Neomeris plagnensis Deloffre, 1970

Fig. 7

*1970 Neomeris plagnensis n. sp. – Deloffre, p. 356-357, pls. 2-3.

1977 Neomeris plagnensis Deloffre – Deloffre et al., p. 41, pl. 5, figs. 3-7.

1982 Neomeris plagnensis Deloffre – Deloffre and Génot, p. 144-145, pl. 14, figs. 2-5.

1993 Neomeris plagnensis Deloffre – Kuss and Herbig, p. 275, pl. 4, figs. 7-8, pl. 8, figs. 1-3.

Remarks: This species, characterized by ovoid fertile ampullae combined with a comparably large main axis, was originally described from the Thanetian of France (Deloffre, 1970). From Central Iran N. plagnensis was reported by Deloffre et al. (1977, pl. 5, fig. 7) from bioclastic packstones with Halimeda sp., bryozoans, gastropods, and small rotaliids, a microfacies comparable to our samples from the Chehel Kaman Formation. Deloffre et al. (1977, p. 41, translated) reported specimens “slightly larger, probably corresponding to better developed individuals thriving in an ecologically more favourable environment”, an observation obtained also from our material.

Dimensions (in mm); data from Deloffre (1970) in brackets:

External diameter 1.0-1.4 (0.625- (D): 1.175) Diameter axial cavity 0.50-0.65 (0.35-0.8) (d):

d/D: 0.43-0.64 (0.63-068) wall thickness (e): 0.17-0.39 (0.1-0.3) vertical spacing (h): 0.15-0.16 (0.125 - 0.175) diameter fertile am- 0.08-0.14 (0.1-0.125) pullae (ds):

Maximum length (L): 4.6 (3.6)