Xenoxylon, a boreal fossil wood in the Mesozoic redbeds of Southeast Asia: Potential for the stratigraphy of the Khorat group and the palinspatic reconstruction of Southeast Asia

International audienceThe fossil wood genus Xenoxylon is reported in-situ for the first time in the Indosinian terrane, from the Mesozoic continental redbeds of the Phu Kradung Formation (Khorat Group). Palinspatic recontruction, palaeobiogeography and correlation with other occurences of the genus, in southern China as well as in Vietnam, suggest a middle Jurassic age for the Phu Kradung Formation level yielding the fossil wood. As the dating of this formation is still controversial, our data is an important step towards a better understanding of southeast Asia Mesozoic continental redbeds geological history, palaeoecology and significance for the evolution of the vertebrates