Discovery of paratirolites from the Bellerophon Formation (Upper Permian, Dolomites, Italy)

The first discovery of Paratirolites in the western Tethys is here describe d. The ammonoid was collected in the debris of the Bellerophon Fm, near San ta Cristina Valgardena (Bolzano, Dolomites). The specimen is contained in a small slab made of marry dark grey limestone with a biomicrofacies dominat ed by ostracods. It probably comes from the Ostracod Assemblage beds (Badio ta Facies), which are situated few metres below the Comelicania beds. The o ccurrence of Pavatirolites allow us to date this segment of the upper Belle rophon Fm. to the late Dorashamian, and to define the Comelicania and Nanki nella beds of the Dolomites as younger than the Phisonites - Comelicania (= Gruntallina) beds of the Transcaucasia (basal Dorashamian). These Dolomite beds are equivalent to or younger than the Paratirolites Zone (late Dorash amian).