Systematic paleontology, acritarch biostratigraphy, and δ¹³C chemostratigraphy of the early Ediacaran Krol A Formation, Lesser Himalaya, northern India

Abstract Acritarch biostratigraphic and δ 13 C chemostratigraphic data from the Krol A Formation in Solan area (Lesser Himalaya, northern India) are integrated to aid inter-basinal correlation of early–middle Ediacaran strata. We identified a prominent negative excursion (likely equivalent EN2 lower Doushantuo Yangtze Gorges South China), over dozen species acanthomorphs (including two new species— Cavaspina tiwariae Xiao n. sp., Dictyotidium grazhdankinii sp.), numerous other microfossils an interval Formation. Most microfossil taxa underlying Infra-Krol formations also present support with earliest biozone: Appendisphaera grandis - Weissiella grandistella Tianzhushania spinosa Assemblage Zone. indicate second or (more likely, when considered) third biozone (i.e., Tanarium tuberosum Schizofusa zangwenlongii conoideum basiconica Zone). The association fills critical gap China where chert nodules, thus acanthomorphs, rare interval. Like many assemblages, distributed low paleolatitudes, they may represent distinct paleobiogeographic province east Gondwana. Indian affirm stratigraphic significance C, clarify key issues bio- correlation, strengthen basis for study eukaryote evolution paleobiogeography. UUID: http://zoobank.org/5289fdb2-0e49-4b3b-880f-f5b21acab371 .