Arabian pachyerymnoceras from the Upper Callovian in the Dahar (southern Tunisia), new evidence for dating the Ghomrassene member (Tataouine formation);: correlations with Saudi Arabia and Middle East

The first ammonite discovered at the base of the Ghomrassene Member of the Tataouine Formation belongs to a species of Pachyerymnoceras from the Latest Callovian (Solidum Zone) of the Arabian province. The underlying Krechem el Miit Member is also dated Late Callovian, with a fauna of Pachyerymnoceras from the Lower Athleta Zone in Algeria. The associated faunas (echinids, brachiopods) are the same, as well as the faunas of the overlying Ksar Haddada Member, which is dated also Late Callovian, referring to the brachiopods faunal succession in Saudi Arabia. Correlations with other areas in Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and Middle East underline the same sedimentary evolution during a second-order transgressive half-cycle. (C) 2002 Acaddmie des sciences / Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.