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We present a new genus and species of Caloneurodea from the Gzhelian (Stephanian B) of El Bierzo coalfield, in NW Iberian Peninsula (León, Spain) belonging to an uncertain family. Wappleria tremoris gen. et sp. nov. is described on the basis of a new specimen found in the Stephanian B strata of Casilda Mine, of Gzhelian age (Late Pennsylvanian, Late Carboniferous). The extinct order Caloneurodea (superorder Archaeorthoptera) is really scarce worldwide, it was previously found in the Carboniferous and Permian of Europe, North America, and Asia. This new specimen represents the first evidence of the order Caloneurodea from Spain, and the second record from the Iberian Peninsula, filling a gap in the Carboniferous palaeogeographical puzzle of this species in Europe. Little is known about the ecology and general biology of Caloneurodea. Nevertheless, Wappleria tremoris gen. et sp. nov. was found in close association with a rich palaeobotanical assemblage, dominated by pteridophytes, pteridospermatophytes, and gymnosperms, suggesting that W. tremoris could show a preference for forests under humid conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Late Paleozoic ice age is a vital event in the geological history. The sea level change caused by the Late Paleozoic ice age has a far-reaching impact on the reef system. The response of reefs to sea-level change in the context of the Late Paleozoic ice age is discussed. Reefs exhibit three primary modes of response：“abandonment”, “synchronization”, “persistence”. We calculated the rise of sea level in Gzhelian by the large Bianping coral reef in southern Guizhou. The sea level of Gzhelian in southern Guizhou rose by about （60±5）m, which is mainly caused by glaciation. The sources of error in this estimation chiefly revolve around basement subsidence and inaccurate estimation of paleo-water depth. The morphology and rapid growth characteristics of Fomitchevella reveal the paleoenvironmental conditions of warm climate, rising sea level and rapid transgression in the Gzhelian period in southern Guizhou. The development of the Bianping coral reef reflects the global climate change and sea level fluctuations are related to the ice age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reconstruction and classification of Kasimovian and Gzhelian plant communities of the Donets Basin that constituted the Late Pennsylvanian vegetation cover of the region is proposed. Reconstructions of palaeophytocoenoses are based on the identification of the floristic сomposition of fossil assemblages and the lithological-facial features of plant-bearing strata from 69 phytooryctocoenoses that were found in more than 30 plant fossil localities and 20 boreholes within the Bahmut and Kalmius–Torets depressions. The plant remains were studed from lacustrine, swamp, deltaic, floodplain and lagoonal deposits that indicate biotopes corresponding to coastal lowlands, deltaic plains, floodplains and river valley slopes. The morphological and quantitative characteristics of plant fossils indicate that these palaeophytocoenoses in different time intervals of the Late Pennsylvanian belonged to four vegetation types, namely to coastal semi-aquatic vegetation, wetland forests, wetland woodlands and seasonally dry woodlands. The classification of plant communities was conducted using the ecological and floristic approach for vegetation classification by the Braun-Blanquet method. The identification of plant community types (syntaxa) from the lowest rank (association) to the higher ranks (alliance, order, and class) was made as a result of an analysis of the floristic composition and ecological conditions of palaeophytocoenoses. The major criteria for determining the syntaxa are the diagnostic species including characteristic and differential species, which are considered as indicators of environmental conditions. The newly compiled prodromus of Kasimovian and Gzhelian plant communities consists of 11 classes, 16 orders, 21 alliances and 21 associations. The prodromus reveals the syntaxonomic composition of the Late Pennsylvanianvegetation cover of the Donets Basin and provides an understanding of past vegetation dynamics. The syntaxonomic changes of vegetation are traced in the four time intervals that are correspond to regional stratigraphic units, namely Toretskian (Kasimovian), Kalynovian (early Gzhelian), Luganskian (middle Gzhelian), and Vyskrivskian (late Gzhelian), and are characterised by the plant associations of certain classes and orders.

