Pecopterids from the Permian of the Extreme South of the Paraná Basin, Brazil

Abstract

In this paper we characterize pecopterids found in deposits of the Passa Dois Group (Upper Permian of the Paraná Basin) in a new outcrop, on the side of the BR-153 road, located at the municipality of Aceguá, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Pecopterids are common in the Permian paleophytogeogragic realms, signaling interglacial phases of the Late Paleozoic. Pecopteris are one of the floral elements of the Permian Glossopteris flora and become extinct in the Permo-Triassic boundary. Mudstone strata levels bearing phytofossils with different preservation qualities allowed the recognition of Pecopteris sp. and cf. Scolecopteris sp. floral elements. Taphonomic and depositional processes that conditioned the preservation of phytofossils are suggested accordingly the specimens described. Phytofossil specimen described support and highlight polymorphic nature of Gondwanan pecopterids. These new findings demonstrate potential for further paleobotanical studies in the upper portion of the Passa Dois Group and strength the notion of Permian strata for the Teresina Formation.

Keywords

• pecopteris
• scolecopteris
• paleobotany
• taphonomy
• teresina formation