Graptodinium, a new Paleogene dinoflagellate cyst

Abstract

Graptodinium is a new genus of proximate dinoflagellate cysts with an apical archaeopyle, a cladopyxiacean tabulation and a distinctive intratabular ornamentation. It is represented by Graptodinium inconditum sp. nov. and Graptodinium omnireticulatum sp. nov. These species range from the Middle Eocene to at least the Early Oligocene in New Zealand. Graptodinium ranges geographically from the Arctic to the high southerly latitudes.

Keywords:

• dinoflagellate cysts
• taxonomy
• Paleogene (Eocene–Oligocene)
• New Zealand

Acknowledgements

The author is grateful to Lucy Edwards, Javier Helenes and Graeme Wilson for helpful initial discussions. Thanks also go to Erica Crouch, James Riding, Graeme Wilson and two anonymous referees for their extremely helpful comments on the manuscript, and to Ian Raine, John Simes and Roger Tremain for further invaluable assistance.