A new monosulcate pollen from the Early Cretaceous of central-western Argentina

Abstract

A new monosulcate species, Shanbeipollenites lagarcitensis sp. nov. is described from the Lower Cretaceous Lagarcito Formation, Sierras de Guayaguas (north-western San Luis Basin), Argentina. Shanbeipollenites lagarcitensis shares with other species of this genus a broadly ellipsoidal outline and a diagonally disposed distal sulcus. However, the new species differs from the psilate type species Shanbeipollenites quadrangulatus and from S. quadratus by the presence of sculptural elements distributed at the equatorial region, close to the opposite ends of the sulcus. The thicker wall, exine separation, much more strongly diagonal offset of the sulcus and the rugulate-verrucate sculpture with an equatorial distribution close to the opposite ends of the sulcus, distinguish this new species and expands the concept of the genus Shanbeipollenites. The presence of two separate exine layers supports its gymnosperm affinity. Furthermore, the occurrence of Shanbeipollenites lagarcitensis in the Albian Lagarcito Formation from mid–latitudes, central–western Argentina constitutes the youngest record of the genus worldwide. This new record expands the biostratigraphical range of the taxon into the Albian.