Early Permian conodonts from the Torlesse and Caples Terranes, New Zealand

Abstract

Conodonts of Early Permian age are described for the first time from New Zealand. Conodont elements have been obtained from siliceous pelagites in the Torlesse Terrane near Meyers Pass, South Canterbury, and from limestone blocks in the Caples Terrane, near Nokomai, northern Southland. Conodonts from both localities include Mesogondolella Pa elements, Xaniognathus, and associated ramiform elements, and have close affinities with cool‐water pelagic faunas from the Northern Hemisphere. These conodonts provide an excellent basis for stratigraphic correlation within and between New Zealand late Paleozoic‐Mesozoic terranes.

Keywords:

• conodonts
• Mesogondolella
• Xaniognathus
• Early Permian
• Torlesse Terrane
• Canterbury
• Caples Terrane
• Southland
• New Zealand
• pelagite
• limestone
• biostratigraphy