Miospore biostratigraphy of the Lower Mississippian clastics of the Michigan Basin, USA

Two moderately diverse, moderately abundant miospore assemblages are recorded from the Lower Mississippian Coldwater Shale and Marshall Sandstone of the Michigan Basin. The microfloral assemblage from the older Coldwater Shale is similar to assemblages of the Spelaeotriletes balteatus-Rugospora polyptycha Biozone of western Europe. This biozone is generally absent from North America. The overlying Marshall Sandstone has a miospore assemblage representative of the oldest Osagean Spelaeotriletes pretiosus-Raistrickia clavata Biozone of western Europe. Identification of these assemblages indicates the presence of the Kinderhookian-Osagean boundary within or between the two clastic units. The identification of this boundary has important stratigraphical and sedimentological implications for age relations with Lower Mississippian rocks in adjacent basins and also provides information on regional sedimentology and depositional patterns.     

Palynological investigation in the lower jurassic of the vicentinian alps (Northeastern Italy)

The present paper emphasizes the applicability of palynological data as an aid to the solution of the problems related to the correlation of non-ammonitiferous Liassic strata in the Southern Alps with the ammonoid-based standard stages as recognized in the outer-Alpine part of Europe.In the Noriglio Grey Limestone Formation of the Vicentinian Alps, northeastern Italy, rich and well-preserved Liassic palynological assemblages can be abundantly found in the marly intercalations of its upper part; in the lower part palynological assemblages have appeared to be very rare. A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the assemblages has indicated the presence of a single palynological assemblage zone. Minor compositional differences do not warrant a zonal subdivision.The overall composition of the assemblages is characterized by the general dominance of Circulina and smooth trilete spores in combination with a large amount of relatively rarely occurring forms of spores, pollen grains and other acid-resistant microfossils.Because of the presence of rich and well-preserved material, it has been possible to detect a relatively wide range of variability within species of Tigrisporites, Foveosporites, Porcellispora and Crassosphaera.Among the forms which could not be matched with previously described taxa the new formgenus Skarbysporites is formally erected together with the new species Skarbysporites elsendoornii, Skarbysporites puntii, Foveosporites visscheri and Tigrisporites jonkeri. Moreover, an emended diagnosis of Circulina is proposed, implicating the assignment to this formgenus of most forms generally included in Classo pollis. Also the generic diagnosis of Tigrisporites is emended.An evaluation of the Liassic palynological assemblages from the outer-Alpine part of Europe with special reference to their potential in characterizing the ammonoid-based chronostratigraphical subdivisions may indicate that two temporal subdivisions of the Liassic Series on the basis of palynological characteristics are now slowly becoming discernable: an assemblage zone characterizing the Hettangian, Sinemurian and Lower Pliensbachian, and an assemblage zone characterizing the Upper Pliensbachian and Toarcian.Because of the possibility of a correlation with the latter zone, the assemblages from the Noriglio Grey Limestone Formation can be reasonably regarded to be indicative of a Late Pliensbachian—Toarchian age of the source-strata.When considering the ammonoid evidence from the overlying “Cape San Vigilio Oolite” it may be concluded that the upper part of the lower subdivision of the Noriglio Grey Limestone Formation and the Rotzo Member represent the Upper Pliensbachian—Lower Toarcian.Because of its potential in correlating non-ammonitiferous strata from the Southern Alps with the successions in northwestern Europe, it is believed that palynology may earn a prominent place in regional Liassic chronostratigraphy.     

Late Carboniferous miospores from the Tarma Formation,Pongo de Mainique,Peru

For the first time, a palynologic assemblage is described from the upper section of the Tarma Formation, Peru. It is dominated by monosaccate pollen grains with subordinate striate grains and very few spores. The abundance of Illinites unicus has allowed a revision of the systematic position of the form-genus Illinites. The assemblage is correlated with the Illinites unicus palynozone from the Amazonas Basin, and is considered to be of Westphalian C/Late Atokan age.     

