, Cretaceous, Cenomanian, Algeria, Batna, Tethys