Lusitadischia sai gen. et sp. nov., an orthopteran Oedischiidae from the lower Gzhelian (Pennsylvanian, Carboniferous) of Portugal is described and figured based on an incomplete forewing. This is the second representative of Oedischiidae so far known from the Iberian Peninsula. Following several recent discoveries, Lusitadischia sai supports that Carboniferous entomofauna of Portugal was more diverse than the limited fossilisation potential and sampling difficulties would formerly suggest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Late Paleozoic Taiyuan Formation in North China is mainly composed of a mixed shallow-marine carbonate and terrigenous clastic deposits. Its basal limestones have been constrained in the late Pennsylvanian to Early Permian. To further constrain the age of the lowest Taiyuan Formation, we obtained two genera and 16 species of conodonts from the bottom limestones of the Taiyuan Formation in two sections in Henan Province, southern North China. The fauna includes Idiognathodus hebeiensis, Streptognathodus isolatus, S. elongatus, S. cf. longus, S. acuminatus, S. cf. recreatus, S. cf. cristellaris, S. bellus, S. invaginatus, S. wabaunsensis, S. glenisteri, S. conjunctus, S. binodosus, S. fuchengensis, S. nodulinearis, and S. sp. A genus of Streptognathodus dominated conodont assemblage with some Idiognathodus elements. It indicates a late Gzhelian (latest Pennsylvanian) age for the lowest Taiyuan Formation in southern North China. This is consistent with recently published high-precision zircon U-Pb ages from ash layers. Based on conodont biostratigraphy, the basal limestones of the Taiyuan Formation in Henan Province (southern North China) can be correlated with the upper part of Miaogou limestones of the Taiyuan Formation in Shanxi Province (northern North China). This correlation might reflect a significant sea-level rise in North China, possibly corresponding to a deglaciation event at the Permo-Carboniferous transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Two new representatives of the blattinopsid genus Glaphyrophlebia, from the Gzhelian of Southern France and Spain, respectively, are described and illustrated. They suggest that the diversity of this genus began to increase during the latest Carboniferous, possibly in relation to the climatic changes occurring at that time. Glaphyrophlebia victoiriensis sp. nov. (Paoliida: Blattinopsidae) is the third Gzhelian representative of the genus and is described based on a beautiful forewing from the Var department in Southern France. Together with the description of another forewing fragment of a Glaphyrophlebia sp. from the Province of León in NW Spain, they improve our knowledge of fossil insects from French and Spanish upper Carboniferous deposits. The specimen of Glaphyrophlebia sp. is the first mention of the family in the Carboniferous of Spain and extends the geographical distribution of the genus. These descriptions suggest that the genus Glaphyrophlebia was speciose during the Upper Pennsylvanian, while otherwise very diverse in the lower and middle Permian strata of the Russian Federation. We proposed the first hypothesis to explain the diversification of the family and of its most speciose genera and to argue that their diversity dynamics were likely linked with the major environmental changes that followed the collapse of the Carboniferous rainforest, notably the extension of arid biomes during the Permian period. The exquisite preservation and the fineness of the sediment from Tante Victoire, in which the new species was found, suggests that the locality is suitable for preserving other fossil insects and will require additional investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We follow the wing venation pattern of Schubnel et al. [[12]], and the terminology for wing colouration of Schneider and Werneburg [[13]] adapted to the wing venation terminology. M with MA area branching off approximately in middle the wing; expanded areas between main veins, especially that between M and CuA; wing surface with bright maculae located in costal area and in form fasculae at each wing tip. Schneider et al. [[20]] proposed the following emended diagnosis: 'Phyloblattid-like wing venation pattern but with a much lower number of veins and with extended fields between the main veins. He proposed the following one for I S. hercynica i : 'forewing 16 mm long and 5 mm wide, markings basically like I S. euglyptica i , but the maculae and fasculae are even more extensive, so that the vein seams are more delicately developed; more branches at CuA than I S. euglyptica i '; the following diagnosis for I S. ilfeldensis i : 'approximately 3.2 × 1.13 cm large forewing. [Extracted from the article]

