A century later: Rediscovery and range expansion of Typhlocaris lethaea Parisi, 1920 (Crustacea, Decapoda) in subterranean karstic waters of Benghazi, northeastern Libya Rosario Ruggieri, Houssein Elbaraasi, Mohammed H. Al Riaydh, Abdelsalam Elshaafi, Awad Bilal, Fathi Salloum, Mohamed Abdelmalik Subterranean Biology, 2025 This study confirms the existence of the blind cave shrimp Typhlocaris lethaea Parisi, 1920, in Lethe Cave, Benghazi, Libya, nearly a century after its initial discovery, and documents its new distribution in the Al-Coeffiah caves. Field surveys conducted in 2023 and 2024 revealed its presence in the El-Khadim and Al-Jebah caves, extending its known range by 9 km. Specimens were found in subterranean lakes characterized by complete darkness, with water parameters including an average temperature of 22 °C, pH of 7.67, and salinity of 4.72 ppt. Two specimens were used for further analysis. These findings suggest that the species is more widespread than previously thought and highlight the potential hydrological connections within the karstic system. Additionally, the discovery of a depigmented isopod in El-Khadim cave suggests further hidden biodiversity. Given its IUCN data-deficient status, our findings emphasize the need for conservation efforts to protect these fragile ecosystems from human impacts, ensuring the preservation of Libya’s unique subterranean biodiversity.
3D seismic classification of fluid escape pipes in the western Exmouth Plateau, North West Shelf of Australia Susy Mercado Ruge, Nicola Scarselli, Awad Bilal Journal of the Geological Society, 2021 Fluid escape pipes are vertical pathways of focused flow venting from a variety of deep overpressure sources. These geological features are typical of many sedimentary basins, including proven petroliferous provinces worldwide, such as the North Sea and the Exmouth Plateau in the Northern Carnarvon Basin, NW Australia. High-quality three-dimensional (3D) seismic reflection data from the western Exmouth Plateau revealed the occurrence of exceptionally well-imaged fluid escape pipes affecting the Jurassic strata and the Triassic Mungaroo Formation, a key reservoir unit in the basin. A total of 171 fluid escape pipes, including blowout, seepage and hydrothermal pipes, were mapped, and their geomorphological characteristics were analysed. In the study area, these features form prominent vertical columns up to 4.5 km long disrupting continuous reflections of the Triassic to Jurassic section. Numerous fluid escape pipes terminate with palaeo-pockmarks affecting the Upper Jurassic syn-extension strata, providing evidence for pipe genesis during the early stages of the Late Jurassic rifting in the Exmouth Plateau. Fluid escape pipes were found rooting from different stratigraphic levels, suggesting multiple fluid sources within the Triassic sediments. Several fluid flow structures nucleated along or near rift-related fault planes within the Mungaroo Formation, providing further evidence of rifting as a main triggering factor of important fluid flow in the basin. In the study area, the presence of fluid escape pipes represents a significant risk for the preservation of potential hydrocarbon accumulations, as, when these features form, vertical fluid venting breaches through stratigraphy, compromising the integrity of seal units. This seems supported by the lack of significant discoveries within the area covered by seismic survey analysed in this study.
Multiphase activation of the boundary fault system of the eastern Dampier subbasin, Northwest Shelf of Australia Hongdan Deng, Ken McClay, Awad Bilal AAPG Bulletin, 2021 Investigating the timing, structural style, and development of multiphase extensional fault systems is essential for understanding rift basin evolution and for assessment of structural trap integrity. Borehole-controlled interpretation and analysis of two-dimensional and three-dimensional seismic data sets from the eastern Dampier subbasin indicate that a northeast-trending basement weakness zone was subjected to west-northwest–east-southeast oblique extension in the latest Triassic–late Middle Jurassic, resulting in systematic segmentation of the Rosemary fault system (RFS). Temporal stress change during Cretaceous north-south extension produced complex fault systems along the RFS, including (1) east-west–trending isolated faults with maximum displacement close to their center; (2) east-west–trending abutting faults, which initially nucleated as isolated faults, later abutted against the main structure, showing large displacement accruement on the composite fault; and (3) northeast-southwest–trending splay faults characterized by systematic left-stepping segmentation, with maximum displacement occurring at the point where the splay faults deviate from the main structure. In the Miocene, the RFS was locally reactivated by northwest-southeast compression in the northeastern part of the fault system, developing a compressive fault-propagation fold at the upper tip of the inverted extensional fault. This study suggests that the style of basin boundary fault reactivation depends largely on preexisting structures and temporal stress changes. The fault reactivation style is also a significant factor in influencing basin architecture, sediment distribution, fault linkage processes, and petroleum basin prospectivity.
