Abstract A revised amphibian zonation for the European Pennsylvanian and Cisuralian (Upper Carboniferous to Lower Permian) with nine amphibian zones is presented. The index fossils belong to species-chronoclines with two or three closely related species. The time resolution of these amphibian zones is about 1.5–3.0 Ma. Biostratigraphical correlations with amphibian zones are applicable to 16 basins in the Czech Republic, Poland, France, Italy and Germany. The biostratigraphical potential of other tetrapods is discussed.

Abstract An insect zonation with a time resolution of 1.5–2 Ma for Late Pennsylvanian to Early Permian (Kasimovian to Artinskian) non-marine deposits is presented. The zonation is based on the directed morphogenetic evolution of colour pattern in the forewings of the blattid (cockroach) family Spiloblattinidae. This evolution is observed in lineages of succeeding species of three genera. All three genera are widely distributed in the palaeo-equatorial zone from Europe to North America, that is, in the Euramerican biota province. Increasing reports of spiloblattinid zone species in condont-bearing, interfingered marine/continental strata of North American Appalachian, Mid-Continent and West Texas basins could be the key to direct biostratigraphical correlations of pure continental profiles, as are present in the most parts of the Hercynides, to the global marine scale.