Acta Palaeontologica Polonica

Middle Carboniferous to Early Permian bryozoans from Spitsbergen

Hans Arne Nakrem

Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 39 (1), 1994: 45-116

Bryozoans from the Nordenskioldbreen Formation (Middle Carboniferous Moscovian through Early Permian Sakmarian) and the Gipshuken Formation (late Sakmarian - late Artinskian), from central Spitsbergen, Svalbard, are represented
by 36 species (22 genera). One species is new: Hinaclema svalbardensis of the order Trepostomata. The bryozoan fauna is typical Boreal and resembles those from the Timan-Pechora region (western Siberia) and the Urals. Similarity indices based on generic composition show that the Boreal fauna became more endemic by the late Early Permian, clearly separated from the Tethyan faunas. Several species have stratigraphic ranges in Spitsbergen longer than elsewhere.

Key words: Bryozoa, Carboniferous, Permian, biostratigraphy, biogeography, Spitsbergen, Svalbard.


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