Broennimannia persica n. ichnogen., n. ichnosp., a new crustacean microcoprolite from the Paleocene of eastern Iran

The new crustacean microcoprolite Broennimannia persica n. ichnogen., n. ichnosp., is described from the Paleocene (Danian-Selandian) of eastern Iran. The new microcoprolite is characterized by a bilateral symmetrical system of longitudinal “canals” that in transverse sections display an irregular (labyrinthine) outline with concave infoldings and rounded protuberances. The crescentic outline of parts of the canal system recalls the long-ranging ichnogenus Palaxius Brönnimann & Norton (Carboniferous to Pleistocene). In the latter ichnogenus, however, the canals are isolated. A general determination key for microcoprolites in transverse section is provided. The new microcoprolite occurs in poorly sorted foram-algal grainstones/packstones with a fine-grained siliciclastic content. The associated microfauna and –flora includes common miliolids, among the agglutinating Haymanella , Stomatorbina sp., serpulids, and dasycladalean algae ( Cymopolia sp., Trinocladus atacis Segonzac). From Iran, fossil microcoprolites have been described so far only from the Upper Jurassic, Lower Cretaceous, and Miocene. Broennimannia persica represents the first Paleocene record from this area.