Early-Middle Frasnian cyrtospiriferid brachiopods from the East European Platform

The cyrtospiriferids are among the most important fossils in the Frasnian strata of the East European Platform (EEP). During the Early Frasnian (Palmatolepis falsiovalis Zone) the numerous and morphologically distinct Uchtospiriferinae, accompanied by very scarce Cyrtospiriferinae, are known from South Timan. The mass appearance of cyrtospiriferins on the platform at the beginning of the Middle Frasnian is linked with significant sea−level rise of Devonian Transgression−Regression (T−R) cycle IIc. At that interval these brachiopods attain their highest diversity of the entire Frasnian. The Early Frasnian type species of the genus Uchtospirifer is here revised, and subfamily Uchtospiriferinae re−established. Cyrtospirifer schelonicus, C. rudkinensis, C. mylaensis sp. nov., and C. tenticulum are described from the Middle Frasnian of NW and central regions of EEP and Middle Timan.