Late Albian ammonites from offshore Suriname: implications for biostratigraphy and palaeobiogeography

Two boreholes (1257A, 1258C) drilled during ODP Leg 207 off the continental margin of Suriname have yielded poorly preserved ammonite fragments and juveniles of early Late Albian age. The assemblage is typically Tethyan and consists of Prohysteroceras sp., an indeterminate engonoceratid (possibly Knemiceras sp.), Parengonoceras sp., Goodhallites sp., Kossmatella sp., Laraiceras sp., Hysteroceras cf. varicosum, H. cf. subbinum, Bhimaites sp., Hamites sp. and Mortoniceras (Deiradoceras) cf. exile, all of Hysteroceras varicosum Zone age. The preservation of the ammonites suggests the possibility of fish predation. A brief review is presented of the early Late Albian ammonite zonation in the Tethyan province and its application to successions in southern North America, southern South America and around Africa.