A SUPRAGENERIC TAXONOMY OF THE CONODONTS

The conodonts are divided into the Westergaardodinida and Conodontophorida orders. The latter (conodonts proper) are divided into 8 superfamilies. The Distacodontacea (Proconodontidae, Clavohamulidae, and Distacodontidae families) are on the whole a simple, ‘primitive’ group. The Chirognathacea include Oistodus (s.str.), Chirognathus, and Rhipidognathus. The Panderodontacea are mainly simple cones. The Prioniodinacea have compound, non‐blade elements. The Prioniodontacea include the Periodontidae, Prioniodontidae, Balognathidae, and Icriodontidae families. Bryantodontace, Gondolellacea, and Polygnathacea are based on platform‐stock genera. The Polygnathacea (spathognathodon‐tids, polygnathids, and indiognathodontids) may comprise two major stocks independent since the Ordovician.