Small-sized brachiopods from the Upper Frasnian (Devonian) of central Hunan, China

Abundant small-sized brachiopods of the uppermost Frasnian (probably the Palmatolepis linguiformis Conodont Zone) are reported here for the first time from South China. These brachiopods range in size from less than 1 mm to approximately 7 mm and consist of, in the order of abundance, the spiriferides (Thomasaria? baii n. sp., Thomasaria? liangi n. sp., Xiangia liaoi n. gen. n. sp., and Spiriferida gen. et sp. indet.), the terebratulide Qidongia tani n. gen. n. sp., the athyridide Athyris supervittata Tien and Athyris? sp., the rhynchonellide Levipugnax? liui n. sp., the spiriferinide Cyrtinaella? houi n. sp., the pentameride Gypidula xui n. sp., and the orthide Aulacella? sp., associated with abundant atrypid juveniles (mostly Iowatrypa pseudobodini), Productella sp., and Hypothyridina sp. This fauna represents the last and significant brachiopod flourishing episode in the Frasnian before the Frasnian-Famennian Event in South China.