Geology and stratigraphy of the Neogene section along the Oued Beth between Dar bel Hamri and El Kansera (Rharb Basin, northwestern Morocco) and its otolith-based fish fauna: a faunal inventory for the Early Pliocene remigration into the Mediterranean

Abstract The coquina on the banks of Oued Beth in Rharb Basin northwestern Morocco has long been known to be exceptionally rich fossils. stratigraphic position ranging from Late Miocene Pliocene controversial, however. In course my master’s degree field work 1975/76, I mapped right bank Dar bel Hamri El Kansera. Following multiple recent studies general region, here review results and present an updated comprehensive geologic frame for first time. near is interpreted Early age, possibly containing some reworking other locations along have yielded a otolith assemblage, which described this article. It represents fossil otolith-based fish fauna Northwest Africa contains 96 species, 16 are new. new species order their description Diaphus maghrebensis n. sp., Ophidion tuseti Centroberyx vonderhochti Myripristis ouarredi Deltentosteus planus Caranx rharbensis Trachurus insectus Parapristipoma bethensis Pomadasys zemmourensis Cepola lombartei Trachinus maroccanus wernlii Uranoscopus hoedemakersi vanhinsberghi Spondyliosoma tingitana Opsodentex mordax sp. addition, Tortonian Zanclean Italy: Rhynchoconger carnevalei Some additional otoliths another Moroccan location age Asilah, 50 km south Strait Gibraltar. also interest, because it constitutes nearest Atlantic time reconnection Mediterranean with may acted as hosting area remigration fishes into Mediterranean. Indeed, correlation high between well-known time-equivalent fauna, but good proportion putative endemic taxa tropical West African affinities that apparently did not migrate Thus, unique assemblage propose biogeographic term “Maghrebian bioprovince.”