First Permian Ostracode Fauna from the Arabian Plate (Khuff Formation, Sultanate of Oman)

Permian ostracodes of the Arabian Peninsula are recorded for the first time. Thirty five species from the marine Khuff Formation (Middle Permian) in Oman are presented here. Eleven species are new: Bairdia omanensis Crasquin-Soleau n. sp., Cavellina huqfensis Crasquin-Soleau n. sp., Cavellina gerryi Crasquin-Soleau n. sp., Cavellina boomeri Crasquin-Soleau n. sp., Sulcella arabica Crasquin-Soleau n. sp., Langaia hornei Crasquin-Soleau n. sp., Sargentina woutersi Crasquin-Soleau n. sp., Carinaknightina braccinii Crasquin-Soleau n, sp., Jordanites lordi Crasquin-Soleau n. sp., Hollinella (Hollinella) benzartiae Crasquin-Soleau n. sp., Hollinella (Hollinella) martensi Crasquin-Soleau n. sp. Nine species are attributed to described species, and the age given is Middle Permian. Brachiopods and accompanying conodonts and foraminifera give a lower Wordian (Middle Permian) age (Angiolini et al. 1996, 1998). The paleoecological analysis shows that the Khuff Formation was deposited in a very shallow marine, sublittoral environment under action of waves. The analysis of the relationships between the storm levels and the composition of the ostracode assemblage is in progress, even if in first approximation, the strong variations of compositions don't seemed to be linked with this phenomenon. The paleobiogeographic relationships are strong with the Russian Platform, the North American platform and the South China. This could be explained by the importance of the surface current from East to West in the Paleo-Tethys realm.