Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 134, February 2016, pp. 1-44. | Page 29

29

submarine U-96 (1940), known for its portrayal in ―Das Boot‖, and was later the
symbol of the 9th U-Boat Flotilla. The German World War II Kampfabzeichen der
Kleinkampfverbände (Battle Badge of Small Combat Units) depicted a sawfish.
These units used midget submarines, manned torpedoes, and explosive boats.
In cartoons and humorous popular culture, the sawfish—particularly its nose—
has been employed as a sort of living tool. Examples of this can be found in
―Vicke Viking‖ and ―Fighting Fantasy” volume "Demons of the Deep"
(Wikipedia).

Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Khalaf-von Jaffa studying the Nummulite
fossils at Wadi El-Hitan (Whales Valley), Al-Fayyum, Al-Sahraa Al-Gharbiah (Western
Desert), Egypt. Photo: Ola Mostafa Khalaf. 11.07.2012.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/50022881@N00/15306802850/

Nummulite
A nummulite is a large lenticular fossil, characterized by its numerous coils,
subdivided by septa into chambers. They are the shells of the fossil and presentday marine protozoan Nummulites, a type of foraminiferan. Nummulites
commonly vary in diameter from 1.3 cm (0.5 inches) to 5 cm (2 inches) and are
common in Eocene to Miocene marine rocks, particularly around southwest Asia
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 134 – February 2016