A new highly diverse palynoflora from the Lower Devonian Nogueras Formation of the Iberian Peninsula

A new well-preserved spore assemblage has been discovered from the Lower Devonian Nogueras Formation of Mezquita de Loscos (Teruel Province, north-eastern Spain). The palynoflora includes 34 spore species belonging to 20 genera, among which 14 are new for the locality, e.g. Apiculiretusispora, Brochotriletes, Cirratriradites, Iberoespora, Knoxisporites and Verrucosisporites. The assemblage is mainly composed of trilete spores, while tripapillate and monolete forms are also observed. An early Pragian age is suggested for the fossil site. Specimens of Latosporites ovalis, a species previously well-documented only from the late Pragian-Emsian of Saudi Arabia and Brazil, are found in this assemblage and represent to date the earliest known occurrence of this species. Besides the description of the palynoflora, we also provide here a synthesis of the plant-bearing localities of the study area.