{{Short description|Geologic formation in Iran}} {{Infobox rockunit|name=Pabdeh Formation|image=|caption=|type=[[Formation (stratigraphy)|Formation]]|age=[[Late Eocene]] to [[Early Oligocene]], {{fossilrange|37.7|28}}|period=Priabonian|prilithology=[[Marl]], [[limestone]]|otherlithology=[[Oil shales]]|namedfor=|namedby=|region=|country=[[Iran]]|coordinates=|unitof=[[Zagros fold and thrust belt]]|subunits=|underlies=[[Asmari Formation]]|overlies=[[Gurpi Formation]]|thickness=|extent=|area=|map=|map_caption=}}The '''Pabdeh Formation''' is a [[Eocene|Late Eocene]] to [[Rupelian|Early Oligocene]]-aged<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Joudaki |first1=M. |last2=Baghbani |first2=D. |date=2018-09-01 |title=Biostratigraphy of Oligocene and Lower Miocene deposits, Anneh Anticline, Folded Zagros, SW of Iran |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13146-017-0362-5 |journal=Carbonates and Evaporites |language=en |volume=33 |issue=3 |pages=509–515 |doi=10.1007/s13146-017-0362-5 |issn=1878-5212|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Joudaki |first1=Mohamad |last2=Asnavandi |first2=Hamed |last3=Panah |first3=Fatemeh Mahmoodi |last4=Baghbani |first4=Darioush |date=2020-03-12 |title=The regional facies analysis and depositional environments of the Oligocene and Lower Miocene deposits; Zagros Basin, SW of Iran |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13146-020-00575-8 |journal=Carbonates and Evaporites |language=en |volume=35 |issue=2 |page=39 |doi=10.1007/s13146-020-00575-8 |issn=1878-5212|url-access=subscription }}</ref> geological formation in [[Iran]]. It outcrops along the [[Zagros Mountains]]. It was deposited in a deepwater environment in the upper [[Bathypelagic zone|bathyal zone]] of the [[Paratethys|Paratethys Sea]],<ref name=":1" /> with these abyssal sediments being lifted high above sea level from the [[Tectonic uplift|uplift]] of the [[Zagros fold and thrust belt]] as part of the [[Alpine orogeny|Alpide orogeny]].
A high number of fossil fishes are known from this formation, the majority of which appear to have pelagic and deepwater affinities. These are mostly known from two localities near [[Elam]] and [[Istehbanat]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Muséum national d'histoire naturelle (France) |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/281269 |title=Notes et mémoires sur le Moyen-Orient |last2=naturelle (France) |first2=Muséum national d'histoire |date=1966 |publisher=Muséum national d'histoire naturelle |volume=t.8 (1966) |location=Paris}}</ref> The age of these localities have been disputed, and have previously been considered to be Early Oligocene, but are now generally thought to be middle to late Eocene in age, most likely [[Priabonian]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bannikov |first1=A. F. |last2=Erebakan |first2=I. G. |date=2023-10-01 |title=On the Evolution of Some Groups of Marine Bony Fishes in the Cenozoic of the Tethys and Paratethys |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1134/S0031030123050015 |journal=Paleontological Journal |language=en |volume=57 |issue=5 |pages=475–490 |doi=10.1134/S0031030123050015 |issn=1555-6174|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Some fossils of migratory insects (a locust and ant alates), as well as fish and birds, are also known from presumed early Oligocene-aged strata near [[Babaheydar|Babaheidar]].<ref name=":1" />
== Paleobiota ==
