Ostracoda of the Holsteinian Interglacial in Jutland, Denmark

Abstract

Ostracoda are described from several marine Holsteinian deposits in Jutland, Denmark. The faunas are extremely uniform all over Jutland. Very little difference is seen between them and the faunas present in Late Elsterian deposits of the same area. They are largely boreal in aspect but contain a few species from warmer realms. With the exception of Callistocythere sp and Semicytherura sp, all the species are extant, though Carinocythereis whitei and Pterygocythereis coronata do not live in Danish inshore waters today. The environment at all the investigated localities was one of open, shallow waters (10-30 m depth) and normal marine salinities. No shallower water facies have as yet been identified. The Holsteinian ostracod faunas of Denmark are analogous to those recorded in North Germany, and show similarities to those reported from Mid-Pleistocene deposits in Great Britain.