Additions a la faune de sélaciens fossilesdu Maroc: 1: Sur la présence des genres Heptranchias,Alopias etOdontorhytis dans l'Yprésien des Ouled Abdoun

Recent researches in the phosphat-bearing basins ofMorocco have allowed to collect new selachian forms. In this paper, three Ypresian genera from Ouled Abdoun basin, new for Morocco, are described: Heptranchias howellii (Reed, 1946), Alopias denticulatus nov. sp. and Odontorhytis pappenheimiBöhm, 1926. The re-discovery of the genus Odontorhytis allows to state precisely its morphological dental features and to affirm that it is well a selachian and not a teleostean, as it was thought. The stratigraphic distribution of some species is stated precisely.     

Patines et cortex de météorisation de grès du site rupestre d’Oum La Leg (Anti-Atlas, Maroc)

Within the framework of the European Commission's program “Patine du Desert” (DG Research; INCO-CT-FP6-2004-509100), partially concerning the preservation of Saharan engraved rock art, the approach led to the study of the sandstone patina from the rock art site of Oum La Leg (Anti-Atlas, Morocco). The rock and its Tazina school engravings are sometimes covered with a thin brown-ochre coating which only shows a dark patina, the desert patina. This film corresponds to a weathering cortex whose formation is contemporary with wet events from the Holocene period. On the surface, the patinas’ diversity is linked to the heterogeneous distribution of manganese oxides (birnessite and todorokite) due to a reorganisation which led to the incorporation of aeolian silts. Some dating suggestions are made to establish an ante quem age for the engraved lines.     

Caractérisation probable du Sinémurien près de Telouat (Haut-Atlas,Maroc): Datation palynologique

The liassic beds of the High-Atlas of Marrakech are rarely fossiliferous so all paleontological discoveries must be reported in order to give more biostratigraphical precisions for the interpretations of the sourcestrata basin. Palynological investigations in section composed of marl and dolomites with gypsum yield assemblages which the overall composition is characterized by the general dominance of Corollina in combination with relatively rare occurence of others nonsaccate pollen grains. Because the comparison of the associations previously described from the Lower Jurassic of Morocco and Sahara and the fact that the richness of Corollina has no stratigraphical value, the assemblages from the Telouat' section can be reasonably regarded to be indicative of a Sinemurian age.     

Présence de l’éocrinoïde Ascocystites Barrande (Echinodermata,Blastozoa) dans l’Ordovicien supérieur (Caradoc) de l’Anti-Atlas (Maroc) : premières données

Family Ascocystitidae, defined and established by Georges Ubaghs in 1967, includes a single genus, Ascocystites. This genus was described and figured for the first time by Barrande in 1887, from Bohemian specimens. Thereafter, specimens brought close to Ascocystites or assigned to this genus were described starting from samples collected in Bohemia in the Armorican Massif or in Portugal. The new specimens were collected in Morocco in the Eastern Anti-Atlas, within the formation of Izzeguirene of Caradoc age. The studied material includes several sandy slabes often containing many well-preserved and almost complete individuals. These levels gather individuals of various sizes, corresponding to various stages of development. The morphological study in progress should allow a specific attribution by comparison with the Bohemian and Armorican forms actually known. The Moroccan material has, in addition, the advantage of corresponding to associations of several Echinodermata groups, rich in individuals, allowing a taphonomic and possibly paleoenvironmental study. Biostratigraphically, Ascocystitidae are actually known between Middle (Armorican Massif and Portugal) and Upper Ordovician (Bohemia and now Morocco). The discovery of Ascocystitidae in the Moroccan Anti-Atlas extends their distribution, within gondwanian domain, during Middle and Upper Ordovician.     

The archaeological results of Prehistoric societies obtained in the Archaeological Map of North Morocco Project

This paper presents the results of the “Archaeological Map in Northern Morocco” project, which has been carried out by researchers from the University of Cadiz, University of Abdelmalek Essaadi and INSAP of Rabat. Four seasons of archaeological survey have taken place in the Tetouan region as well as excavations in the Cave El Hafa and the rock-shelter of Marsa. This study includes geomorphological data and a petrographic study to pinpoint of the origins of raw material used by the different human groups that duelled in the area. Lastly, this paper presents settlement patterns of the studied groups, most importantly, this is an updated study of the relevant occupations that correspond to Palaeolithic hunter-gatherer societies, Neolithic tribal societies and also, of human settlements associated to Recent Prehistory stages.     

