Lower Cretaceous and Jurassic Ostracods from DSDP Leg 27 A Preliminary Account

The study of Albian sediments at Sites 259, 260, and 263 (22 samples) yielded 16 species of ostracods, of unknown specific and partially generic level.Seven other species, each with only one specimen, could be observed in a sample at Site 261, Core 33 (Oxfordian).The Cretaceous associations are widely dominated by Arculicythere ?sp. A. Other frequent forms are Bairdiids and Indet.sp.A, a species possibly belonging to Robsoniella.These associations suggest deposition in an environment deeper than shelf (except the Oxfordian sample at Site 261, which might be nearshore).Many specimens are strongly corroded, but the associations seem to be mainly in situ (cohabitation of adults and numerous larval stages).