=== Cartilaginous fishes === {| class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%" !Genus !Species !Notes !Images |- |''[[Xiphodolamia]]'' |''X. serrata'' |A [[Xiphodolamiidae|xiphodolamiid]] shark.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Adnet |first1=S. |last2=Hosseinzadeh |first2=R. |last3=Antunes |first3=M. T. |last4=Balbino |first4=A. C. |last5=Kozlov |first5=V. A. |last6=Cappetta |first6=H. |date=2009-10-01 |title=Review of the enigmatic Eocene shark genus Xiphodolamia (Chondrichthyes, Lamniformes) and description of a new species recovered from Angola, Iran and Jordan |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1464343X09000752 |journal=Journal of African Earth Sciences |volume=55 |issue=3 |pages=197–204 |doi=10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2009.04.005 |issn=1464-343X|url-access=subscription }}</ref> |[[File:Xiphodolamia.jpg|frameless]] |}
=== Bony fishes === Based primarily on [[Camille Arambourg|Arambourg]] (1967), with taxonomic changes made where necessary:<ref name=":0" /> {| class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%" !Genus !Species !Locality !Notes !Images |- |''[[Aluvarus]]'' |''A. praeimperialis'' |Elam |The larva of a [[Percomorpha|percomorph]] of uncertain affinities, once thought to be a [[louvar]] relative.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bannikov |first1=Alexandre F. |last2=Tyler |first2=James C. |date=1995 |title=Phylogenetic Revision of the Fish Families Luvaridae and Kushlukiidae (Acanthuroidei), with a New Genus and Two New Species of Eocene Luvarids |url=https://repository.si.edu/handle/10088/19149 |journal=Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology |language=en |issue=81 |pages=1–45 |doi=10.5479/si.00810266.81.1 |hdl=10088/19149}}</ref> |[[File:Aluvarus praeimperialis.jpg|frameless]] |- |''[[Arambourgthurus]]'' |''A. scombrurus'' |Istehbanat |A [[Acanthuridae|surgeonfish]]. One of the only known surgeonfish to inhabit a pelagic ecosystem.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Carnevale |first1=Giorgio |last2=Tyler |first2=James C. |date=2018 |title=The caudal skeleton of Arambourgthurus scombrurus (Arambourg, 1967), a Paleogene oceanic surgeonfish |url=http://www.bioone.org/doi/10.2988/17-00023 |journal=Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington |language=en |volume=131 |issue=1 |pages=101–110 |doi=10.2988/17-00023 |issn=0006-324X|url-access=subscription }}</ref> | |- | rowspan="2" |''[[Argyropelecus]]'' |''[[Argyropelecus iranicus|A. iranicus]]'' | rowspan="2" |Babaheidar | rowspan="2" |A [[Sternoptychinae|marine hatchetfish]].<ref name=":03">{{Cite journal |last=Ridolfi |first=Lorenzo |date=2025 |title=The deep-sea hatchetfish Argyropelecus (Sternoptychidae) in the Eocene of Iran: description and phylogenetic relationships of two new species from the Pabdeh Formation |url=https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/RIPS/article/view/29039 |journal=Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia |volume=131 |issue=3 |pages=603-629}}</ref> |[[File:Argyropelecus iranicus.png|frameless]] |- |''[[Argyropelecus zagrosensis|A. zagrosensis]]'' |[[File:Argyropelecus zagrosensis.png|frameless]] |- |?''[[Stareater (fish)|Astronesthes]]'' |?''