A new Permian gastropod fauna from the Tak Fa Limestone, Nakhonsawan, Northern Thailand - a report of preliminary results

Abstract

A new silicified Middle Permian gastropod fauna is reported from the Tak Fa Limestone from Northern Thailand. It is the first diverse Permian gastropod fauna known for Thailand. The fauna comes from shallow water carbonates which are rich in fusulinids. Twenty gastropod species are reported in open nomenclature and are illustrated. Ongoing dissolution of limestone blocks will yield additional taxa. Thus, this fauna represents one of the richest Permian gastropod faunas known to date from Southeast Asia. Although identifications are preliminary, the presence of typical late Palaeozoic taxa such as Bellerophontidae, several Pleurotomarioidea, Meekospiridae and Goniasmatidae is evident. Some of the species present are undescribed.