In South China latest Frasnian (Palmatolepis linguiformis Zone) the representatives of the order Atrypida (Brachiopoda) are most common in central Hunan Province. They are relatively rare in other parts of South China due to unfavourable ecologic conditions. Unlike most previously reported sections, including some sections in South China, the four Frasnian-Famennian (F-D boundary sections examined here do not show any evidence for black shale. Atrypids are abundant and relatively diverse about 15 to 20 m below the F-F boundary (six species), and very rare about I-2 m below the boundary (with only two species). It seems that the disappearance of most atrypids occurred well before the F-F boundary. Nine species (including lowatrypa? qidongensis sp. n.), assigned to six genera, are discussed and described.

Key words: Brachiopoda, Atrypida, taxonomy, biostratigraphy, biogeography, mass -extinction, Frasnian, Devonian, South China.

Ma Xueping [xma @geoms.geo.pku.edu.cn], Department of Geology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.