A Middle and Late Cambrian age for the Booley Bay Formation,County Wexford,Ireland: New acritarch data and its implications

A well preserved Ediacara-type fauna was recorded for the first time a few years ago from the bases of seven sandstone beds in the type section of the Lower Palaeozoic Booley Bay Formation in County Wexford, Ireland. Four microfossil samples from mudstones interbedded with the sandstones yielded an acritarch microflora considered indicative of a late Late Cambrian age for the Ediacara fauna, thus suggesting extension of its range from the Neoproterozoic to the Late Cambrian, rather than to the Middle Cambrian as had been previously suggested. The current study examines the microfossils in more detail, with 18 samples, all of which were productive. One additional Ediacara bed approximately 100 m above those recorded earlier was also observed. The exceptionally well preserved acritarch assemblages indicate a clear Middle Cambrian age for the Ediacara beds, thus predating the previously suggested upper limit for Ediacara faunas. The uppermost part of the formation, above known occurrences of Ediacara beds, is younger; that is, early Late Cambrian, probably coeval with the Olenus trilobite zone. In addition, the age now proposed for the Booley Bay Formation shows that it is part of the Lower Palaeozoic Ribband Group of southeast Ireland, and not part of the Cahore Group as has recently been suggested by the Irish Geological Survey. Thirty-seven acritarch species (or species groups) are distinguished and illustrated. One new species, Stellechinatum ? mariatheresae Vanguestaine, is established.     

Palyno-stratigraphy of the Ketewaka coalfield (Lower Permian), Tanzania

Palynological studies of outcrop and borehole samples from coal-bearing Karroo (Lower Permian) deposits in the Ketewaka area of southwest Tanzania show a distinct change in the composition of spore/pollen assemblages approximately in the middle of the sequence, the most prominent feature being differences in the representation of monosaccate and disaccate species. This is in line with results of earlier studies in the adjacent Mchuchuma area.The change in spore/pollen content is taken as evidence of a considerable floral change affecting an extensive area and probably climatically controlled.The floral change coincides with a distinct change in sedimentation, from sand with coal to mud or clay with coal, except for a part of the Ketewaka area, where sandy sediments continued to be deposited.     

Miospore stratigraphy of Lower and early Middle Devonian deposits from Tidikelt, Central Sahara, Algeria

The Tidikelt region forms an outstanding area for subsurface Lower Devonian stratigraphy in the central Algerian Sahara. Sediments from five boreholes have revealed abundant and diverse assemblages of miospores, acritarchs, chitinozoa, scolecodont and microplant remains. The miospores are moderately well preserved. Three new miospore species (Dibolisporites saharansis nov. sp. Hassan Kermandji, Acinosporites conatus nov. sp. Hassan Kermandji and Scylaspora tidikeltense nov. sp. Hassan Kermandji) are described. Miospore assemblages vary through the regressive and transgressive sequences. Seven miospore assemblage biozones, including six new miospore assemblage biozones (Scylaspora tidikeltense-Perotrilites microbaculatus, Dictyotriletes emsiensis-Emphanisporites spinaeformis, Apiculiretusispora arenorugosa-Camptozonotriletes caperatus, Verrucosisporites polygonalis-Dictyotriletes subgranifer, Emphanisporites annulatus-Geminospora svalbardiae, Hystricosporites microancyreus-Grandispora protea, Calyptosporites velatus-Rhabdosporites langii) are proposed for the Lower and early Middle Devonian rocks of Tidikelt Plateau. The combined use of distinctive, wide distribution cosmopolitan and Gondwanan forms as biozonal and species characteristics permits accurate subdivision, dating and correlation of Tidikelt successions with other similar miospore zones of the Lower Devonian of Europe, Canada and other parts of Gondwana plate. The miospore data provide new explanations to stratigraphic relationships of regional rock units, sedimentary cycles and stratigraphic hiatus. The miospore biozones are proposed as a provincial biozonation, which may also be applied to other Palaeozoic rocks of similar miospore content.     

Eocene fossil rodent assemblages from the Erlian Basin (Inner Mongolia,China): Biochronological implications

Rodents from the Nuhetingboerhe-Huheboerhe area in the Erlian Basin, Inner Mongolia, differ stratigraphically: primitive ctenodactyloids such as Chenomys and Yuanomys are dominant in the upper part of the Nomogen Formation; Tamquammys dominates in the Arshanto Formation; Asiomys, Pappocricetodon, and Yuomys appear in the lower part of the Irdin Manha Formation and Tamquammys is rarer in this formation than in the Arshanto Formation. The assemblage of the upper part of the Nomogen Formation is similar to that of the Lingcha Formation of Hunan, the Wutu Formation of Shandong, the Yuhuangding Formation of Hubei, and the Bumban Member of the Nara-Bulak Formation of Mongolia. The assemblage in the upper part of the Arshanto Formation is correlated with that from the locality Andarak 2 in Kyrgyzstan. The assemblage from the lower part of the Irdin Manha Formation resembles that of the lower part of the Hetaoyuan Formation of Henan.On the basis of the comparison of the rodent assemblages, I consider that the age of upper part of the Nomogen Formation corresponds to the Bumbanian land mammal age. The Bumbanian, Arshantan, and Irdinmanhan land mammal ages are correlated respectively to the early Ypresian, the middle–late Ypresian, and the early Lutetian of the Geological Time Scale. The Bumbanian and Irdinmanhan land mammal ages are also correlated to the early Wasatchian and the early Uintan (or the later Bridgerian) of the North American Land Mammal Ages.     

