Department of Geology, University of Kuwait, P.O. Box 5969, Safat 13060, Kuwait
ABSTRACT
Fifty-four mega-invertebrate species are discussed and illustrated. They were collected from a post-evaporite sequence exposed at Wadi Umm Greifat, on the Egyptian Red Sea coastal strip, and from three cycles of reefal development exposed on the Jordanian coast of the Gulf of Aqaba.
The study suggests that the Gabir Formation (first marine sequence above the evaporite) yields an endemic Miocene Mediterranean fauna in which some Indo-Pacific elements have been introduced. The other rock units (Shagra, Wizr and raised coral reefs) contain an exclusively Indo-Pacific assemblage.
The discussed fauna suggests a Pleistocene age for the Wizr Formation and for the raised coral reefs of Aqaba, but cannot help in dating the older sequence (Gabir and Shagra Formations). The stratigraphic position of the last mentioned rock units, however, suggests a Pliocene age.