Article: Dinoflagellate cysts from the Upper Eocene–Lower Oligocene of the Isle of Wight

The Upper Eocene and Oligocene succession of the Isle of Wight, southern England (Headon Beds to Hamstead Beds) has been studied palynologically. Seventy-one forms of dinoflagellate cysts are recorded, including two new genera, Gerdiocysta and Vectidinium, and ten new species, Distatodinium scariosum, Eocladopyxis tessellata, G. conopeum, Glaphyrocystapaupercula, Phelodinium pachyceras, P.pumilum, Phthano-peridinium amiculum, P.flebile, Thalassiphora fenestrata, and V. stoveri. The dinoflagellates (with the exception of Vectidinium) are marine and indicate six marine incursions or partial incursions in the sequence; the mid-Headon Beds, the Oyster Bed of the Bembridge Marls, the Nematura Band, and three episodes of the Upper Hamstead Beds. Correlation with the Paris Basin indicates that the base of the Stampian lies near the Nematura Band.