Stratigraphic, geographic, and evolutionary development of the conodont genus Gondolella

The genus Gondolella has been defined as a gondola-shaped platform conodont and is known to be present in rocks of Pennsylvanian, Permian, and Triassic age in many parts of the world. Some 33 names have been proposed of which 19 are considered valid. The earlier species described are from the Desmoinesian Series of Midcontinent North America and the latest are from the Upper Triassic of North America, Europe and Asia. Reduction in size, loss of ridged platform, and narrowing of basal groove accompanied by modification of basal pit are the evolutionary trends noted. All known species have short stratigraphic ranges.