A new coral‐associated decapod assemblage from the Upper Miocene (Messinian) Upper Coralline Limestone of Malta (Central Mediterranean)

Abstract: A rich coral‐associated decapod assemblage is recorded from the ‘Depiru Beds’ of the upper part of the Upper Coralline Limestone (Messinian, Upper Miocene), from the island of Malta. Nineteen species within 17 genera have been discovered, where 14 genera are new for Malta. Four new species are described, namely Micippa annamariae sp. nov., Pilumnus scaber sp. nov., Panopeus muelleri sp. nov. and Herbstia melitense sp. nov. Herbstia melitense sp. nov. constitutes the first record of the genus from the fossil record in the Mediterranean region. This discovery more than doubles the number of known fossil decapod species from Malta. The fossil bivalve Jouannetia (J.) semicaudata Des Moulins, 1830 and the extant decapod Maja goltziana D’Oliveira, 1888, are also recorded for the first time from Malta. Other Neogene coral‐associated decapod assemblages are investigated and correlated with the new assemblage from Malta. The migration of taxa between the Mediterranean region and the Paratethys, particularly during the Lower Badenian (Langhian), is evidenced by the strong affinity of the Maltese decapod assemblage with that of the Middle Miocene Badenian assemblages from Hungary, Poland and Ukraine. Upper Miocene, Messinian assemblages from Spain, Algeria and Morocco are also similar to that from Malta.     

Remains of sea turtles from the Ikovo locality (Lugansk Region, Ukraine; Middle Eocene)

Fragmentary remains of sea turtles (Cheloniidae sensu lato: Argillochelys sp., Puppigerus nessovi Averianov, 2005, and Cheloniidae gen. indet.) from the Ikovo locality (Lugansk Region, Ukraine; Lower Lutetian, Middle Eocene) are described. The genera Argillochelys and Puppigerus are recorded for the first time in Eastern Europe. The turtle assemblage from Ikovo is similar at the generic level to West European assemblages (Belgium, Great Britain) of approximately the same age (Lower-Middle Eocene). In the presence of P. nessovi, the Ikovo assemblage is similar to that from the Middle Eocene Dzheroi 2 locality (Uzbekistan).     

Spore assemblages from the Lower Devonian Xujiachong Formation from Qujing,Yunnan, China

Abstract: The Lower Devonian Xujiachong Formation from the vicinity of Qujing City, Yunnan, China is interpreted as a terrestrial‐fluviatile‐lacustrine sequence. It contains important nonmarine biotas including plants, fish and invertebrates. The plants are particularly interesting as they include many endemic taxa. Dispersed spore assemblages have been recovered from the upper part of this formation. The spores are well preserved and of moderate thermal maturity. They are systematically described and four new species erected: Aneurospora xujiachongensis sp. nov., Chelinospora ouyangii sp. nov., Camptozonotriletes? luii sp. nov. and Leiozonospora xichongensis sp. nov. One new combination is proposed: Aneurospora conica (Ouyang and Lu) comb. nov. This is a rare report of a Lower Devonian dispersed spore assemblage from the South China Plate. Indeed, few dispersed spore assemblages of this age are known outside of Euramerica and Northern Gondwana. It is suggested that the Xujiachong Formation spore assemblages can all be equated to the polygonalis‐emsiensis Spore Assemblages Biozone (PE SAB) of Richardson and McGregor (1986) indicating an early (but not earliest) Pragian to ?earliest Emsian age. However, caution is urged, because biostratigraphical interpretation is difficult owing to distinct differences between dispersed spore assemblages from South China and Euramerica/Northern Gondwana. This almost certainly reflects palaeophytogeographical variation and regional endemism among early land plant floras on widely separated land masses. Palynofacies analysis supports a nonmarine origin for the deposits of the Xujiachong Formation, with the very rare marine palynomorphs that were encountered interpreted as reworked.     

