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Polygnathus is a genus of conodonts, which are small, tooth-like fossils found in ancient marine rocks. These fossils are important because Polygnathus is a key conodont genus from which many other distinct conodont genera evolved. These evolved forms are significant as index, or guide, fossils, helping paleontologists date rock layers. Conodonts, in general, are valuable for global biostratigraphy, particularly in rocks from the uppermost Cambrian to the uppermost Triassic periods.12

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