Diverse labechiid stromatoporoids from the Upper Ordovician Xiazhen Formation of South China and their paleobiogeographic implications

Abstract A diverse labechiid stromatoporoid assemblage that includes 16 species in 8 genera was found the Upper Ordovician Xiazhen Formation (mid–late Katian) at Zhuzhai, Jiangxi Province of South China. The is characterized by a combination (1) North China provincial succeeding from their origination Darriwilian, including Pseudostylodictyon poshanense Ozaki, 1938, Labechia shanhsiensis Yabe and Sugiyama, 1930, variabilis Labechiella regularis (Yabe 1930) (2) endemic species, three new ( zhuzhainus Jeon n. sp., beluatus Sinabeatricea luteolus gen. sp.), four open nomenclature Rosenella Cystostroma sp.). finding gondwanense Stylostroma bubsense Webby, 1991, ugbrookense Thamnobeatricea gouldi 1991 formation indicates Tasmania closely related to had closer paleobiogeographical relation with peri-Gondwanan terranes than Laurentia. In addition, occurrences altunensis Dong Wang, 1984 support close biogeographic link between Tarim through Middle Late interval, corresponding results other fossil groups such as brachiopods, conodonts chitinozoans. labechiids improve our understanding diversity stromatoporoids affinities among Australia (especially Tasmania), Tarim, UUID: http://zoobank.org/4f46c91b-fa4c-4fe5-bea9-e409f1785677