Comparative evaluation of the toxicity induced by mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from two sites of the Moroccan Atlantic coast in mice

Atlantic coast in mice. Preliminary studies showed that seawater contains heavy metals from domestic, agricultural and industrial wastes. Marine bivalves concentrate these pollutants by filtration and serve as vectors in human exposure. The objective of this study was to determine the concentration of heavy metals; cadmium (Cd); chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected in two coastal sites; Jorf Lasfar (JL) (neighbouring a phosphate processing platform) and Oualidia (OL) (a vegetable growing area) located at 120 and 190 km south of Casablanca, respectively. Another objective was to test and compare the toxicity of these mussels on mice. The results indicated the presence of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, and Pb) in mussels at different concentrations, depending on the collection period. Higher concentrations were obtained at JL than at OL: for example, Cd concentrations were 80 +/- 15 to 199 +/- 28 versus 23 +/- 5 microg/g mussel dry weight, respectively. Cramming with mussel powder did not increase Cd, Cr, or Pb concentration in either liver or kidneys of treated mice. The relative kidney weights were reduced. Increased glucose urea was observed in animals' urine. Treatment with mussels from OL induced significant reduction (20%) in mice body weight, together with an increase in creatinuria. These results indicate that mussels collected from OL are more harmful than those obtained from JL are. All these mussels should not be recommended for human consumption.     

Découverte de Thyrsoporella pseudoperplexa Granier et Braik, 2002 (algue dasycladale) dans le Kimméridgien inférieur du bassin d'Essaouira (marge atlantique marocaine)

A dasycladacean alga recently attributed to the species Thyrsoporella pseudoperplexa Granier and Braik 2002, has been discovered within the Jurassic sediments of the Atlantic domain. This alga, only found in the Tethysian domain, was identified in the Early Kimmeridgian sediments of the Essaouira basin (Morocco).     

Sur l'origine du genre Microceratina Swanson, 1980 (Ostracoda, Eucytherurinae) et sa présence téthysienne dès le Jurassique supérieur

The discovery in the uppermost Jurassic of Lebanon of a species of the ostracod genus Microceratina Swanson, 1980 (Eucytherurinae), of which the oldest known species was until now of Maastrichtian age, confirms the Tethyan origin of this genus. Two new species are created: Microceratina bhannesensis nov. sp. from the Upper Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) of Lebanon, and Microceratina azazoulensis nov. sp. from the Cenomanian of Morocco. The genera Chapmanicytherura Weaver, 1982 and Erratacytheridea Herrig et al., 1997, are considered as probable junior synonyms of Microceratina. An exhaustive bibliographical analysis allowed to identifying several other Cretaceous species susceptible to be assigned to the genus Microceratina.     

Distribution de Megaporellaboulangeri Deloffre et Beun, 1986 (algue dasycladale) dans le Jurassique du bassin atlantique marocain

The recent biostratigraphic and micropaleontologic works permitted to specify the distribution of Megaporellaboulangeri Deloffre and Beun in the Jurassic of the Moroccan Atlantic basin. The lower limit of the extension of this dasycladale alga, earlier attribued to the Early Kimmeridgian by Deloffre and Beun (1986), is currently placed in the Early Callovian, on the basis of the age provided by Megaporellaboulangeri biozone. The Otternstellaarabica biozone dates the upper limit of the extension of the species of the Early Oxfordian. Megaporellaboulangeri proliferates in the borders of the basin where the internal lagoons facies dominate, however it is absent in the western parts with open sea facies.     

Platystasius transversus [Hym.: Platygasteridae] parasitoïde oophage dePhoracantha semipunctata [Col.: Cerambycidae], au Maroc

Résumé Platystasius transversus (Thomson) parasite les œufs du CérambycidePhoracantha semipunctata (F.), près de Rabat. C'est la 1^re mention, pour l'aire géographique, d'un ennemi naturel de ce déprédateur d'eucalyptus, originaire d'Australie, et récemment signalé au Maroc.