Oligocene vertebrate assemblages in central Kazakhstan: Faunas,biogeography and paleoecology

The history of research in Oligocene paleozoology of Central Kazakhstan is described. Continental Oligocene strata may be recognized on the basis of different Oligocene fossil vertebrates, taking into account the stratigraphic occurrence of mammal genera and species, their belonging to subdivisions of the General Stratigraphic Scale as well as statistical determination of assemblage formation time. At least two stratigraphic levels occur in this region. These are: Saryin (Myneskesuyek, Mogila Saty localities), the lower part of Chelkarnura (Shintuzsay) Svitas (upper half of the Lower Oligocene—Upper Oligocene); and the upper part of Chelkarnura (Chelkar‐Teniz) and Betpakdala (Kyzyl‐Kak) Svitas (Upper Oligocene). Apparently the Chelkar‐Teniz vertebrate assemblage originated in several stages. They require future studies of stratigraphic position of fossils.

Origin and ways of migration of mammalian genera from the Oligocene faunistic assemblages of Central Kazakhstan are discussed.

A preliminary paleoecological study suggests that animals of open and rarefied landscapes dominated in the Myneskesuyek region, the faunistic assemblage of which appears to have been the most ancient. Vertebrate inhabitants of partly open and open, as well as forest habitats probably were present in Chelkar‐Teniz. Animals primarily of forest and scattered woodland dwellers predominated in the Kyzyl‐Kak locality.     

Middle Triassic Palynological assemblage in the Wangjiashan Basin of Jingyuan,Gansu and Its Stratigraphical Significance

The sediments, overlain by the Middle Jurassic strata in the Wangjia-shan Basin, are a sequence of grey-green sandstones and mudstones and sum more than700 m. It was originally refered to Late Triassic in age. The palynomorph-bearingsamples were collected from the upper part of the sequence in a bore hole. Three sam-ples yielded a, bundant plant microfossils. The sporepollen assemblage consists of 63 species (types) and 51 genera, including 3 new species, namely, Cyclogranisporites callosus, Verrucosisporites wangjiashanensis and Longdongspora jingyuanensis. The component and constituent percentages of palynological assemblage are listedin Tab. 1, in which Pteridophytic spores hold predominant place (67.1%), Gymnospermous pollen reach 32.9%. Among the Pteridophytic spares Punctatisporites (8 forms)plays an important role in assemblage up to 32.3%, followed by Verrucosisporites, Calamospora, Duplexisporites and Apiculatisporis. Besides, Lundbladispora, Kraeuselis-porites and Aratrisporites are represented only by individual specimens. In Gymnospe-rmous pollen Disaccites hold 11.3%, Disaccite striatiti 13.1%, by amplification of Tae-niaesporites reaching 7.2%,others are Piceites, Protoconiferus and Parataeniaesporites.Angustisulcites and Chordasporites are a few in the assemblage. The present assemblage is quite different from the early and upper Triassic paly-nological assemblages of Shan-Gan-Ning Basin, (Qu Li-fan, 1980, 1982) but rather similar to that of the middle Triassic Tongchuan Formation. (Qu Li-fan, 1980; Liu Zhao-sheng et al, 1981) There are 33 genera and 18 species in common between the present assemblage and that of the Tongchuan Formation. Therefore, the present assemblage maybe assigned to the younger age of Middle Triassic. The bearingbed of the spore-pollen assemblage is called the Nanyinger Group. Thisgroup was compared originally with the Yanchang Group of Shan-Gan-Ning Basin, referring to Late Triassic. Based on present data, the Nanyinger Group may include se-diments of younger age of Middle Triassic.     

Radiolarian distribution in the water column,southern Gulf of California,and its implication in thanatocoenose constitution

The geographical and depth distributions of five radiolarian plankton assemblages, defined through Q-mode Factor Analysis of 24 plankton samples, demonstrate a direct correspondence to the distribution of oceanographic water masses in the southern Gulf of California. Two assemblages are associated exclusively with water masses of the mixed-layer, two represent only subsurface water masses, and one is important in both surface and subsurface environments. The Lithomelissa thoracites group and Peridium spinipes are predominant species in water that is formed at the surface of the Guaymas Basin and subsequently is subducted southward into the Carmen Basin. Plagiocantha panarium is the predominant species in upwelled surface water at the Carmen Basin, while Tetrapyle octhacanta and Botryostrobus scutum follow the incursion of the Subtropical Water Mass into the Gulf of California through the Pescadero and Farallon Basins. Druppatractus variabilis and Porodiscus sp. B occur conspicuously in the upper layer of the Pacific Intermediate Water between approximately 400 and 700 m water depth. Statistical correlation between plankton and sediment assemblages supports previous evidence that the radiolarian thanatocoenose in the Gulf of California is composed primarily of species from the surface mixed-layer. Two exceptions to this are observed in the data. First, the upwelling plankton assemblage was not well correlated to the sediment assemblage, and second, input to the sediment during glacial stages appears to be dominated by subsurface forms.     

