The age and stratigraphic range of the species in the Eoparafusulina and Perigondwania-Neodutkevitchia Peri-Gondwana assemblage is not clear because of endemism and a limited geographic distribution of these faunas within Peri-Gondwana (Figure 12). In Central Pamir, where this assemblage is taxonomically most diverse, the presence of Robustoschwagerina, Paraschwagerina tianshaniensis (Chang 1963), Zellia nunosei (Hanzawa 1938) and Sphaeroschwagerina zhongzanica (Zhang 1982) were reported, and a Sakmarian age for the assemblage has been proposed (Leven 1993). The latter species were compared with similar taxa from the Trogkofel and Rattendorf Stages of Carnic Alps (Kahler and Kahler 1980), from Sakmarian rocks in North Afghanistan (Leven 1971, 1997), Darvaz (Leven and Scherbovich 1980) the Kelping Mountains of Xinjiang (Chang 1963), and from the lower part of Sakamotozawa Stage of Japan (Choi 1973). The FAD of Robustoschwagerina, Paraschwagerina tianshaniensis, Zellia nunosei is Sakmarian. However, in the Carnic Alps the acme of these taxa is in the Artinskian as they occur together with typical Artinskian conodont Sweetognathus whitei (Forke 1995, 2002).

The Eoparafusulina and Perigondwania-Neodutkevitchia Peri-Gondwana assemblage is also reported in Central and South Afghanistan (Leven 1997). In the Khaftkala tectonic zone several typical Artinskian species from the Urals were mentioned in association with Perigondwania-Neodutkevitchia. However, none of these important for age control species from the Urals were described or figured and thus no observation can be made regarding the age of the assemblage in the Khaftkala tectonic zone. In the Khoja Murod tectonic zone typical Artinskian (Yakhtashian) species Pamirina cf. evoluta Sheng have been reported together with Perigondwania karapetovi and P. peregrina. Again, neither a description nor figure of these important taxa has been provided (Leven 1997). In the other localities in Central Afghanistan the Eoparafusulina and Perigondwania-Neodutkevitchia Peri-Gondwana assemblage occurs between sequences with staffellids, bryozoans and brachiopods of probable Sakmarian age below and typical Artinskian (Yakhtashian) Pseudofusulina kraffti, Ps. exiqua, Ps. fusiformis, Darvasites contractus, Chalaroschwagerina vulgaris fusulinids above (Leven 1997).

In Northern Karakorum Pseudofusulina aff. sedujachensis Konovalova and Barishnikov 1980 and Ps. aff. synensis Konovalova and Barishnikov 1980 that were originally described from lower Artinskian in Timan-Pechora Basin (Konovalova and Barishnikov 1980) were reported in association with Perigondwania plena (Leven 1993), Pr. incomperta (Leven 1993), Pr. ex gr. karapetovi (Leven 1993) and Eoparafusulina aff. pamirensis Leven 1993, i.e., with typical Peri-Gondwana fusulinid assemblage (Gaetani et al. 1995). Although specimens from Northern Karakorum are quite similar to Uralian species, they differ from the latter by a presence of phrenotheca that are typical for Perigondwania and that have never been described in these Uralian Pseudofusulina. Thus, these "Pseudofusulina" from Northern Karakorum are most probably a new species of Perigondwania.

Brevaxina sp. has been reported from Member A of the Khan Formation (Aghanabati 1977). This would suggest a Kungurian (Bolorian) or a younger age for the basal part of the formation. However, we did not find Brevaxina in our studies, and we think that most probably Grovesella was erroneously identified as Brevaxina. Our analyses of fusulinid assemblages from the Khan Formation and similar fusulinids from Peri-Gondwana show that they may not be younger than Artinskian.

Two conodont occurrences are known to appear together with Eoparafusulina and Perigondwania-Neodutkevitchia fusulinids in Peri-Gondwana. In Central Pamir Neogondolella bisseli (Clark and Behnken 1971) have been reported immediately below the Peri-Gondwana fusulinid assemblage (Leven 1993). This species is an index of Sterlitamakian (Upper Sakmarian) conodont zone Sweetognathus anceps-Mesogondolella bisseli recently established in the Urals (Chernykh 2005). However, the species ranges up to the top of Artinskian.

In the Baoshan block, west Yunnan, Southwest China, the occurrence of Sweetognathus whitei in association with Eoparafusulina and Perigondwania has been reported (Ueno et al. 2002). V.V. Chernykh (personal commun., January 2007) confirmed that forms from the Baoshan block closely resemble Sweetognathus whitei, the index species of the lower Artinskian conodont zone in the Urals (Chernykh 2005).

Within the whole area of Iran, the time of deposition of the Khan Formation corresponds to a major unconformity between the Sardar and Jamal Formations in the Shirgesht and Ozbakuh areas (Figure 12).

Summarizing everything above, the following can be proposed regarding the age of Eoparafusulina and Perigondwania-Neodutkevitchia Peri-Gondwana assemblage: In many areas this assemblage appears immediately above glacial deposits that are most probably late Sakmarian in age. The appearance of this fusulinid assemblage corresponds with a relatively warmer climatic episode. Some recent models suggest the middle Sakmarian age for the warming episode (Montañez et al. 2007), whereas others suggest a latest Sakmarian-early Artinskian age (Schneider et al. 2006). Fusulinid data support warming during the late Sakmarian-Artinskian transition (Davydov et al. 2003). Fusulinids Robustoschwagerina, Zellia and Paraschwagerina and conodont Sweetognathus whitei that are found together with Eoparafusulina and Perigondwania-Neodutkevitchia suggest an early Artinskian age, although it cannot be excluded that the FAD of some fusulinid species might be in the latest Sakmarian. The youngest fusulinid species reported from this assemblage is Pamirina cf. evoluta (Leven 1997) of Artinskian (Yaktashian) age. However, it has not been described and/or figured and therefore its presence in the assemblage is somewhat questioned here. Artinskian fusulinid species from the Urals that were reported in association with Perigondwania-Neodutkevitchia assemblage (Leven 1993, 1997; Gaetani et al. 1995) most likely belong to Perigondwania and cannot clarify the age model for the assemblage.