The Presence of Callipterids in the Permian of Northeastern Brazil: Stratigraphic and Phytogeographical Implications

Abstract

This is the first record of callipterids, sensu stricto, in South America, Western Gondwana. Previously, they were known only from the palaeoequatorial belt, including the Euroamerican (North America and Europe), northernmost African, and Cathaysian (northern China, Southeast Asia, and the Malay Archipelago) regions, or from north of Pangaea (Siberia), during the latest Carboniferous–late Permian interval. In the present study, fossils were collected from sediments from the middle–upper Pedra de Fogo Formation, part of the Permian of the Parnaíba Basin in eastern Maranhão State, northeastern Brazil. The material recovered can be attributed to the callipterid genus Rhachiphyllum, and specifically to the species Rhachiphyllum schenkii (Heyer) Kerp. In addition, we found an Autunia-like fructification, corroborating a peltasperm affinity. The presence of R. schenkii could be indicative of an early Permian age for the Pedra de Fogo Formation since this species has a short and well-determined stratigraphic range in Europe. Palaeogeographically, the above-mentioned species found in association with fern genus Pecopteris suggests a migration corridor running from central Europe and northern South America during Permian times.