Middle Triassic Xingyi Fauna: Showing turnover of marine reptiles from coastal to oceanic environments

The late Ladinian (Middle Triassic) Xingyi Fauna from the Zhuganpo Member of the Falang Formation yields abundant and well-preserved marine reptiles. Bed-by-bed excavation at Wusha in Xingyi of Guizhou Province reveals two marine vertebrate assemblages in a fossiliferous horizons that span 5.1 m in total thickness. The lower assemblage is marked by the near-shore sauropterygians, including the pachypleurosaur Keichousaurus, the nothosaurians Nothosaurus and Lariosaurus, with a strong paleobiogeographic affinity to western Tethys. The upper assemblage consists of oceanic ichthyosaurs and pistosaurs, including the large shastasaurid ichthyosaur Guizhouichthyosaurus, the euichthyosaur Qianichthyosaurus, pistosaurs Yunguisaurus and Wangosaurus, and the thalattosaur Xinpusaurus, with a closer paleobiogeographic affinity to North America. The coastal pachypleurosaur and nothosaurid sauropterygians disappeared in the upper assemblage, suggesting that they were replaced by an oceanic marine reptile community that emerged. The reptilian composition of the upper assemblage is similar to that of the Guanling Biota, which is of the Early Carnian (Late Triassic) in age and thus somewhat younger than the Xingyi Fauna. The ecological turnover of marine reptiles from near-shore to the open ocean community corresponds to the paleoenvironmental changes indicated by lithofacies analysis, δ¹³C and the global sea level changes.     

The palynological assemblages from the J–K boundary beds of the Bureya Basin,Russian Far East

Palynological assemblages were studied from the coal-bearing Upper Jurassic (Talanja Formation) to the Lower Cretaceous (Dublikan Formation) deposits of the Bureya Basin, Russia. The palynological assemblages from the upper part of the Talanja Formation are dominated by gymnosperms, mainly Ginkgocycadophytus (up to 40%) and conifers related to Pinaceae (up to 70%). The contribution of non-seed plants is not great, but their diversity is considerable. The miospore assemblages of the Talanja sequence are characterized by the last appearance of the spore taxa Staplinisporites pocockii, Camptotriletes cerebriformis, Camptotriletes nitida, and Cingulatisporites sanguinolentus. The palynological assemblage from the Dublikan Formation is dominated by ferns (up to 84%), represented mainly by Cyathidites and Duplexisporites. Among gymnosperms the role of Classopollis increases (making up about 20%). Another feature is the first appearance of the spore taxa Stereisporites bujargiensis, Neoraistrickia rotundiformis, Contignisporites dorsostriatus, Appendicisporites tricostatus, and Concavissimisporites asper.     

An Early Ordovician Trilobite assemblage from the Lashkarak Formation, Damghan area, northern Iran

A low diversity Lower Ordovician trilobite assemblage is described from the middle part of the Lashkarak Formation at Simeh-Kuh, northwest of Damghan, northern Iran. Co-occurrence with conodonts of the lowermost Paroistodusproteus Biozone suggests an uppermost Tremadocian age. This assemblage includes four taxa, including one new genus and two new species, Damghanampyxginteri nov. gen. nov. sp. and Asaphellusfecundus nov. sp. The third diagnosable species from the formation is Taihungshaniamiqueli (Bergeron, 1894) which has previously been reported from southern France and the Turkish Taurides, suggesting north Gondwanan faunal affinities.     

Discovery of Emsian Ammonoids in the Northern Caucasus

The Lower Devonian beds of the Bechasyn zone of the Northern Caucasus (Kabardino-Balkaria, middle reaches of the Malka River) contain an assemblage of the Early Emsian Ammonoids including the characteristic genera Erbenoceras, Mimosphinctes, Teicherticeras, Mimagoniatites, and Gyroceratites. The taxonomic composition of the assemblage is similar to that of synchronous assemblages of Turkey and Tian Shan, differing from the assemblage of Morocco by the presence of Teicherticeras. Different approaches to the taxonomy of the family Teicherticeratidae are discussed and it is concluded that it is in need of serious revision. A new species Teicherticeras lakhranense is described.     

