Palaeozoogeographical connections of the Devonian vertebrate communities of the Baltica Province. Part I. Eifelian-Givetian

Isolation of the communities is reflected by predominance of local and provincial endemics during the Givetian; wider connections are recorded by the majority of cosmopolitans and taxa distributed within a limited number of provinces during the Eifelian. Constant faunal interchanges are observed between Baltica, Laurentia, and Armorica; connections to other provinces are infrequent. Different vertebrate groups show varying dispersal capabilities. The most important cosmopolitans during the Middle Devonian are climatiid and ichnacanthid acanthodians, struniiforms, and arthrodires. Agnathans and sarcopterygians show limited dispersal capabilities.