Some observations on the fossil dinocyst genus Rhaetogonyaulax Sarjeant, 1966

Abstract

Representatives of the genus Rhaetogonyaulax are often abundant in Late Triassic sediments from the Arctic Islands, N.W.T., Canada. Comparison with R. rhaetica (Sarjeant) Loeblich and Loeblich, 1968 from Northwest Europe suggests that although outline, shape, ornament and paratabulation are similar, the archaeopyle formation in the Canadian specimens is consistently different. Three new species, Rhaetogonyaulax testacea, R. tortuosa and R. uncinata are proposed and the generic diagnosis of Rhaetogonyaulax Sarjeant, 1966 is emended.