Carboniferous conodont faunas in Australia and New Zealand

Abstract

Mississippian and Pennsylvanian conodonts are known from both eastern and Western Australia (WA), but only Pennsylvanian faunas are found in New Zealand (NZ). Mississippian faunas are widely distributed in WA in the Carnarvon, Canning and Bonaparte basins as well as from marine facies in New South Wales and Queensland. In WA Pennsylvanian conodonts are known from only a single locality in the offshore Bonaparte Basin. A more diverse fauna has been described from near Murgon in southeast Queensland. In NZ Pennsylvanian conodonts have been found within the Toreless Terrane (Rakaia Sub-terrane) Complex. ... In Australia, Pennsylvanian conodonts are known only from the Early Bashkirian 'Declinognathus noduliferus' - 'Idiognathoides corrugatus' Zone level in the Bonaparte Basin and from near Murgon in the southeastern Queensland. This may reflect the early onset of glaciation at this time in the southern hemisphere. In NZ Pennsylvanian conodonts occur at Meyers Pass, Kakahu and Conical Peak, all in the Rakaia Terrane. Preservation is poor and the only generic level identification of 'Gondolella', 'Idiognathodus' and 'Streptognathodus' is possible. The faunas could be as old as Bashkirian or as young as Gzhelian.