Dinoflagellate cysts from an allochthonous block of Nordenskjöld Formation (Upper Jurassic), north-west James Ross Island

Abstract

An allochthonous block of the Nordenskjöld Formation from north-west James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula has yielded a diverse marine palynoflora. Dinoflagellate cyst assemblages from the 185 m thick sequence are described and compared with similar microfloras previously described from Australia, Papua New Guinea and Madagascar. A mid Tithonian (Late Jurassic) age is suggested for the section. One new genus, Helbydinium gen. nov. and four new species, Helbydinium scabratum sp. nov., Leptodinium acneum sp. nov., Leptodinium posterosulcatum sp. nov. and Rhynchodiniopsis foveata sp. nov. are described.