Middle Permian echinoconchoide brachiopod Vediproductus in the Kamiyasse area, Southern Kitakami Mountains, northeast Japan

Three species of the Middle Permian echinoconchoide brachiopod Vediproductus from the Kamiyasse area, northeast Japan, V mugenjin sp. nov., V punctatiformis, and V. sp., are described, and their paleogeographic significance is discussed. V mugenjin sp. nov. is characterized as having spine bands on both the outer and inner surface of the valve, showing a strong relief with a comparatively wide interval of each band and a typical sawtooth outline of spine bands in cross-sectional view. The stratigraphic and paleogeographic distributions suggest that the genus flourished in the Tethyan province and was possibly restricted to a lower latitude than warm-cool water transitional environment.