Palaeobiogeography of Australian Devonian gastropods

Abstract

Australian gastropod faunas of Devonian age have received comparatively little attention. The occurrences of key gastropod taxa in the Devonian of Australia are reviewed. High levels of endemism of species in the Early Devonian are overprinted by Old World affinities at the generic and familial levels. These affinities persist into the Givetian, where strong links are maintained with European taxa. Limited data are available for Lochkovian, Eifelian and all Late Devonian gastropod faunas, making assessment of their biogeography difficult. Platyceratids, although present throughout Australia, form a lesser element of the faunas here than in other Old World Realm regions during the Devonian.

Keywords:

• Gastropoda
• Devonian
• Australia
• Palaeobiogeography

Notes

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