BRACHIOPODS FROM THE UPPER TRIASSIC REEF HABITATS OF THE NORTHERN CALCAREOUS ALPS (DACHSTEIN LIMESTONE, HOCHSCHWAB, AUSTRIA)

Abstract

Upper Triassic brachiopods from 2 localities in the reef Dachstein Limestone of the SE Hochschwab massif in Styria, Austria are systematically described and illustrated. About 900 variably preserved specimens belong to 28 species, representing thus the most diverse brachiopod fauna known from the North Alpine Dachstein Limestone. This indicates that brachiopods were common inhabitants of reef habitats during the Alpine Norian. Oxycolpella, Sinucosta and Aulacothyropsis are dominant. Seven brachiopod species are known from the Kössen Formation (Rhaetian). Adygella biplicata (Dagys) and Ladinian Hungarispira loretzi (Bittner) are the newcomers in the Nordalpine Dachstein Limestone. In addition to brachiopods, only some fragments of bivalves were found. Conodonts of the species Epigondolella triangularis (Budurov 1972) indicate the Early Norian age.