Late middle Eocene epoch of Libya yields earliest known radiation of African anthropoids Jean-Jacques Jaeger, K. Christopher Beard, Yaowalak Chaimanee, Mustafa Salem, Mouloud Benammi, Osama Hlal, Pauline Coster, Awad A. Bilal, Philippe Duringer, Mathieu Schuster, Xavier Valentin, Bernard Marandat, Laurent Marivaux, Eddy Métais, Omar Hammuda, Michel Brunet Nature, 2010
New late middle Eocene anthropoids from Dur At-Talah, Libya: Implications for early primate dispersal into Afro-Arabia JJ Jaeger, Y Chaimanee, M Benammi, L Marivaux, O Chavasseau, ... Journal of Human Evolution 215, 103843 , 2026 2026
Upper Miocene Petrified Forest from As-Sahabi Area, Northeast Sirt Basin, Libya A Elshaafi, M El-Shawaihdi, A Muftah, A Bilal Geoheritage 18 (1), 4 , 2026 2026
A century later: Rediscovery and range expansion of Typhlocaris lethaea Parisi, 1920 (Crustacea, Decapoda) in subterranean karstic waters of Benghazi, northeastern Libya R Ruggieri, H Elbaraasi, MH Al Riaydh, A Elshaafi, A Bilal, F Salloum, ... Subterranean Biology 51, 21-29 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
The Cyrenaica karst project: Karst geomorphology and caves, Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar, NE Libya R Ruggieri, A Elshaafi, A Bilal, F Salloum, S Elshari Journal of Pure & Applied Sciences 24 (2), 44-51 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Assessment of geohazards of karstified limestone in Al-Coeffiah area, Benghazi plain, NE Libya E El-Rayani, F Salloum, A Elshaafi, A Bilal, K Eldursi Carbonates and Evaporites 39 (2), 23 , 2024 2024 Citations: 2
Hawa Fteah Collapse Doline-Cave in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar Area, NE Libya: one of the Oldest Caves in North Africa and the Mediterranean Basin A Elshaafi, A Bilal, F Salloum, R Ruggieri, M El-Shawaihdi International Scientific Conference, Man and Karst 2022 17 (Speleologia … , 2023 2023 Citations: 2
Seismic geomorphology as a tool to explore the georesource potential of slope failuresdexamples from offshore North West Shelf, Australia N Scarselli, A Bilal, K McClay, O Ferrer, S Gumprecht, T Paten Interpreting Subsurface Seismic Data, 33 , 2022 2022 Citations: 4
Tectonic and stratigraphic evolution of the central Exmouth Plateau, NW Shelf of Australia A Bilal, K McClay Marine and Petroleum Geology 136, 105447 , 2022 2022 Citations: 26
New insights on the gravity-driven deformation of late Albian–early Turonian stacked delta collapse systems in the Ceduna sub-basin, Bight Basin, southern margin of Australia B Ahmed, K McClay, N Scarselli, A Bilal Tectonophysics 823, 229184 , 2022 2022 Citations: 8
Development of collapse dolines in Al Jabal Al Akhdar, NE Libya: geomorphic analysis and numerical modeling-based approach A Elshaafi, A Bilal, Y Awami, F Salloum Carbonates and Evaporites 36 (3), 54 , 2021 2021 Citations: 7
3D seismic classification of fluid escape pipes in the western Exmouth Plateau, North West Shelf of Australia SM Ruge, N Scarselli, A Bilal Journal of the Geological Society 178 (3), jgs2020-096 , 2021 2021 Citations: 13
Multiphase activation of the boundary fault system of the eastern Dampier subbasin, Northwest Shelf of Australia H Deng, K McClay, A Bilal AAPG Bulletin 105 (1), 157-188 , 2021 2021 Citations: 18
Fault-scarp degradation in the central exmouth plateau, north west shelf, Australia A Bilal, KEN McClay, N Scarselli 2020 Citations: 38
