Palaeobiogeography and palaeoecology of Early Cretaceous belemnites from the northern high latitudes

New belemnite finds from the Lower Cretaceous (Berriasian – Hauterivian) of Arctic Canada and North-East Greenland provide insight into the spatial distribution patterns of belemnites at northern high latitudes. The belemnite faunas of both areas can be attributed to the Boreal-Arctic Province of the Boreal Realm. The stratigraphic patchiness of the recorded belemnites makes palaeobiogeographic interpretations problematic. The few specimens from Arctic Canada, which are assigned to Arctoteuthis, suggest a faunal isolation of this area. The belemnite assemblages of North-East Greenland are much richer and more diverse. The Valanginian is here characterized by Arctoteuthis, Pachyteuthis, Acroteuthis, Lagonibelus and Simobelus with Acroteuthis being most common. Genera well known from the Tethys (Hibolithes, Pseudobelus, