First Record of Sexual Dimorphism in Toxasterid Echinoid Heteraster from the Early Cretaceous Deposits of the Kopet‐Dagh Basin, NE Iran

Abstract

The paper describes the spatangoid echinoids belonging to Heteraster, which could be found in the Barremian‐Aptian deposits (Tirgan and Sarcheshmeh formations)8 at the Bahman jan‐Bala stratigraphic section in northern flank of the Borouj syncline, situated in eastern Kopet‐Dagh Basin, Northeast of Iran. The aim is to introduce a species of toxasteridae family: Heteraster renngarteni as a sexually dimorphic species. Sexual dimorphism is a common features in echinoids and in this study, for the first time, sexual dimorphism was detected in the toxasteridae family.