Xenoxylon, a boreal fossil wood in the Mesozoic redbeds of Southeast Asia: Potential for the stratigraphy of the Khorat group and the palinspatic reconstruction of Southeast Asia

Abstract

The fossil wood genus Xenoxylon is reported in-situ for the first time in Thailand. It originates from the Indosinian terrane, from the Mesozoic continental redbeds of the Phu Kradung Formation (Khorat Group). Palinspatic reconstruction, palaeobiogeography and correlation with other occurrences of the genus, in southern China as well as in Vietnam, suggest a middle to late Jurassic age for the Phu Kradung Formation level yielding the fossil wood. The dating of this formation is still controversial and thus our data is an important step towards a better understanding of its geological history and palaeoecology, as well as of the Southeast Asia Mesozoic continental redbeds significance for the evolution of the vertebrates.