ABSTRACT
A hierarchical framework comprising 3 realms, 8 regions and 31 biotic provinces is proposed for the Permian global marine biogeography. The three realms, namely Gondwanan (Anti-Boreal or Notai), Palaeo-Equatorial and Boreal, are considered to largely correspond to, the southern polar to subpolar, palaeo-tropical and northern polar to temperate climatic zones, respectively. Regions are recognized within realms mainly on the basis of significant palaeogeographical barriers, both oceanic and continental. The Palaeo-Equatorial Realm is thought to be composed of the Cathaysian (located in the Eastern Tethys), Mediterranean (located in the Western Tethys), North American Region, and the Cimmerian Regions (located in the Southern Tethys). The Cimmerian Region displayed a highly dynamic nature in terms of provincial affinities with the Gondwanan and Palaeo-Equatorial Realms during the Permian, in that it belonged to the Gondwanan Realm in the Asselian-Tastubian time, then went through a mid-Permian transitional stage and finally entered the Palaeo-Equatorial Realm in the Late Permian (Dzhulfian to Changhsingian). The Boreal Realm is divided into two regions, Euro-Canadian Region and Taimyr-Kolyma Region, roughly corresponding to the northern palaeo-subpolar or palaeo-temperate and high palaeo-polar zones, respectively. Similarly, two regions are recognized for the Gondwanan Realm: Australian and Afro-South American. Discussions are focused on realms and regions, with comments also made to some provinces wherever appropriate.
