The Distribution and Sequence of Carboniferous Coral Faunas

Abstract

Since the beginning of the century Carboniferous corals have been intensively studied throughout the world, and in this paper our resultant knowledge of their distribution and the sequence of faunas is outlined. The lower limit of the Carboniferous is taken to be at the base of the K zone of the Bristol sequence, and the upper limit at the base of the Russian Kungurian stage, in conformity with the principle of priority of nomenclature. The period is thus a long one including the Russian Artinskian, while the Permian is relatively short. Many recent writers, e.g. Dunbar (1940, 1942), adopting criteria other than priority of nomenclature, have extended the Permian downwards to incorporate greater or lesser amounts of the Carboniferous.