New crustacean microcoprolites from the Lower Cretaceous (middle Berriasian-lower Valanginian) of the Neuquén Basin, Southern Mendoza, Argentina

Abstract

Three new ichnotaxa of crustacean microcoprolites from the Neuquén Basin, Argentina, are described in this paper: Palaxius rahuensis Kietzmann n. isp. (early Valanginian), Palaxius mendozaensis Kietzmann n. isp. and Palaxius malarguensis Kietzmann n. isp. (middle to late Berriasian). In addition, a Favreina ichnospecies from the late Berriasian - early Valanginian is reported for the first time for the Neuquén Basin. Controls on the microcoprolite distribution could be related to their biostratigraphic position, sedimentary processes, facies distribution, and diagenesis. Changes in microcoprolite diversity may reflect a shallowing facies trend.