Youngest Permian Marine Fauna from Eastern Australian Basins

Marine invertebrate macrofossil fauna from the upper Blenheim Subgroup and Kulnura Marine Tongue is described. The collection includes 12 genera and 13 species, with one new genus and one new species identified. This dataset was published by the Australian Ocean Data Network and last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Establishing biostratigraphic zones (Martiniopsis magna, M. pelicanensis, M. havilensis) based on fossil assemblages.
• Correlating geological formations (e.g., Black Alley Shale, Peawaddy Formation) using the occurrence of specific species like Martiniopsis havilensis.
• Analyzing faunal diversity trends by comparing this low-diversity end-Permian fauna with older Permian faunas in the Bowen and Sydney Basins.
• Supporting taxonomic research on the newly recognized genus Pseudonucula and other described species.

Strengths

• Fauna is assigned to 12 distinct genera and 13 species, providing a taxonomic foundation.
• Analysis defines three specific biostratigraphic zones for regional correlation.

Limitations

• Sample size and row count for fossil specimens are not provided.
• Data is presented in descriptive PDF/HTML formats, not in a structured, machine-readable table.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

null

Time Range

Permian period, specifically post-Kungurian and not younger than Kazanian.

Freshness

null

Geography

Bowen Basin and Sydney Basin in eastern Australia.