Permian plants from the Chutani Formation (Titicaca Group, Northern Altiplano of Bolivia): I. Genera Pecopteris and Asterotheca

Abstract

Fossil plants belonging to the morphogenera Glossopteris, Pecopteris and Asterotheca were collected from the upper part of the Chutani Formation (Titicaca Group), near the town of San Pablo de Tiquina, on the southeastern shore of Lake Titicaca (northern Altiplano, Bolivia). Here we report the analysis of fern-type foliage found at this location. Three species of pecopterid fronds are identified: Pecopteris dolianitii Rohn and Rösler, P. cf. P. cadeadensis Rohn and Rösler, and P. cf. P. pedrasica Read. All these species are typically found in Permian deposits of the Paraná Basin in southern Brazil. Despite the poor preservation of the material, a fertile specimen could be studied and was determined as Asterotheca sp. The paleoenvironmental and paleoecological implications of this new find are briefly analyzed.

Permian plants from the Chutani Formation (Titicaca Group, Northern Altiplano of Bolivia): II. The morphogenus Glossopteris

“…The only species of Pecopteris confirmed in the first part of this study, i.e. P. dolianitii Rösler and Rohn (see Vieira et al 2004), was previously reported from the Late Permian beds of the Rio do Rasto and Estrada Nova formations in the Paraná Basin (southern Brazil). Therefore, a Late Permian age is proposed for the fossil plant-bearing beds of the Chutani Formation based on the analyzed assemblage.…”

“…The pecopterid foliage corresponds to taxa considered endemic of the Paraná Basin, in southern Brazil (see the first part of this report; Vieira et al 2004). Pecopteris cf.…”

“…The fossils were found NE of San Pablo de Tiquina, a small town on the SE shore of Lake Titicaca (western Bolivia), where ferryboats cross the Strait of Tiquina to the Copacabana Peninsula. The fossil site is located approximately 80 m up-hill from the town's cemetery (for a location map see Vieira et al 2004). The studied samples were collected from the upper part of the Chutani Formation (Titicaca Group -geological setting in Vieira et al 2004).…”

“…The fossil site is located approximately 80 m up-hill from the town's cemetery (for a location map see Vieira et al 2004). The studied samples were collected from the upper part of the Chutani Formation (Titicaca Group -geological setting in Vieira et al 2004). The fronds of Pecopteris and Asterotheca have been described by Vieira et al (2004) and form the first part of this study.…”

“…The studied samples were collected from the upper part of the Chutani Formation (Titicaca Group -geological setting in Vieira et al 2004). The fronds of Pecopteris and Asterotheca have been described by Vieira et al (2004) and form the first part of this study. The leaves of Glossopteris were found as impressions on brownish yellow, hard, compact, silty dolostone.…”