First record of Devonian orthoceratid-bearing limestones in southern Calabria (Italy)

Lower to Middle Devonian orthoceratid-bearing nodular limestones in Calabria are described here for the first time, along the Fiumara Assi section. The succession is tectonically inverted and has been dated by conodonts. The lower beds are Lochkovian–Lower Pragian, because they provided Icriodus cf. steinachensis and Pelekysgnathus serratus, which occur in the delta-sulcatus Zones. Upwards appear Polygnathus cf. dehiscens, corresponding to the dehiscens-gronbergi Zones, and Ozarkodina cf. steinhornensis miae of the dehiscens-inversus Zones, both indicating a topmost Pragian–Lower Emsian age. The Eifelian (or younger) age for the top of the succession is demonstrated by Polygnathus linguiformis linguiformis. This succession, as well as similar coeval deposits of the southern Variscan Chain (southwestern Sardinia, eastern Pyrenees), Betic–Rifian Maláguides-Ghomarides and southern Alps, made part of a western embayment of the Palaeotethys.