Temnospondyl remains from the late permian Rio do Rasto formation (Paraná Basin) of Brazil

Abstract

Several fragmentary and isolated materials are described from the Morro Pelado Member of the Late Permian Rio do Rasto Formation, that were found at PR-090, near São Jerônimo da Serra town (Paraná State). The materials consist of three mandibular fragments, six vertebral elements, a rib fragment, an interclavicle, a fragment of a probable scapulocoracoid and isolated proximal ends of an ulna and a femur. All the materials come from the same outcrop and the same fossiliferous horizon, without any indication of having belonged to the same individual. Although the anatomical features of most of the materials suggest they could be related to temnospondyl amphibians, their fragmentary nature and the absence of cranial specimens does not allow a more precise taxonomic identification. However, as fossil tetrapods are useful for biostratigraphic purposes, specially for the Permian-Triassic interval, the new discoveries in the Rio do Rasto Formation could provide additional support for a correlation of Permian sediments of Paraná Basin with the Pristerognathus, Tropidostoma and Cistecephalus Assemblage Zones of the Karoo Basin as previous studies have suggested. Although, new material and a more precise taxonomic identification could corroborate this correlation. © 2011 by the Sociedade Brasileira de Paleontologia.