The Pabdeh Formation is a Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene-aged geological formation in Iran. It outcrops along the Zagros Mountains. It was deposited in a deepwater environment in the upper bathyal zone of the Paratethys Sea, with these abyssal sediments being lifted high above sea level from the uplift of the Zagros fold and thrust belt as part of the Alpide orogeny.
A high number of fossil fishes are known from this formation, the majority of which appear to have pelagic and deepwater affinities. These are mostly known from two localities near Elam and Istehbanat. The age of these localities have been disputed, and have previously been considered to be Early Oligocene, but are now generally thought to be middle to late Eocene in age, most likely Priabonian. More recent studies have estimated the age of these fossil-bearing lcoalities as slightly older and dated the formation to the Bartonian stage, based on the presence of certain foraminifera not present during the Priabonian. Some fossils of migratory insects (a locust and ant alates), as well as fish and birds, are also known from near Babaheidar.
Paleobiota
Cartilaginous fishes GenusSpeciesNotesImagesXiphodolamiaX. serrataA xiphodolamiid shark
Bony fishes Based primarily on Arambourg (1967), with taxonomic changes made where necessary: GenusSpeciesLocalityNotesImagesAluvarusA. praeimperialisElamThe larva of a percomorph of uncertain affinities, once thought to be a louvar relativeArambourgthurusA. scombrurusIstehbanatA surgeonfish; inhabited a pelagic ecosystem, similar to species of NasoArgyropelecusA. iranicusBabaheidarA marine hatchetfishA. zagrosensis?Astronesthes?A. simusElamAn apparent stareater, taxonomic affinity uncertainBabelichthysB. olneyiElamA bizarre crestfishBerycomorusB. firdoussiElamA beryciformBregmacerosB. filamentosusElamA codletCaucasiganusC. sp.IstehbanatA relative of rabbitfishCheilinusC. longifillisIstehbanatA wrasseCottopsisC. gaudryiElamAn oceanic bassletDussumieriaD. elamiElamA rainbow sardineEosternoptyxE. discoidalisElamA deep-sea hatchetfishEpinnulaE. cancellataElamA snake mackerelEtrumeusE. hafiziIstehbanatA round herringGrammatorcynusG. scomberoidesIstehbanat, ElamA mackerelIraniplectusI. bakhtiariBabaheidarA pufferfish-like tetraodontiformTyler, J.C.; Mirzaie, M.; Nazemi, A. (2006). New genus and species of basal tetraodontoid puffer fish from the Oligocene of Iran, related to the Zignoichthyidae (Tetraodontiformes). Bollettino del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Verona Geologia Paleontologia Preistoria, 30, 49-58MaurolicusM. morganiElamA pearlside?Myroconger?M. rouslamiElamAn apparent thin eel, taxonomic affinity uncertainOpisthonemaO. persicumElamA thread herringPalaeorhynchusP. altivelisIstehbanatA palaeorhynchid billfishPalimphyes (=Dipterichthys)P. nematophorusElamA euzaphlegidP. leptosomusParastylephorusP. anatoidesBabaheydarA relative of the tube-eyePaucaichthysP. elamensisElamA pomfretPraewoodsiaP. mesogeaeElamA bristlemouthPriacanthopsisP. crassispinusElamA bigeyeProserrivomerP. mecquenemiElamA sawtooth eelPropteridiumP. douvilleiElamA viviparous brotulaPristigenysP. macropusIstehbanatA bigeyeProtolophotusP. elamiElamA crestfish?Psenes?P. macrolepisElamA driftfish, taxonomic identity uncertainPseudoholocentrumP. cristatumElamA holocentridRybapinaR. orientalisElamA driftfishScomberS. saadiiIstehbanatA mackerelScomberomorusS. speciosusIstehbanatA mackerelScopeloidesS. glarisianusElamA bristlemouthSphyraenaS. longimanaIstehbanatA barracudaThyrsitoidesT. zarathoustraeElamA relative of the blacksail snake mackerel?Urosphen?U. iranensisElamA urosphenid syngnathiform
Birds GenusSpeciesLocalityNotesImagesDiomedeoides (=Frigidafrons) D. babaheydariensisBabaheidarA diomedeoidid seabird
Arthropods
Crustaceans Based on Garassino, Bahrami, Yazdi & Vega (2014): GenusSpeciesLocalityNotesImagesEogordonella E. iranianiensisBabaheidarA solenocerid shrimpEopabdehusE. babaheydariensisA penaeid shrimpParsacusP. eocenicusA slipper lobster
Insecta GenusSpeciesLocalityNotesImagesAcrididae indet. BabaheidarA short-horned grasshopper of uncertain affinities, potentially in a migratory locust-like phaseFormicidae indet.A potentially myrmicine ant of uncertain affinities, migratory alates
References