Latest Silurian (Pridoli) to Middle Devonian (Givetian) of the Asia-Australia hemisphere: rationalization of brachiopod taxa and faunal lists; stratigraphic correlation chart

An evaluation is made of the generic and specific status of all latest Silurian (Pridoli) to Middle Devonian (Givetian) brachiopod taxa from the Asia-Australia hemisphere - from the eastern part of the Russian Platform and the west flank of the Urals to New Zealand - in order that a taxonomically consistent database is available for biogeographic analysis and for making improvements in stratigraphic alignments. Where previous identifications have been rejected or were deemed inadequate for acceptance on the basis of presently available documentation, the reasons for decisions are indicated by a system of abbreviations. Because an initial impetus for this exercise was biogeographic, the revised and annotated faunal lists are arranged according to the pattern of major lithospheric blocks rather than according to political entities. As a necessary adjunct to this exercise, the stratigraphic framework for the hemisphere for this time-interval is critically evaluated. Several new taxa are indicated in the lists but only one new genus, Depratella, and 5 new species or sub-species, all connected with nettlesome problems, all based on previously well documented materials, are formally erected: Cyrtinopsis? crenulatus, Hipparionyx ereme salairica, H. minor shirleyi, Lanceomyonia plodowskii, and Plicocyrtina cooperi shirleyi.