The late Carboniferous–early Permian represents a key period in the Phanerozoic history, given the major global geodynamic and climate modifications. The aim of this work is to better understand the context and characteristics of the sedimentation recorded in the continental environments of eastern equatorial Pangea at this time, through the example of the Autun Basin (northeastern Massif Central, France). The Autun Basin contains the historical stratotype of the Autunian continental stage, and its stratigraphy was recently improved by accurate numerical ages. This basin formed in an extensional tectonic context during the latest stages of the Variscan orogeny, and it is essential to study its paleoenvironmental evolution to provide new insights into the sedimentary evolution of contemporaneous surrounding basins. Using field and subsurface data, we propose a refined sedimentological model for the Autun Basin, relying on updated facies interpretations, organic matter content fluctuations, and sequence stratigraphy concepts and correlations. The continental environments of the lower sedimentary succession of the Autun Basin, previously considered to be fluvial and lacustrine, are herein re-interpreted as mainly lacustrine, comprising fine-grained organic matter-rich deposits, and supplied by coarser-grained deltaic siliciclastic sediments, without preservation of strict fluvial sedimentation. The determination of the sequence stratigraphy cycles, strengthened by the quantification of the organic matter content, and reflected by the temporal succession of progradational and retrogradational trends, is used to determine new correlations between several sections, as well as to reconstruct the paleoenvironment evolution at the Carboniferous–Permian transition. This study provides evidence that the sedimentation area of the Autun Basin at the time of its filling was much larger than the preserved basin area, and suggests connections with contemporaneous neighboring French basins, pointing to a large sedimentary system in the northeastern Massif Central area rather than narrow and isolated basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise of research. Sphenophytes are a modestly diverse lineage of vascular plants with a persistent record extending from the late Paleozoic to the present. However, patterns of arthropod herbivory on sphenophytes are poorly known because of a scattered literature, which we address in this report. Methodology. We document the 315-million-year-long record of sphenophyte-arthropod herbivory by focusing on the bookends of that record—namely, the Pennsylvanian and the present day. We add to this milieu a gall association on a newly described sphenophyte from the Upper Pennsylvanian of Portugal. Pivotal results. Earliest-known sphenophyte herbivory is Early Pennsylvanian, when virtually all interactions involved piercing-and-sucking damage by stylate insect mouthparts and lesions from cutting-and-slicing ovipositors. An exception is a newly discovered calamitalean (Annularia paisii sp. nov.) that harbored a newly discovered insect-induced gall (Paleogallus carpannularites ichnosp. nov.) that is similar to a modern fern gall. This discovery suggests that Late Pennsylvanian interactions were more diverse than previously suspected. By the end of the Pennsylvanian, the component community of one whole-plant calamitalean species had 12 damage types (DTs), only one of which was nonpuncturing damage. Shifts to external foliage feeding, mining, and galling are evident during the Late Triassic. A Middle Jurassic renewal of interactions was followed by a decrease in documented DTs present in the Cretaceous and Cenozoic. Fifteen modern species of the genus Equisetum , the sole surviving sphenophyte lineage, exhibit four herbivory patterns. First, almost all documented herbivory is confined to the seven species of Equisetum (horsetails), not subgenus Hippochaete (scouring rushes). Second, there are diversification events of four genera of herbivores—a beetle, two sawflies, and a fly—on subgenus Equisetum. Third, this arthropod herbivory is approximately evenly split among monophagy, oligophagy, and polyphagy. Fourth, the herbivore component community of Equisetum arvense L. (field horsetail) is diverse, representing 10 major feeding modes, comparable to a modern angiosperm species; there are considerably more feeding modes for E. arvense than there are for Pennsylvanian calamitaleans. Conclusions. Pennsylvanian sphenophytes supported few folivores, and there was a major shift in the modes of sphenophyte herbivory after the Paleozoic. Considerable modern herbivory is localized on E. arvense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Late Pennsylvanian-Cisuralian fusulinacean genus Biwaella Morikawa et Isomi, 1960 has been described from a number of tropical to