‘Organic nannofossils’: a new type of palynomorph from the Palaeogene of the North Sea

Abstract. Organic microfossils of regular dodecahedral shape are found in the Palaeogene (Lower Oligocene) of the central and northern parts of the Norwegian North Sea. The shape and structure of these fossils are very similar to coccospheres of the calcareous nannoplankton genus Braarudosphaera. The individual pentagonal plates show the same morphological features as replicas of the inner surface of pentaliths forming calcareous coccospheres. It is the first evidence that a representative of calcareous nannoplankton (Haptophyta, Coccolithophorales) is found to produce acid-resistant organic microfossils. The organic remains might have been produced by an undescribed species of the genus Braarudosphaera or represent an unknown stage in the life cycle of species which normally produce calcareous plates.