Revision of the Ordovician conodont species Fahraeusodus adentatus and the new genus Pohlerodus

Abstract

Fahraeusodus adentatus, the type species of Fahraeusodus, is revised based on the re-examination of the original types and a large collection of topotype specimens from the Emanuel Formation (Lower Ordovician) of the Canning Basin in Western Australia. Confirmation of a modified pastinate Pa element in the septimembrate ramiform-pectiniform apparatus of this conodont species has resulted in a redefined generic definition for Fahraeusodus. Based on this newly defined diagnosis of Fahraeusodus and its type species, all other species previously assigned to Fahraeusodus and Texania are reviewed and now placed in Pohlerodus gen. nov., which is erected herein to substitute Texania, which is a junior homonym.

Yong Yi Zhen [[email protected]], Geological Survey of New South Wales, W.B. Clarke Geoscience Centre, 947–953 Londonderry Road, Londonderry NSW 2753, Australia.

Keywords:

• Conodonta
• taxonomy
• evolution
• phylogeny
• Early Ordovician

Acknowledgements

This contribution is dedicated to Robert Nicoll, who provided mentoring and encouragement in the early stage of this project. The study was supported by the Geological Survey of NSW. John Laurie, Robert Nicoll and Natalie Schroeder (Geoscience Australia), Kailah Thorn (Edward de Courcy Clarke Earth Science Museum, University of Western Australia) and Heidi Allen (Geological Survey and Resource Strategy, WA) are thanked for helping to relocate the types and illustrated specimens of McTavish (1973) and facilitating the loans of the material for this study. SEM images were prepared in the Electron Microscope Unit of Macquarie University with assistance from Sue Lindsay. Christopher Barnes and Guillermo Albanesi are thanked for their careful and constructive reviews of the manuscript. This is a contribution to IGCP Project 735 (Rocks and the Rise of Ordovician Life) and IGCP Project 668 (Equatorial Gondwana History and Early Palaeozoic Evolutionary Dynamics). Author publishes with the permission of the Executive Director, Geological Survey of NSW.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.