3D structure and evolution of an extensional fault network of the eastern Dampier Sub-basin, North West Shelf of Australia H Deng, K McClay, A Bilal Journal of Structural Geology 132, 103972 , 2020 2020 Citations: 37
Unique dolines field in the area between Soluq and Msus, Ne Libya: origin and distribution FH Faraj, FM Salloum, AM Muftah, AA Bilal 4th International Symposium, Karst Evolution in the South Mediterranean Area … , 2016 2016 Citations: 13
New Apterodontinae (Hyaenodontida) from the Eocene locality of Dur At-Talah (Libya): systematic, paleoecological and phylogenetical implications C Grohé, M Morlo, Y Chaimanee, C Blondel, P Coster, X Valentin, ... Plos One 7 (11), e49054 , 2012 2012 Citations: 30
New stem elephant‐shrews (Mammalia, Macroscelidea) from the Eocene of Dur At‐Talah, Libya R Tabuce, JJ JAEGER, L Marivaux, M Salem, AA Bilal, M Benammi, ... Palaeontology 55 (5), 945-955 , 2012 2012 Citations: 20
New hystricognathous rodents from the early Oligocene of central Libya (Zallah Oasis, Sahara Desert): systematic, phylogenetic, and biochronologic implications P Coster, M Benammi, M Salem, AA Bilal, Y Chaimanee, X Valentin, ... Annals of Carnegie Museum 80 (3), 239-259 , 2012 2012 Citations: 21
Late middle Eocene epoch of Libya yields earliest known radiation of African anthropoids JJ Jaeger, KC Beard, Y Chaimanee, M Salem, M Benammi, O Hlal, ... Nature 467 (7319), 1095-1098 , 2010 2010 Citations: 111
New rodent assemblages from the Eocene Dur At-Talah escarpment (Sahara of central Libya): systematic, biochronological, and palaeobiogeographical implications JJ Jaeger, L Marivaux, M Salem, AA Bilal, M Benammi, Y Chaimanee, ... Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 160 (1), 195-213 , 2010 2010 Citations: 57
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Late middle Eocene epoch of Libya yields earliest known radiation of African anthropoids JJ Jaeger, KC Beard, Y Chaimanee, M Salem, M Benammi, O Hlal, ... Nature 467 (7319), 1095-1098 , 2010 2010 Citations: 111
New rodent assemblages from the Eocene Dur At-Talah escarpment (Sahara of central Libya): systematic, biochronological, and palaeobiogeographical implications JJ Jaeger, L Marivaux, M Salem, AA Bilal, M Benammi, Y Chaimanee, ... Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 160 (1), 195-213 , 2010 2010 Citations: 57
Gaudeamus lavocati sp. nov. (Rodentia, Hystricognathi) from the early Oligocene of Zallah, Libya: first African caviomorph? P Coster, M Benammi, V Lazzari, G Billet, T Martin, M Salem, AA Bilal, ... Naturwissenschaften 97 (8), 697-706 , 2010 2010 Citations: 45
Fault-scarp degradation in the central exmouth plateau, north west shelf, Australia A Bilal, KEN McClay, N Scarselli 2020 Citations: 38
3D structure and evolution of an extensional fault network of the eastern Dampier Sub-basin, North West Shelf of Australia H Deng, K McClay, A Bilal Journal of Structural Geology 132, 103972 , 2020 2020 Citations: 37
New Apterodontinae (Hyaenodontida) from the Eocene locality of Dur At-Talah (Libya): systematic, paleoecological and phylogenetical implications C Grohé, M Morlo, Y Chaimanee, C Blondel, P Coster, X Valentin, ... Plos One 7 (11), e49054 , 2012 2012 Citations: 30
Tectonic and stratigraphic evolution of the central Exmouth Plateau, NW Shelf of Australia A Bilal, K McClay Marine and Petroleum Geology 136, 105447 , 2022 2022 Citations: 26
