Musculus somaliensis

Musculus somaliensis is an extinct species of small saltwater mussel, a fossil marine bivalve mollusc in the family Mytilidae, the mussels. The size, shape and sometimes color of these fossils are reminiscent of a pistachio nut.

Musculus somaliensis
Temporal range: Late Jurassic
Musculus somaliensis viewed from the side
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Mytilida
Family: Mytilidae
Genus: Musculus
Species:
†M. somaliensis
Binomial name
†Musculus somaliensis
Cox, 1935
Synonyms

Modiola aspera, M. autissiodorensis

Distribution

Musculus somaliensis lived during the late Jurassic, possibly throughout the Ethiopian Faunal Province, which consisted of Ethiopia, Somalia, Jordan, Yemen, Kenya, Madagascar, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia according to Kiessling.[1] Fossils of M. somaliensis are known from the Upper Jurassic of Somalia (Callovian/Oxfordian in Jirba Range, Biyo Dader Tug,[2] Bihendula[3]), Ethiopia (Callovian in Mt. Guresu, Marda Pass;[4] Late Oxfordian in Antalo Limestone north of Mekele[1]) and Tunisia (Late Callovian/Oxfordian in Ghomrassen; Middle Callovian/Late Callovian in Ksar Ben Soltane, Krechem el Miit; Callovian/Early Oxfordian in Foum Tataouine Post Optique; Callovian/Oxfordian in Bir Remtha, Faljet Jdar/Ed-Dghaghra[5]).[6]

Habitat

The fossil locations cited were tropical shallow seas,[1] where this mussel lived as a stationary epifaunal suspension feeder.[6]

Description

Musculus somaliensis has a modioliform shape with a straight to weakly convex dorsal margin. A rounded carina runs from the umbo to the postero-ventral corner of the shell, forming an angle of c. 45° with the dorsal margin, ventrally followed by a shallow sulcus. The antero-ventral part of the shell is inflated and has a convex antero-ventral margin. Its carina is more strongly curved and in its distal part forms an angle of c. 60–70° with the dorsal margin. A sulcus is absent, the antero-ventral part is low and limited by a concave antero-ventral margin.[1]

References
  1. W. Kiessling, D. K. Pandey, M. Schemm-Gregory, H. Mewis, and M. Aberhan. 2011. "Marine benthic invertebrates from the Upper Jurassic of northern Ethiopia and their biogeographic affinities". Journal of African Earth Sciences 59:195-214
  2. L. R. Cox. 1935. "Jurassic Gastropoda and Lamellibranchia". The Mesozoic Palaeontology of British Somaliland, Geology and Palaeontology of British Somaliland, II 148-197
  3. H. M. Muir-Wood. 1935. "Jurassic Brachiopoda". The Mesozoic Palaeontology of British Somaliland, Geology and Palaeontology of British Somaliland, II 75-147
  4. D. Jaboli. 1959. "Fossili Giurassici dell'Harar (Africa Orientale): Brachiopodi, Lamellibranchi e Gasteropodi" / "Jurassic fossils from Harar (Eastern Africa): brachiopods, lamellibranchs and gastropods". Missione Geologica dell'Azienda Italiana Petroli (AGIP) nella Dancalia Meridionale e sugli Altipiani Hararini 4(1):3-100
  5. S. Holzapfel. 1998. Palökologie benthischer Faunengemeinschaften und Taxonomie der Bivalven im Jura von Südtunesien. Beringeria - Würzburger geowissenschaftliche Mitteilungen (22)1-199
  6. Paleobiology Database
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