Lutetian Schizaster Fauna (Echinoidea, Spatangoida) from Sargaz Area, South of Kerman, Iran

The spatangoid genus Schizaster Agassiz is recorded, for the first time, from the Lutetian (Middle Eocene) deposits of Sargaz area, south of Kerman, Iran. The Lutetian sediments of Sargaz region contain a rich and divers echinoid fauna represented by Cidaridae, Conoclypeidae, Echinolampadidae, Toxopneustidae, Phymosomatidae and Schizasteridae. Schizasteroid echinoids are an important component of this fauna. Five Schizasteroid echinoids assigned to genus Schizaster are described and illustrated in the present paper. The Schizaster species are Schizaster ambulacrum, S. archiaci, S. globulus, S. lucidus and S. spado. The Schizaster specimens occur in association with a rich nummulitids and alveolinids  fauna, and macro-invertebrates consisting of bivalves and gastropods, which suggest a Lutetian age for the sediment. Associated micro-macro fauna also indicate a warm and shallow water environment was prevailed during the deposition of the sediments.