The first report of Lower Cretaceous corals from the Baghin section, west of Kerman, Iran

In the Baghin section, west of Kerman, Iran, Aptian scleractinian corals are described for the first time in relation to taxonomically related genera and species. The superfamilies are Actinastraeoidea, Cladocoroidea, Cyclolitoidea, Eugyroidea, Stylinoidea, Montlivaltioidea, Caryophyllioidea and Misistelloidea. Other macrofossil groups are echinoids, gastropods, brachiopods and bivalves and confirm the Aptian age. Regarding identified corals, it was concluded that the study area can be correlated with Aptian-Albian of other Lower Cretaceous coral faunas of Basque-Cantabrian Basin in the Central Tethys, and also most closely related to faunas of the Aptian Pelagonium South margin and the Aptian -Albian Bisbee Basin in the western Atlantic. (c) 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.