Abstract:
A Jurassic Brachiopod fauna from Blue Nile basin from Dejen to Gohatsion was represented
by two articulated class Ryhnchellida and Terebratulida. The class comprises of five species
viz., Dhagnirynchia sp, Somalirhynchia sp, Cymatorhynchia sp, Monsardithyris sp,
Cererithyris sp, the material studied herein was collected from three sections. The species
seem to be geographically restricted within the Jurassic Ethiopian Province. 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.
So the description of brachiopods from the Antalo Limestone in Blue Nile basin of central
Ethiopia presents this fauna is largely of Oxfordian age and lived in shallow sub tidal
environments.
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.
