HOLOTHURIAN SCLERITES FROM THE TRIASSIC OF JORDAN AND THEIR STRATIGRAPHIC IMPORTANCE

Holothurian sclerites are some of the most stratigraphically important microfossils of the middle Triassic of Jordan. Stratigraphically and palaeogeographically important faunas have been obtained by dissolving Triassic carbonate rocks with a dilute acetic acid. The oldest forms, Acanthotheelia jordanica Sadeddin, Priscopedatus quadratus Kozur & Mo stler, and Tetravirga perforata Mostler, occur in the Hisban Formation (Anisian) in the area of the northeast corner of the Dead Sea and Wad i Abu Oneiz. North of this area in Wadi Salit, Ladinian holothurian fa unas are especially characterized by the mass occurrence of Schizothee lin jordanica and Schizotheelia multiporata Kozur & Sadeddin in the lo wer part of the section (Fassanian) and Theelia tubercula Kristan-Toll mann in the upper part (Longobardian). In spite of some differences, t he Jordanian Middle Triassic holothurian faunas are similar to those f rom the Northern Alps and Germanic Basin, and the Himalayas. As yet, n o holothurian sclerites have been recovered from Jordanian Lower or Up per Triassic deposits.