Permian brachiopods from new localities in northeast Thailand: Implications for paleobiogeographic analysis

A small Permian brachiopod fauna is described from new localities in northeastern Thailand. Brachiopods were collected from early Permian (Asselian) limestones of the Nam Maholan Formation and middle Permian (Murgabian) sandstones of the Nam Duk Formation and limestones of the Khao Khwang Formation. Analyses of taxa confirm preliminary hypotheses of Cathaysian affinities for brachiopods and fusulinids found in this part of Thailand. Fossils found in sandstones of the Nam Duk molasse facies, however, also show possible Gondwanan relationships with brachiopod taxa described in Australia. This has to be further tested with ongoing research in a better understanding of the paleobiogeography of this part of Southeast Asia.