subtropical Tethyan and Peri-Gondwanan localities along with sparse occurrences from the Boreal and Midcontinent-Andean faunal provinces. The present study provides a synthesis of the known global distribution and migratory timescales of Biwaella and describes the first occurrence of B. americana Skinner et Wilde, 1965 from Nevada, USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transgressive part of the Finis Shale cycle (Graham Formation, Cisco Group, Virgilian, Pennsylvanian) in North-Central Texas contains abundant conodonts of the group Idiognathodussimulator, the species I. simulator being the global marker of the Kasimovian–Gzhelian boundary. The interval also has a dominantly agglutinated foraminiferal fauna with scarce calcareous taxa. A thin calcareous unit with a diverse Triticites fusulinid fauna directly underlies the Finis Shale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biostratigraphy of the latest Gzhelian‒Asselian fusulinoid fauna from the Banarizeh section located in the Abadeh region of the Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone is investigated. The most characteristic species among the fusulinoids are the species of Pseudoschwagerina?, Nonpseudofusulina, and Praepseudofusulina; the last one is represented by four species, namely, Praepseudofusulina kljasmica (Sjomina), P. cf. saratovensis (Chernova), P. incomperta (Scherbovich), and P. cf. impercepta (Jagofarova). A biostratigraphic correlation shows that the latest Gzhelian–Asselian fusulinoid assemblage from the Banarizeh section shares some common species with the contemporaneous assemblages of the Russian Platform and Southern Urals. It can also be compared to those of the Alborz, Tabas Block (East Iran), and Yazd Block (Central Iran). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In the western European basins, the paleoflora of late Pennsylvanian-early Permian transition is still a matter of discussion in terms of its age determination and biostratigraphic ranges. This study represents a review of the Upper Carboniferous and Permian stratigraphy of the Central and Eastern Pyrenees from continental successions with interbedded volcanic-volcaniclastic rocks, coupling new palynological data and known palynological assemblages to calibrate them with recent SHRIMP U-Pb zircon ages dates obtained in previous works. In this light, the first continental unit overlying the Variscan basement bears a Gzhelian palynological association, which fits perfectly with the isotopic SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating of the associated pyroclastic rocks (304.6 ± 1.5 Ma and 300.4 ± 1.4 Ma). In order to provide a solid base to characterize the Carboniferous-Permian microflora evolution in the western Tethys sub-basins, we have compared radiometrically dated palynological assemblages of the Euramerican Province such as Spain, southern France, the Alps and Sardinia (Italy). The new biostratigraphic and chronostratigraphic information presented here confirms the validity of the classical Carboniferous Palynological Zonation of Western Europe. Highlights • Correlation of palynological assemblage with absolute ages. • Palynological characterization of Carboniferous-Permian transition in southern Europe. • The microflora data suggest a Gzhelian age as evidenced by isotopic dating. • Chronostratigraphic data indicates sedimentary disconnection between nearby areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new morphometric approach was developed to study morphological variation within P1 elements commonly referred to as Idiognathodus simulator, which was selected to be the biostratigraphic marker for the base of the global Gzhelian Stage (Carboniferous). This new approach combines landmark-based geometric morphometrics with eigen analyses to analyze shape variation within P1 elements of the I. simulator group, and could be used to analyze shape variation in other morphologically similar conodont groups. Specimens analyzed were obtained from three sections of the early Gzhelian Heebner Shale of the Oread cyclothem in the North American Midcontinent region, the cyclothem from which I. simulator was originally named. This analysis shows that the I. simulator group comprises a set of at least five species with asymmetrical P1 element pairs, relatively short adcarinal ridges, and a variably developed eccentric groove. Species discrimination is based on the presence of caudal and rostral lobes, character of the adcarinal ridges, and platform shape. The species I. simulator is restricted to P1 elements with a caudal adcarinal ridge that is isolated from the caudal platform margin. Idiognathodus lateralis sp. nov. is erected to include P1 elements with a caudal adcarinal ridge that is not isolated from the caudal platform margin.