Age constraints of the Hungshihyen Formation (Early to Middle Ordovician) on the western margin of the Yangtze Platform,South China: New insights from chitinozoans

The Hungshihyen Formation represents the Lower to Middle Ordovician near-shore siliciclastic deposits on the western margin of the Yangtze Platform, South China. However, its age is still debated, largely because of insufficient studies. Here we documented the Bursachitina maotaiensis–B. qianbeiensis chitinozoan assemblage from the lower part of the Hungshihyen Formation at Songliang, Qiaojia County, eastern Yunnan Province. This assemblage is remarkably similar to an assemblage that roughly correlates to the middle part of the Corymobograptus deflexus graptolite Biozone in northern Guizhou Province, indicating that the Hungshihyen Formation at Songliang is probably of late Floian age and may extend into the early Dapingian. Additionally, a revision on the chitinozoans previously documented from the strata assigned to the same formation in the Wuding area was made according to the latest classification. The revision allows the recognition of the Euconochitina symmetrica–Eremochitina brevis assemblage, and therefore suggests a late Tremadocian age for this interval based on regional and global chitinozoan biostratigraphic correlations. Considering also its lithologic succession, we argue that the chitinozoan-bearing strata in the Wuding area previously assigned to the Hungshihyen Formation correspond most likely to the uppermost part of the underlying Tangchi Formation or the lowermost part of the Hungshihyen Formation. The base of the Hungshihyen Formation appears therefore to be diachronous in eastern Yunnan Province.     

Lower Devonian spore assemblages from the Arbuthnott Group at Canterland Den in the Midland Valley of Scotland

The Canterland Den locality in the Midland Valley of Scotland exposes sediments belonging to the Arbuthnott Group. They consist of typical Lower Old Red Sandstone terrestrial fluviatile deposits, which probably accumulated in an inland intermontane basin. Palynological investigation of these sediments has yielded diverse and well preserved palynomorph assemblages dominated by land-derived forms: spores, phytodebris (dispersed cuticles and tubular structures) and rare fragments of arthropod cuticle. Interestingly, rare acritarchs interpreted as deriving from non-marine algae are also present. The spore assemblages all belong to the lower subzone of the micrornatus–newportensis Spore Assemblage Biozone, indicating an early Lochkovian (Early Devonian) age. They are similar in general characteristics to previously described spore assemblages from the Arbuthnott Group, but exhibit minor differences in terms of taxon composition. They differ more significantly from coeval spore assemblages from the lowland floodplain deposits of the Anglo-Welsh basin, in terms of both relative abundance of morphotypes and taxon composition. An intriguing feature of the assemblage is the high abundance of undissociated spore tetrads. It is suggested that such tetrads are a genuine feature of Lochkovian spore assemblages, perhaps reflecting more flexible and unconventional reproductive strategies exhibited by early land plants.     

Late Carboniferous palynostratigraphy of the Itararé Subgroup, northeastern Paraná Basin, Brazil

A new biozonation is proposed for the Late Carboniferous strata of the northeastern Paraná Basin (São Paulo and Paraná States), based on well-preserved palynological assemblages recovered from outcrops and core samples retrieved from the Itararé Subgroup. Assemblages include forty-nine species of trilete spores and twenty-five pollen species. The oldest biozone, the Ahrensisporites cristatus Interval Zone (AcZ), in the basal portion of the Itararé Subgroup, includes eleven exclusive spore species, and is assigned a Pennsylvanian (late Bashkirian to Kasimovian) age. The overlying proposed biozone, the Crucisaccites monoletus Interval Zone (CmZ), dated late Pennsylvanian (Kasimovian to Gzhelian), ranges approximately from the top of the lower portion to the middle portion of the Itararé Subgroup, bears only one exclusive species of pollen. Both zones are characterized by the dominance of trilete spores and monosaccate pollen grains, including also few taeniate pollen grains. Furthermore, the basal Protohaploxypinus goraiensis Subzone of the Vittatina costabilis Interval Zone (VcZ) is broadly recognized for the first time in the upper portion of the Itararé Subgroup in the northeastern Paraná Basin. This subzone is attributed to the Early Permian (Early Cisuralian), and is characterized by the dominance of monosaccate pollen grains, a significant increase of taeniate grains (mainly Protohaploxypinus spp.), apart from the appearance of polyplicate pollen (Vittatina spp.). Reference sections and the main characteristics of the two new zones (AcZ and CmZ) are presented, along with a preliminary palynological correlation and discussion on their ages.