Magnigondolella, a new conodont genus from the Triassic of North America

Abstract

AbstractThe new conodont genusMagnigondolellais recognized based on specimens recovered from the Anisian (Middle Triassic) of British Columbia in Canada, and Nevada in the USA. This new genus encompasses problematic specimens with high carinas, which have recently been collectively referred to asNeogondolellaex gr.regalisMosher. Ten species from North America are herein assigned toMagnigondolellan. gen., including the eight new speciesM.alexanderi,M.cyri,M.julii,M.nebuchadnezzari,M.salomae,M. n. sp. A,M. n. sp. B, andM. n. sp. C, as well as the two existing speciesM.regalis(Mosher) andM.dilacerata(Golding and Orchard). Other species from the Tethys region are also tentatively assigned toMagnigondolellan. gen. Based on published records, the genus appears to range from the Spathian to the upper Anisian in North America. The recognition of eight new species from the Anisian significantly increases the conodont biodiversity of this period, which has previously been regarded as a time of low diversity. Although some of the species included withinMagnigondolellan. sp. have relatively long stratigraphic ranges, many have been identified in both British Columbia and Nevada, and therefore show potential for biostratigraphic correlation on a regional scale.