Abstract: The age of the Upper Paleozoic radiolarian Latentifistula crux Ecozone is revised. The Latentifistula crux assemblage was originally established by Nazarov and Ormiston (1985, 1990, 1993; Nazarov, 1988) in 1985 in the basal deposits of the Asselian Stage of the Nikolskoe section on the Ural River. The new biostratigraphic position of the radiolarian Latentifistula crux Ecozone corresponds to the terminal Streptognathodus bellus and Streptognathodus wabaunsensis conodont zones of the Gzhelian Stage (Chernykh, 2012, 2016). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Buçaco Basin is a Pennsylvanian continental basin located along an important NNW–SSE strike structure (Porto-Tomar-Ferreira do Alentejo shear zone) that separates the Ossa-Morena and Central Iberian Zones of the Iberian Variscan Fold Belt in central western Portugal. The shear zone controlled the sedimentation in the basin and probably its post-sedimentary evolution. Sedimentation is initially alluvial with characteristic red sandstones, breccias and conglomerates. A gradual change to a fluvial (and probably lacustrine) type of sedimentation is observed with finning-upward cycles of gravel conglomerates, sandstones and organic-rich mudstones with occasional coal seams. Three representative sections were sampled for palynology and seventeen samples yielded sporomorphs with moderate to poor preservation. The palynological content from the alluvial sediments shows low diversity and poorly preserved assemblages dominated by Triquitrites spp., Densosporites spp., Laevigatosporites spp., and other taxa associated with siliciclastic environments or rheophytic mires. The fluvial and lacustrine sediments show a dramatic increase in diversity with an abundant, typical peatland microflora including sporomorphs such as Endosporites spp., Lycospora spp. and Monoletes spp., but also marginal peat and siliciclastic substrate taxa such as Densosporites spp., Latensina / Cordaitina spp., and Florinites spp. Other common taxa are Cheiledonites spp., Crassispora spp., Dictyotriletes -like miospores (mostly fragments), Potonieisporites spp., and Wilsonites spp. The presence and considerable abundance of Potonieisporites novicus and Cheiledonites cf. major is indicative of the middle to upper Potonieisporites novicus - bhardwajii–Cheiledonites major (NBM) miospore biozone of Western Europe, corresponding to the late Stephanian (early Gzhelian). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new trilobite species, Ditomopyge (Carniphillipsia) mosquensis sp. nov., from the Gzhelian of the Moscow Region (Rusavkino, Gzhel, and Shchelkovo localities) is described. Its members have previously been assigned to Ditomopyge (Carniphillipsia) planiloba (Weber, 1933). The establishment of Griffithides gruenewaldti var. ivanovi Ivanov et Weber in Weber, 1937, which has previously been regarded as a synonym of Kaskia gruenewaldti (von Möller, 1868) (Hanh and Hahn, 1970), as a valid species, Kaskia ivanovi (Ivanov et Weber in Weber, 1937), is confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new and well-preserved fossil whip scorpion (Arachnida: Uropygi: Thelyphonida) is described from the Late Carboniferous of the Carnic Alps, Friuli, Italy. It is referred to Parageralinura marsiglioi n. sp. The new specimen is the first Carboniferous arachnid to be described from mainland Italy and is possibly the youngest Palaeozoic thelyphonid.

