Author	Vieira, M. et al.
Year	2020
Journal	J. Micropalaeontology, 39, 155–167, 2020 https://doi.org/10.5194/jm-39-155-2020
Title	Desmocysta hadra, a new Late Cretaceous dinoflagellate cyst species: stratigraphic range, palaeogeographic distribution and palaeoecology

Abstract Manuel Vieira and Salih Mahdi A new species of dinoflagellate cyst, Desmocysta hadra sp. nov., is described from the early Campanian (Late Cretaceous) in the Norwegian Sea. This new taxon differs from the other three known species by its particularly robust but highly folded wall and the short, fine filaments arising from the antapex. The short stratigraphic range of early Campanian for this new species was calibrated with other regional well-dated dinoflagellate cysts, making it a good biostratigraphic marker. A review of the taxonomic description of the genus has also been undertaken using the available published data. The available data shows a consistent presence of Desmocysta in the fossil record from the Early Cretaceous to the late Paleocene, although some Late Jurassic occurrences have been reported in the North Sea Basin. The current records also indicate that this genus is restricted to higher latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Based on Paleocene and Late Cretaceous occurrences of the genus, and its association with dinoflagellate cysts, prasinophytes and acritarchs, a proximal, highly stressed marine environment for Desmocysta is suggested.