Middle Permian (Murgabian) fusuline faunas, Torlesse Terrane, New Zealand

Abstract

Two disparate fusuline limestone localities are known from Torlesse Supergroup rocks of Canterbury in the South Island of New Zealand. Fossils at one of these localities (J35/fl9, Glenfalloch Stream) are well preserved. New thin-section study establishes the presence of a low-diversity foraminiferan fauna dominated by the fusuline Parafusulina (Skinnerelld) japonica. At least three fusuline taxa are recognised including Parafusulina (Skinnerelld) cuniculata (Igo 1967), and two new subspecies described herein: Parafusulina (Skinnerelld) japonica deprati nov. subsp. and Parafusulina (Skinnerelld) japonica curta nov. subsp. Four species of small foraminifers are also recognised. Overall, the fauna correlates best with late Middle Permian sequences of Tethyan affinity in Eurasia, and specifically with those of the Murgabian Stage (probably early Murgabian). Fossils at the second locality (I39/f8666, Te Akatarawa Stream) are poorly preserved but nevertheless appear to indicate a comparable faunal composition and age range of late Kubergandian to early Murgabian. © 1998 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.