PRESENCE OF A PALAEONISCOID (PISCES, ACTI NOPTERYGII) IN THE AUTUNIANFROM MORTE-MERIE (ARDECHE, FRANCE), SEDIMENTOLOGY, BIOSTRATIGRAPHY, PALEOENVIRONMENT

The first Autunian vertebrate remains are described from the Largentie re Basin, in a well core from the drilling site at Morte-Merie (Geolog ie Profonde de la France program). Pollen and a branchiopod crustacean found nearby in the core, as well as tetrapod footprints and plants f rom outcrops, indicate an Autunian age. Sedimentologic analyses reveal a shallow lacustrine deposit. Despite its fragmentary condition, the fossil is determined as a subadult palaeoniscoid close to lacustrine U pper Palaeozoic forms. Its singularity helps to confirm that the Large ntiere Basin is part of the << Permian palaeobiogeographic province of South Massif central >>, but its potential palaeontological relations hips suggest that communications were possible with the North Massif c entral and Middle Europe.