[[Astronesthes simus|A. simus]]'' |Elam |An apparent [[Stareater (fish)|stareater]], taxonomic affinity uncertain. |[[File:Astronesthes niger.jpg|frameless]] |- |''[[Babelichthys]]'' |''B. olneyi'' |Elam |A bizarre [[crestfish]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal |last=Davesne |first=Donald |date=2017-06-28 |title=A fossil unicorn crestfish (Teleostei, Lampridiformes, Lophotidae) from the Eocene of Iran |journal=PeerJ |language=en |volume=5 |article-number=e3381 |doi=10.7717/peerj.3381 |issn=2167-8359 |pmc=5493034 |pmid=28674642 |doi-access=free}}</ref> |[[File:Babelichthys olneyi (cropped).png|frameless]] |- |''[[Berycomorus]]'' |''B. firdoussi'' |Elam |A [[Beryciformes|beryciform]]. | |- |''[[Codlet|Bregmaceros]]'' |''[[Bregmaceros filamentosus|B. filamentosus]]'' |Elam |A [[codlet]]. |[[File:Bregmaceros filamentosus 34 maf olig romania.jpg|frameless]] |- |''[[Caucasiganus]]'' |''C.'' sp. |Istehbanat |A relative of [[rabbitfish]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bannikov |first1=Alexandre F. |last2=Tyler |first2=James C. |last3=Sorbini |first3=Chiara |date=2010 |title=Two new taxa of Eocene rabbitfishes (Perciformes, Siganidae) from the North Caucasus (Russia), with redescription of Acanthopygaeus agassizi (Eastman) from Monte Bolca (Italy) and a phylogenetic analysis of the family |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266087721 |journal=Bollettino del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Verona |volume=34 |pages=3–21}}</ref> | |- |''[[Cheilinus]]'' |''[[Cheilinus longifillis|C. longifillis]]'' |Istehbanat |A [[wrasse]]. |[[File:Cheilinus undulatus by Eva Hejda.jpg|frameless]] |- |''[[Cottopsis]]'' |''C. gaudryi'' |Elam |An [[Oceanic basslets|oceanic basslet]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Prokofiev |first=A. M. |date=2007-09-01 |title=The osteology of Bathysphyraenops symplex and the diagnosis of the Howellidae (Perciformes: Percoidei) family |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1134/S0032945207080036 |journal=Journal of Ichthyology |language=en |volume=47 |issue=8 |pages=566–578 |doi=10.1134/S0032945207080036 |issn=1555-6425|url-access=subscription }}</ref> | |- |''[[Dussumieria]]'' |''[[Dussumieria elami|D. elami]]'' |Elam |A [[rainbow sardine]]. |[[File:Dussumieria acuta Achilles 166.jpg|frameless]] |- |''[[Eosternoptyx]]'' |''E. discoidalis'' |Elam |A [[Marine hatchetfish|deep-sea hatchetfish]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Afsari |first=S. |date=2014 |title=A new deep-sea hatchetfish (Teleostei: Stomiiformes: Sternoptychidae) from the Eocene of Ilam, Zagros Basin, Iran |journal=Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana |volume=53 |issue=1 |pages=27–37|s2cid=211198956 }}</ref> | |- |''[[Epinnula]]'' |''[[Epinulla cancellata|E. cancellata]]'' |Elam |A [[Gempylidae|snake mackerel]]. |[[File:Epinnula magistralis.jpg|frameless]] |- |''[[Etrumeus]]'' |''[[Etrumeus hafizi|E. hafizi]]'' |Istehbanat |A [[round herring]]. |[[File:Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.ART.146 - Etrumeus teres De Kay - Kawahara Keiga - 1823 - 1829 - Siebold Collection - pencil drawing - water colour 1.jpeg|frameless]] |- |''[[Grammatorcynus]]'' |''[[Grammatorcynus scomberoides|G. scomberoides]]'' |Istehbanat, Elam |A [[mackerel]]. |[[File:Grammatorcynus bilineatus.jpg|frameless]] |- |''[[Iraniplectus]]'' |''I. bakhtiari'' |Babaheidar |A [[Tetraodontidae|pufferfish]]-like [[Tetraodontiformes|tetraodontiform]].<ref>Tyler, J.C.; Mirzaie, M.; Nazemi, A. (2006). New genus and species of basal tetraodontoid puffer fish from the Oligocene of Iran, related to the Zignoichthyidae (Tetraodontiformes). Bollettino del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Verona Geologia Paleontologia Preistoria, 30, 49-58</ref> |[[File:Iraniplectus bakhtiari artwork.jpg|frameless]] |- |''[[Maurolicus]]'' |''[[Maurolicus morgani|M. morgani]]'' |Elam |A [[Maurolicus|pearlside]]. |[[File:Maurolicus muelleri (Pearlsides).gif|frameless]] |- |?''[[Myroconger]]'' |?''