Localities, distribution and stratigraphical context of the Late Devonian tetrapods of East Greenland

Abstract

The Devonian tetrapod-yielding localities of East Greenland are described in detail, giving new information on distribution and stratigraphical context. Three genera of tetrapods, Ichthyostega, Acanthostega and a third not yet described, are known from different localities on Gauss Halvø and Ymer Ø. On Ymer Ø, tetrapods have been found loose in talus on the north and south sides of Celsius Bjerg. Tetrapod localities on Gauss Halvø are distributed between Parallel dal and along the south coastline, and are represented both by talus-derived and in situ collected material. One in situ locality, yielding numerous Ichthyostega specimens, is located in the lower part of the Britta Dal Formation on Sederholm Bjerg in Paralleldal. An Acanthostega yielding in situ locality is located higher up in the Britta Dal Formation on Stensiö Bjerg on the south coast. Talusderived material is reported from all areas and in both the Aina Dal Formation and the younger Britta Dal Formation. A review and summary of the detailed stratigraphy of the tetrapod-yielding succession on Gauss Halvø is presented for the first time and is based on old literature, specimen data, recent fieldwork, unpublished manuscripts and old field notes. Every recorded locality has been put in this stratigraphical framework in order to show a detailed distribution of specimens and enabling an assessment of this distribution.