BRACHIOPODS OF THE EARLY CARBONIFEROUS SCHELLWIENELLA-BURLINGTONENSISZONE IN EASTERN AUSTRALIA

Brachiopods of the Early Carboniferous Schellwienella burlingtonensis Zone in New South Wales are systematically described. The zone contain s at least 39 species referred to 30 genera and 24 families. One genus and seven species are newly established, including Schuchertella over sbyi sp. nov., Angustispatulata campbelli gen. et sp. nov., Plectospir a simplex sp, nov., Prospira maxwelli sp. nov., Crassumbo gresfordensi s sp. nov., Actinoconchus rouchelensis sp. nov. and Hamburgia? hillae sp. nov. The threefold subdivision of the zone is confirmed. The Swain s Gully Section in the Werrie Syncline is reinstated as the reference for the Spirifer sol and base of the Schellwienella burlingtonensis Zo nes. Section 39 in the Rouchel Block is selected as a reference sectio n for the middle part of the S. burlingtonensis Zone. The upper part o f the zone is best represented by the Mt Richardson Section in the Gre sford Block and Section 30 in the Rouchel Block. The lower part of the zone is characterised by the first appearance of the nominate species , Kitakamithyris rouchelensis and Antiquatonia spinulicosta, which per sist through the higher part of the zone; the middle part (the Pustula gracilis - Megachonetes alatus Subzone) by the first appearance of Pu stula gracilis, Megachonetes alatus, Syringothyris texta, Kitakamithyr is uniplicata, Spirifer (Mesochorispira) cf. grimesi and Crassumbo gre sfordensis sp, nov.; and the upper part (the Marginatia patersonensis Subzone) by the first appearance of M. patersonenensis, Schuchertella cf. planumbona, Orthotetes australis, Brachythyris elliptica and Asyri nxia cf. lata.