Two new bairdiid ostracod species from the early Barremian-Hauterivian of the northern and central North Sea to the Atlantic margin off Norway

Abstract

Two new species of bairdiid Ostracoda are described from the lower Barremian - Hauterivian interval of the Valhall and Asgard formations in the northern and central North Sea and Atlantic margin off Norway. The new species are Pontocyprella valhalla (lsid:zoobank.org:act:CA6B273F-CFF6-4C38-B9F4-18188225A711, 18 January 2018) and Bairdia asgarda (lsid:zoobank.org:act:4A4DC817-A028-45FB-9287-ABF3794F2FCB, 18 January 2018). These species dominate the ostracod assemblage that occurs abundantly in early Barremian- Hauterivian deep marine sediments of the northern and central North Sea and Haltenbanken area off Norway. Pontocyprella valhalla is restricted to this interval and because of its large size and distinct shape is a useful stratigraphic marker species, its last appearance being within the early Barremian.