Kasimovian (Late Pennsylvanian) conodont fauna from a limestone block in the Ōtani Formation, Kuzuryu area of the Hida Gaien belt, Fukui Prefecture, central Japan

Abstract

: A conodont fauna characterized by Streptognathodus species was recovered from a limestone block (previously called Ō boradani Formation) of the Ō tani (=Ohtani or Otani) Formation belonging to the Hida Gaien belt distributed in the Kuzuryu area, Fukui Prefecture, central Japan. The fauna consists of Streptognathodus corrugatus , S. elegantulus , S. excelsus , S. gracilis , Idiognathodus sp., Gondolella bella , G . cf. elegantula and G . cf. pohli . These streptognathodids have a wide geographic distribution and indicate a middle–late Kasimovian (Late Pennsylvanian) age, which is slightly older than the Gzhelian (latest Pennsylvanian) age infferred from fusulinid fossils in previ ous studies.