Pridoli graptolites from northern Xinjiang, Northwest China

Integration of graptolite dates obtained from two sections in northern Xinj iang, Northwest China, permits the recognition of one Pridoli biostratigrap hic zone, the Monograptus bouceki Biozone. Graptolites described from the b iozone comprise Monograptus anerosus Koren, Monograptus mironovi Koren, Mon ograptus beatus Koren, Monograptus prognatus Koren, Monograptus bouceki Pri byl, Neocolonograptus nimius (Koren), Pseudomonoclimacis bandaletovi Mikhai lova, Callograptus flabellatus Boucek, and Dictyonema cf, elongatum Boucek. All are recorded in China for the first time. The fauna, which is indistin guishable from that of the Balkhash area of Kazakhstan, shows strong endemi city, indicating that the two areas formed a single paleobiogeographic unit during the Pridoli.