Graptolite Biozonation and Stratigraphy of the Upper Silurian of the Kaliningrad Region, Russia

The published and new data on the Upper Silurian graptolite biostratigraphy and regional stratigraphy of the Kaliningrad region are summarized. Local stratigraphic units are described, an updated graptolite biozonation and detailed paleontological characteristics of graptolite biozones with the analysis of the regional features of the units are provided, and the biostratigraphical criteria for the recognition of the lower boundaries of the Upper Silurian units of the General stratigraphic scale (the Ludlow and Pridoli series and the Gorstian and Ludfordian stages) in the region are proposed. The Upper Silurian graptolite biozones of the Kaliningrad region are compared with the standard graptolite biozonation and the graptolite biozonal scales of Lithuania, Poland, and Barrandian (Czech Republic).