Novispathodus brevissimus
Creators: name: Leu, Marc
name: Bucher, Hugo
name: Vennemann, Torsten
name: Bagherpour, Borhan
name: Ji, Cheng
name: Brosse, Morgane
name: Goudemand, Nicolas
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Ozarkodinida
Gondolellidae
Novispathodus
Novispathodus brevissimus

description: Novispathodus brevissimus (Orchard, 1995)
Figs. 19A, B, D, F; 21A–J, L, M; 22B, C, E, F?
(See figure on next page.)
1981 Neospathodus triangularis Bender; Koike, pl. 1, fig. 6.
*1995 Neospathodus brevissimus n. sp., Orchard, pp. 117, pl. 3, figs. 14–15, 20–22.
2011 Neospathodus brevissimus Orchard; Ji et al., p. 219, fig. 3, nr. 7.
2014 Novispathodus triangularis (Bender); Maekawa and Igo in Shigeta et al., p. 241–243, figs. 172.1–9, 172.13–27, 173.1–3, 173.6–12, 173.16–21, 173.28–44, 174.1–174.24. 2015 Triassospathodus brevissimus (Orchard); Yan et al., p. 240, fig. 3.4.
2016 Novispathodus triangularis (Bender); Komatsu et al., p. 69, fig. 5.8.
2018 Novispathodus brevissimus (Orchard); Maekawa in Maekawa et al., p. 34, figs. 19.4, 19.5, 19.7.
2019 Neospathodus curtatus Orchard; Chen et al., fig. 6 nr. 13, 14.
2019 Neospathodus brevissimus Orchard; Chen et al., fig. 6 nr. 15.
2019a Triassospathodus brevissimimus [sic.] (Orchard); Wu et al., fig. 4, nr. 36.
2019 Novispathodus brevissimus (Orchard); Liu et al., p. 14, pl. 4, figs. 15, 18
Number of specimens.> 50.
Original diagnosis. “Species characterized by small, short, and high segminate elements with a length:height ratio of 1:1, about 8–12 largely fused, generally upright denticles atop a deep blade, and a large basal cavity with a subcircular basal outline that occupies most of the lower side” (Orchard, 1995).
Remarks. Characteristic of this species is the posterior lateral margin which is slightly to strongly curved. Subcircular to subtriangular outline of the large basal cavity in the lower view. Te denticles are fused and compressed with an erect to radial outline (bouquet-like). Te carina is relatively high. In lateral view, the upper edge is usually straight to slightly arched. Cusp is usually undistinguishable from other denticles.
Te here illustrated adult specimens are a bit larger with more denticles than the holotype (Orchard, 1995; pp. 117, Pl. 3, fig. 22), but the denticulation and the convex posterior edge of the process is very distinct in this species. Terefore, the holotype (Orchard 1995) might represent a younger, juvenile morphotype of this taxon. Novispathodus eotriangularis (Zhao & Orchard in Zhao et al., 2007) has a more triangle-shaped basal cavity and the anterior half of the carina is gradually declining in height, whereas Novispathodus brevissimus shows a more abrupt decline at the posterior end. Compared to Novispathodus clinatus (Orchard 1995), this species shows more numerous, short and upright denticles. Novispathodus brevissimus shares most similarities with Novispathodus curtatus (Orchard, 1995), but the latter has a relatively smaller basal cavity, is longer and bears larger and more reclined denticles. Some specimens (e.g. Fig. 19F) bear the postero-lateral pinching that is usually considered diagnostic of Nv. triangularis (Bender), as revised by Orchard (1995). Chen et al. (2015) illustrated very similar specimens from a higher horizon (their figs. 7.9, 7.10). Contrary to ‘true’ Nv. triangularis, our specimens have more rounded denticles tips and the pinching is less conspicuous, suggesting they can still be retained within Nv. brevissimus sensu lato.
Occurrence. Oman, Jabal Safra, lower Spathian (Orchard, 1995); Japan, Taho Limestone, occurs with Nv. pingdingshanensis, Tahogawa Member (Koike, 1981; Maekawa et al., 2018); Nanpanjiang basin, South China and North Vietnam, together with Tirolites sp. nov. and Icriospathodus collinsoni (Komatsu et al., 2016; Liu et al., 2019; Shigeta et al., 2014; Yan et al., 2015).
description: Published as part of Leu, Marc, Bucher, Hugo, Vennemann, Torsten, Bagherpour, Borhan, Ji, Cheng, Brosse, Morgane & Goudemand, Nicolas, 2022, A Unitary Association-based conodont biozonation of the Smithian-Spathian boundary (Early Triassic) and associated biotic crisis from South China, pp. 1-61 in Swiss Journal of Palaeontology (19) (19) 141 (1) on pages 32-36, DOI: 10.1186/s13358-022-00259-x, http://zenodo.org/record/12000082