New hystricognathous rodents from the early Oligocene of central Libya (Zallah Oasis, Sahara Desert): systematic, phylogenetic, and biochronologic implications P Coster, M Benammi, M Salem, AA Bilal, Y Chaimanee, X Valentin, ... Annals of Carnegie Museum 80 (3), 239-259 , 2012 2012 Citations: 21
New stem elephant‐shrews (Mammalia, Macroscelidea) from the Eocene of Dur At‐Talah, Libya R Tabuce, JJ JAEGER, L Marivaux, M Salem, AA Bilal, M Benammi, ... Palaeontology 55 (5), 945-955 , 2012 2012 Citations: 20
Multiphase activation of the boundary fault system of the eastern Dampier subbasin, Northwest Shelf of Australia H Deng, K McClay, A Bilal AAPG Bulletin 105 (1), 157-188 , 2021 2021 Citations: 18
3D seismic classification of fluid escape pipes in the western Exmouth Plateau, North West Shelf of Australia SM Ruge, N Scarselli, A Bilal Journal of the Geological Society 178 (3), jgs2020-096 , 2021 2021 Citations: 13
Unique dolines field in the area between Soluq and Msus, Ne Libya: origin and distribution FH Faraj, FM Salloum, AM Muftah, AA Bilal 4th International Symposium, Karst Evolution in the South Mediterranean Area … , 2016 2016 Citations: 13
New insights on the gravity-driven deformation of late Albian–early Turonian stacked delta collapse systems in the Ceduna sub-basin, Bight Basin, southern margin of Australia B Ahmed, K McClay, N Scarselli, A Bilal Tectonophysics 823, 229184 , 2022 2022 Citations: 8
Development of collapse dolines in Al Jabal Al Akhdar, NE Libya: geomorphic analysis and numerical modeling-based approach A Elshaafi, A Bilal, Y Awami, F Salloum Carbonates and Evaporites 36 (3), 54 , 2021 2021 Citations: 7
Seismic geomorphology as a tool to explore the georesource potential of slope failuresdexamples from offshore North West Shelf, Australia N Scarselli, A Bilal, K McClay, O Ferrer, S Gumprecht, T Paten Interpreting Subsurface Seismic Data, 33 , 2022 2022 Citations: 4
Assessment of geohazards of karstified limestone in Al-Coeffiah area, Benghazi plain, NE Libya E El-Rayani, F Salloum, A Elshaafi, A Bilal, K Eldursi Carbonates and Evaporites 39 (2), 23 , 2024 2024 Citations: 2
Hawa Fteah Collapse Doline-Cave in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar Area, NE Libya: one of the Oldest Caves in North Africa and the Mediterranean Basin A Elshaafi, A Bilal, F Salloum, R Ruggieri, M El-Shawaihdi International Scientific Conference, Man and Karst 2022 17 (Speleologia … , 2023 2023 Citations: 2
A century later: Rediscovery and range expansion of Typhlocaris lethaea Parisi, 1920 (Crustacea, Decapoda) in subterranean karstic waters of Benghazi, northeastern Libya R Ruggieri, H Elbaraasi, MH Al Riaydh, A Elshaafi, A Bilal, F Salloum, ... Subterranean Biology 51, 21-29 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
The Cyrenaica karst project: Karst geomorphology and caves, Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar, NE Libya R Ruggieri, A Elshaafi, A Bilal, F Salloum, S Elshari Journal of Pure & Applied Sciences 24 (2), 44-51 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
New late middle Eocene anthropoids from Dur At-Talah, Libya: Implications for early primate dispersal into Afro-Arabia JJ Jaeger, Y Chaimanee, M Benammi, L Marivaux, O Chavasseau, ... Journal of Human Evolution 215, 103843 , 2026 2026