Conodont fauna and biostratigraphy of the Outram, Skoki, and Owen Creek Formations (Lower to Middle Ordovician), Wilcox Pass, Alberta, Canada

Abstract

A collection of 60,886 conodonts was recovered from 141 samples of the Outram, Skoki and Owen Creek Formations (Lower to Middle Ordovician) that outcrop through the Wilcox Pass section, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. This section representσ the standard reference section for the Lower-Middle Ordovician of the Southern Canadian Cordillera. The well preserved fauna is assigned to 75 species representing 48 genera. The species are representative of both the Midcontinent and Atlantic faunal realms, but dominantly the former. Nine Midcontinent Realm zones are recognized in the upwards shallowing carbonate platform succession including theScolopodus subrex, Acodus kechikaensis, Oepikodus communis, Jumudontus gananda, Tripodus laevis, Histiodella altifrons, Histiodella sinuosa, Histiodella holodentata, andPhragmodus “pre-flexuosus”zones. Zones recognized that are characteristic of the Atlantic Realm includeParoistodus proteus, Paracordylodus gracilis, Oepikodus evae, Paroistodus originalis, andMicrozarkodina flabellum.A new genus,Filodontus, is proposed for elements assigned previously to the form genus“Scolopodus” filosus. A new species,Leptochirognathus wilcoxi, is described and one new species, left in open nomenclature, is assigned toRossodus?.