Devonian miospore successions of Western Gondwana: update and correlation with Southern Euramerican miospore zones

Abstract

The composition and main biohorizons of Devonian miospore successions of Western Gondwanan regions are reviewed and compared to corresponding miospore zones of Southern Euramerica. The stratigraphic distribution of the most significant taxa is recorded in the main investigated basins of North Africa, Saudi Arabia and Brazil. With the exception of certain forms geographically restricted to Western Gondwana, most of the stratigraphically useful taxa are common to both Southern Euramerica and Western Gondwana. Successions of Western European-defined zones can be recognized and correlated in Western Gondwana regions on the basis of these common index species. Many Devonian miospore biozones defined in Western Europe are well represented in Western Gondwana, whereas some remain unrecorded or poorly characterized. The biozones may alternate with intervals with poor biostratigraphic resolution which can be attributed to various causative agents.