The paper provides a description of the Upper Carboniferous spiriferid brachiopods from Gornjesavski muzej Jesenice (Permanent paleontological exhibition assembled by Jože Bedič and fossils stored in its depot) and attempts to make a synthesis of earlier and contemporary work in this discipline.

Conodont species Streptognathodus simulator Ellison, 1941 has been proposed recently to define the Kasimovian-Gzhelian boundary in the global chronostratigraphic scale.The species distributed globally and traditionally has been used as a marker of the base of the Gzhelian Stage in the type sections in Moscow Basin and Urals. Recent studies of conodont taxonomy and biostratigraphy in southern Urals have established the chronocline with ascendant and descendant to Streptognathodus simulator species. Usolka section proposed here as a potential candidate for the GSSP (Global Stratotype Section and Point) to define the global Gzhelian Stage at the FAD of the Streptognathodus simulator within the chronocline Streptognathodus praenuntius Chernykh, 2005 – St. simulator Ellison, 1941 – St. auritus Chernykh, 2005. The chronocline recovered within 2.7 m of beds 4 and 5 at the Usolka section, with all three species described and properly figured. No obvious interruptions in sedimentation are recorded within the Kasimovian-Gzhelian transition there. Several volcanic ash beds are present below and above the proposed boundary, making radiometric calibration highly possible in the near future. Mode of preservation of conodonts with a CAI of around 1.0–1.5 provides excellent basis for the geochemical studies. Accessibility presently is adequate, and this exposure will be improved and maintained permanently for interested scientists. Future access will be guaranteed by means of legislative action to create a scientific preserve.

A new morphometric approach was developed to study morphological variation within P1 elements commonly referred to as Idiognathodus simulator, which was selected to be the biostratigraphic marker for the base of the global Gzhelian Stage (Carboniferous). This new approach combines landmark-based geometric morphometrics with eigen analyses to analyze shape variation within P1 elements of the I. simulator group, and could be used to analyze shape variation in other morphologically similar conodont groups. Specimens analyzed were obtained from three sections of the early Gzhelian Heebner Shale of the Oread cyclothem in the North American Midcontinent region, the cyclothem from which I. simulator was originally named. This analysis shows that the I. simulator group comprises a set of at least five species with asymmetrical P1 element pairs, relatively short adcarinal ridges, and a variably developed eccentric groove. Species discrimination is based on the presence of caudal and rostral lobes, character of the adcarinal ridges, and platform shape. The species I. simulator is restricted to P1 elements with a caudal adcarinal ridge that is isolated from the caudal platform margin. Idiognathodus lateralis sp. nov. is erected to include P1 elements with a caudal adcarinal ridge that is not isolated from the caudal platform margin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new and well-preserved fossil whip scorpion (Arachnida: Uropygi: Thelyphonida) is described from the Late Carboniferous of the Carnic Alps, Friuli, Italy. It is referred to Parageralinura marsiglioi n. sp. The new specimen is the first Carboniferous arachnid to be described from mainland Italy and is possibly the youngest Palaeozoic thelyphonid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new insect fossil from the Late Carboniferous lacustrine deposits of Montceau-les-Mines is attributed to a new genus and species, Montceaupterum baillyi of Euryptilonidae (Grylloblattodea). It is based on forewing venation but it shows also membranous lateral extensions on the pronotum, maybe corresponding to prothoracic winglets. It represents the oldest record of the family, previously known only from the Permian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The latest Carboniferous-Early Permian Dorud Group in the Chaman-Saver area of eastern Alborz, Iran is more than 222 m thick and includes thick sequences of oncolitic limestone, sandy limestone, sandstones and shales. The Emarat and Ghosnavi formations of this Group are dated here as latest Gzhelian to early Sakmarian Stages. During the Asselian Stage, the sea level fell abruptly and epeirogenic episodes occurred. These events generated a broad, shallow carbonate platform suitable for the growth and diversity of smaller foraminifers in the Chaman-Saver area which, consequently, displays faunal differences with the rest of the Alborz Mountains. Three foraminiferal biozones are proposed: Nodosinelloides potievskayae-Vervilleina bradyi Zone (latest Gzhelian), Calcitornella heathi-Nodosinelloides sp. Zone (latest Gzhelian-Asselian), and Rectogordius iranicus n. gen. n. sp.