Early Cretaceous dinoflagellate cysts from the southern border of the Neuquén Basin, Estancia Santa Elena locality, Argentina*

Abstract

� � � � � � � p� � � � w� � � � ��� � � An assemblage of dinoflagellate cysts is reported from the Lower Member (Pilmatué Member) of the Agrio Formation (late Valanginian-Hauterivian) of the southern Neuquén Basin, Argentina. Thirty species are recognized and the new w species Oligosphaeridium quattrocchioae and Muderongia sarjeantii described. The studied assemblage is compared w with other Early Cretaceous assemblages from central w western Argentina, Patagonia, the South Atlantic Malvinas Plateau, the Antarctic Peninsula and Australia. The marine dinoflagellate cyst assemblage of the Agrio Formation at the Estancia Santa Elena locality has cosmopolitan character, w with a p predominance of European and Tethyan species.