[[Myroconger rouslami|M. rouslami]]'' |Elam |An apparent [[Myroconger|thin eel]], taxonomic affinity uncertain. |[[File:Myroconger compressus.png|frameless]] |- |''[[Opisthonema]]'' |''[[Opisthonema persicum|O. persicum]]'' |Elam |A [[Atlantic thread herring|thread herring]]. |[[File:Opisthonema oglinum Choptank 090220DSC 0001 (50376710368).jpg|frameless]] |- |''[[Palaeorhynchus]]'' |''P. altivelis'' |Istehbanat |A [[Palaeorhynchidae|palaeorhynchid]] [[billfish]]. |[[File:Palaeorhynchus altivelis.JPG|frameless]] |- | rowspan="2" |''[[Palimphyes]]'' (=''Dipterichthys'') |''P. nematophorus'' | rowspan="2" |Elam | rowspan="2" |A [[Euzaphlegidae|euzaphlegid]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Monsch |first1=Kenneth A. |last2=Bannikov |first2=Alexandre F. |date=2011 |title=New taxonomic synopses and revision of the scombroid fishes (Scombroidei, Perciformes), including billfishes, from the Cenozoic of territories of the former USSR |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/earth-and-environmental-science-transactions-of-royal-society-of-edinburgh/article/abs/new-taxonomic-synopses-and-revision-of-the-scombroid-fishes-scombroidei-perciformes-including-billfishes-from-the-cenozoic-of-territories-of-the-former-ussr/37C191646AD6ECED0B473DE94B6971EC |journal=Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh |language=en |volume=102 |issue=4 |pages=253–300 |doi=10.1017/S1755691011010085 |issn=1755-6910|url-access=subscription }}</ref> | rowspan="2" |[[File:Palimphyes sp 34 maf olig romania.jpg|frameless]] |- |''P. leptosomus'' |- |''[[Paucaichthys]]'' |''P. elamensis'' |Elam |A [[pomfret]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Přikryl |first=Tomáš |last2=Bannikov |first2=Alexandre F. |date=2014 |title=A new species of the Oligocene pomfret fish ''Paucaichthys'' (Perciformes; Bramidae) from Iran |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262925988_A_new_species_of_the_Oligocene_pomfret_fish_Paucaichthys_Perciformes_Bramidae_from_Iran |journal=N. Jb. Geol. Paläont. Abh. |volume=272 |issue=3 |pages=325–330}}</ref> | |- |''[[Praewoodsia]]'' |''P. mesogeae'' |Elam |A [[Gonostomatidae|bristlemouth]]. | |- |''[[Priacanthopsis]]'' |''P. crassispinus'' |Elam |A [[Priacanthidae|bigeye]]. | |- |''[[Proserrivomer]]'' |''P. mecquenemi'' |Elam |A [[sawtooth eel]]. | |- |''[[Propteridium]]'' |''P. douvillei'' |Elam |A [[viviparous brotula]]. | |- |''[[Pristigenys]]'' |''[[Pristigenys macropus|P. macropus]]'' |Istehbanat |A bigeye. |[[File:Pristigenys meyeri.jpg|frameless]] |- |''[[Protolophotus]]'' |''P. elami'' |Elam |A crestfish. |[[File:†Protolophotus elami, holotype MNHN.F.EIP10d.png|frameless]] |- |?''[[Psenes]]'' |?''[[Psenes macrolepis|P. macrolepis]]'' |Elam |A [[driftfish]], taxonomic identity uncertain. |[[File:Psenes maculatus.jpg|frameless]] |- |''[[Pseudholocentrum|Pseudoholocentrum]]'' |''P. cristatum'' |Elam |A [[Holocentridae|holocentrid]]. | |- |''[[Rybapina]]'' |''R. orientalis'' |Elam |A [[driftfish]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bannikov |first=Alexandre F. |date=1993 |title=FOSSIL STROMATEOID FISHES OF THE FAMILIES NOMEIDAE AND ARIOMMIDAE (PERCIFORMES) |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268211561 |journal=Paleontological Journal |volume=27 |issue=4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bannikov |first=A. F. |date=2018-11-01 |title=A New Genus and Species of Stromateoid Fishes (Perciformes, Stromateoidei) from the Lower Oligocene of the Northern Caucasus |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1134/S0031030118060035 |journal=Paleontological Journal |language=en |volume=52 |issue=6 |pages=631–638 |doi=10.1134/S0031030118060035 |issn=1555-6174|url-access=subscription }}</ref> | |- |''[[Scomber]]'' |''[[Scomber saadii|S. saadii]]'' |Istehbanat |A mackerel. |[[File:Scomber japonicus.png|frameless]] |- |''[[Scomberomorus]]'' |''[[Scomberomorus speciosus|S. speciosus]]'' |Istehbanat |A mackerel. |[[File:Scomberomorus cavalla.png|frameless]] |- |''[[Scopeloides]]'' |''S. glarisianus'' |Elam |A bristlemouth. |[[File:Scopeloides glarisianus 34 maf olig romania.jpg|frameless]] |- |''[[Barracuda|Sphyraena]]'' |''[[Sphyraena longimana|S. longimana]]'' |Istehbanat |A [[barracuda]]. |[[File:Spbar u0.gif|frameless]] |- |''[[Thyrsitoides]]'' |''[[Thyrsitoides zarathoustrae|T. zarathoustrae]]'' |Elam |A relative of the [[blacksail snake mackerel]]. |[[File:Bryan Meehan Blacksail Snake Mackerl 2024.jpg|frameless]] |- |?''[[Urosphen]]'' |?''U. iranensis'' |Elam |A [[Urosphenidae|urosphenid]] [[Syngnathiformes|syngnathiform]]. |[[File:Urosphen dubia.jpg|frameless]] |}
=== Birds === {| class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%" !Genus !Species !Locality !Notes !Images |- |''[[Diomedeoides]]'' (=''Frigidafrons'') |''D. babaheydariensis'' |Babaheidar |A [[Diomedeoides|diomedeoidid]] [[seabird]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Peters |first1=Dieter Stefan |last2=Hamedani |first2=Ali |date=2000-05-01 |title=Frigidafons babaheydariensis n. sp., ein Sturmvogel aus dem Oligozän des Irans (Aves: Procellariidae) |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF03043661 |journal=Senckenbergiana Lethaea |language=de |volume=80 |issue=1 |pages=29–37 |doi=10.1007/BF03043661 |issn=0037-2110|url-access=subscription }}</ref> |[[File:Diomedeoides.jpg|frameless]] |}
=== Arthropods ===
==== Crustaceans ==== Based on Garassino, Bahrami, Yazdi & Vega (2014):<ref name="NJGPA27412">{{Cite journal |author1=Alessandro Garassino |author2=Ali Bahrami |author3=Medhi Yazdi |author4=Francisco J. Vega |year=2014 |title=Report on decapod crustaceans from the Eocene of Zagros Basin, Iran |journal=Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen |volume=274 |issue=1 |pages=43–54 |doi=10.1127/njgpa/2014/0442}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%" !Genus !Species !Locality !Notes !Images |- |''[[Eogordonella]]'' |''E. iranianiensis'' | rowspan="3" |Babaheidar |A [[Solenoceridae|solenocerid]] [[shrimp]]. | |- |''[[Eopabdehus]]'' |''E. babaheydariensis'' |A [[Penaeidae|penaeid]] shrimp. | |- |''[[Parsacus]]'' |''P. eocenicus'' |A [[slipper lobster]]. | |}
==== Insecta ==== {| class="wikitable" align="center" width="100%" !Genus !Species !Locality !Notes !Images |- |[[Acrididae]] indet. | | rowspan="2" |Babaheidar |A [[Acrididae|short-horned grasshopper]] of uncertain affinities, potentially in a migratory [[locust]]-like phase.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Mirzaie Ataabadi |first1=Majid |last2=Bahrami |first2=Ali |last3=Yazdi |first3=Mehdi |last4=Nel |first4=André |date=2019-05-28 |title=A locust witness of a trans-oceanic Oligocene migration between Arabia and Iran (Orthoptera: Acrididae) |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2017.1378651 |journal=Historical Biology |language=en |volume=31 |issue=5 |pages=574–580 |doi=10.1080/08912963.2017.1378651 |issn=0891-2963}}</ref> | |- |[[Formicidae]] indet. | |A potentially [[Myrmicinae|myrmicine]] [[ant]] of uncertain affinities, migratory [[Alate|alates]].<ref name=":1" /> | |}
== References == <references /> [[Category:Geologic formations of Iran]] [[Category:Zagros Mountains]] [[Category:Priabonian Stage]] [[Category:Rupelian Stage]] [[Category:Open marine deposits]] [[Category:Deep marine deposits]] [[Category:Paleontology in Iran]]