Comments on some Permian conodont faunas reported from Southeast Asia and adjacent areas and their global correlation

Some important conodont faunas, reported from Southeast Asia, excluding South China and Japan, are re-evaluated on the basis of the improved taxonomy and resulting newly established provincialism. These faunas are representative of either the Equatorial Warm Water Province (EWWP) or the peri-Gondwana Cool Water Province (GCWP), except that the fauna from Jilin, North China represents the North Cool Water Province (NCWP). The GCWP is marked by Vjalovognathus and/or Merrillina in the Cisuralian, Vjalovognathus, Merrillina and Mesogondolella in the Guadalupian, and Vjalovognathus and Mesogondolella sheni or Merrillina in the Lopingian. The EWWP is characterized by the absence of Gondolelloides and Vjalovognathus in the Early and Middle Cisuralian, abundance of Sweetognathus and Pseudosweetognathus in the Kungurian (Late Cisuralian), dominance of Jinogondolella and Sweetognathus in the Guadalupian, and dominance of Clarkina and Iranognathus in the Lopingian. Mixed faunas are recognized in regions on the border between the EWWP and GCWP including Western Timor during the Artinskian, southeast Pamirs during the Kungurian and the Salt Range during the Guadalupian and Lopingian. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.