The palaeoxylological record of Metapodocarpoxylon libanoticum (Edwards) Dupéron-Laudoueneix et Pons and the Gondwana Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous continental biogeography

Aim: Vertebrates, palynomorphs and leaf floras each give a different picture of continental biogeography of Northern Gondwana during the Middle Jurassic-Early Cretaceous interval. A new biogeographical marker is required to get a clearer picture. Location: Northern part of the Gondwana during the Middle Jurassic-Early Cretaceous interval. Methods: Comparisons and correlations of wood data from the literature and new material. Results: We have selected Metapodocarpoxylon Dupéron-Laudoueneix et Pons because it has a restricted distribution, temporally and geographically; it is a well-defined Mesozoic fossil wood monospecific genus, and there are wide-ranging data on its distribution. Conclusions: Metapodocarpoxylon distribution draws a clear latitudinal belt extending from Lebanon westward to Peru. Climate being the main factor of plant distribution at a global scale, the Metapodocarpoxylon area probably underlines a climatic belt. This has several implications, for example, choosing among different Global Circulation Models or discussing dinosaur distribution.