Early Pennsylvanian conodonts from the Luokun section of Luodian, Guizhou, South China

An abundant and taxonomically diverse conodont association was recovered from the Bashkirian strata at the Luokun section, southern Guizhou, South China. Forty-six species and subspecies, which belong to 10 genera, were identified. Seven conodont zones were recognized. They are, in ascending order, the Declinognathodus noduliferus, Idiognathoides sulcatus sulcatus, Idiognathoides sinuatus, Idiognathoides sulcatus parvus, “Streptognathodus” expansus M1, “Streptognathodus” expansus M2, and Diplognathodus cf. ellesmerensis zones. The base of the Bashkirian in the Luokun section is identified by the first occurrence of Declinognathodus noduliferus. Declinognathodus praenoduliferus and D. cf. bernesgae occur in the underlying beds. The base of the Moscovian can be recognized by the first occurrence of Diplognathodus cf. ellesmerensis, which is one of the most significant markers for the Bashkirian-Moscovian boundary in China. The conodont zonation is compared with that of the Naqing section nearby, as well as with that of the contemporaneous deposits of the South Urals, Donets Basin, North America and other areas.