Permian Conodonts

Abstract

Permian conodonts may be the least understood of all the conodonts. The diversity ofcollolionls in the Permian is close to an all-time low, and, typically , faunas rccovcred arc small. Nevertheless, conodonts arc still recovered fmm 1110S t marine units and provide a powerful tool for correlation. Conodont paleoccologic studies in the Permian arc still in their infancy, due to a general lack of detailed regional studies and, largely, to taxo-nomic problems. The taxonomy of Permian COIl-odonts, and particularly their apparatal makeup is reviewed. This is necessary to understand the general biostratigraphy of conodonts, their bio-facies distribution, and provincialism in the Permian.