Two new Early Cretaceous dinocyst species from the Central North Sea Basin

Abstract. Two new species of dinocyst, Cerbia monilis and Hapsocysta susanae are described from the Lower Cretaceous of the Central North Sea Basin. The first ranges across the Aptian/Albian boundary and the latter is restricted to the Early to Middle Albian interval; both are valuable index taxa in this area. Hapsocysta susanae is remarkably similar to cysts ‘without walls’ described from the Late Oligocene and Early Miocene, and detailed comparisons are made. The ranges of the two species described here are illustrated against regional lithostratigraphic and biostratigraphic schemes.