- Hemigordius schlumbergeri Zone (early Sakmarian). The new taxa described herein include: Pseudovidalina iranica n. sp., P. damghanica n. sp., Rectogordius iranicus n. gen. n. sp. and Tezaquina sp. 1. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper completes the revision of the Middle and Late Carboniferous brachiopods of the family Linoproductidae from the Moscow Region. The species cannot be completely described according to the methods previously elaborated by the author because of the poor state of preservation of the material from Gzhelian deposits. Problems of the generic diagnostics of the Gzhelian linoproductids are discussed; a new species, Linispinus parvus, is described from the uppermost Kasimovian deposits that have been referred to the Gzhelian Stage. Regularities in the group evolution in the Moscovian, Kasimovian, and Gzhelian ages are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• During the latest Gzhelian–Asselian Iran was located at the northern margin of the Palaeotethys. • The studied assemblage is comparable to other areas in the Peri-Tethyan realm. • This assemblage indicates the low latitude position with the warm and humid conditions. The taxonomic diversity of smaller foraminiferal faunas of the uppermost Carboniferous–lowermost Permian (upper Gzhelian–lower Asselian interval) has been accurately investigated in the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone, Iran. They predominantly contain three foraminiferal classes: Fusulinata, Miliolata and Nodosariata, and six orders: Tuberitinida, Earlandiida, Archaediscida, Endothyrida, Cornuspirida, and Nodosariida. The presence of some remarkable taxa in palaeobiogeography such as Hemidiscus carnicus , that is reported for the first time in Iran, along with Rectogordius is noticeable. Furthermore, these smaller foraminifers are associated with significant fusulinid genera including Praepseudofusulina , " Nonpseudofusulina ", Pseudoschwagerina , and " Schellwienia ?", which indicated that during the latest Gzhelian–Asselian, the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone was in the northern margin of the Palaeotethys, in a relatively low latitudinal position (ca. 30°S), with warm and humid conditions. This claim can also be evidenced by the presence of sandstones with high degree of chemical weathering, together with the limonite accompanied with a palaeosol in the Upper Carboniferous strata. The presence of a red earthy laterite with lenses of pisolitic bauxite along with a piece of fossil wood in the lowermost Permian beds, confirms the Peri-Tethyan position of the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone during this period. This study also shows that the first appearance of Frondicularia in the Iranian material, that is the latest Gzhelian–early Asselian, is probably older than what is argued in materials from north-central Siberia (Late Permian and Triassic) and Germany (Sakmarian to Anisian, up to the Jurassic). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Late Palaeozoic fossil record of plant-insect interactions contains few records of oviposition. Here we report the earliest evidence of exophytic oviposition, where eggs are laid directly on the outer surface of plants. The fossil structures consist of small, circular impressions on plant fossils from the late Pennsylvanian (Gzhelian, Stephanian C) of the Saale Basin in Germany. Their interpretation as exophytic insect eggs is supported by the oviposition pattern, their three-dimensional preservation and the undamaged nature of the plant host tissue. The tight arrangement of the eggs in curved arcs suggests a producer with a short abdomen such as roachoids, the ancestral group of the Dictyoptera sensu stricto. A diagnostic feature of roachoids is their long ovipositor, which was well suited for deposition of single eggs in a distinct pattern. • We report the earliest evidence of exophytic insect oviposition on plants • Fossil material comes from the latest Pennsylvanian (Gzhelian, Stephanian C) of the Saale Basin, Germany • The clusters of small circular egg impressions were probably produced by roachoids • Findings improve understanding of Late Palaeozoic insect-plant interactions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]