ملخص: The rich brachiopod fauna of Upper Berriasian age (Boissieri zone) in the Oranian Tellian foreland, is studied forthe first time from the taxonomic point of view. The description of species takes account of both external and internal morphological characters. The microstructural details revealed by the scanning electron microscope show growth rhythms and the diagenetic evolution of the shells. Comparison of the North Africa Berriasian-Valanginian fauna with that of Europe indicates that the palaeogeographic distribution of certain brachiopod species was controlled by latitude and by climate. Finally, the assemblage of palaeoenvironmental and palaeoecological faunal associations is emphasized with brachiopod biocoenoses closely related to the transgressive phase represented by the Boissieri zone. The transgressive phase is part of a 3rd-order depositional sequence (in Vail's sense) dating from the Middle Berriasian to the Late Berriasian on the south-west margin of Tethys.

لغة: إنجليزية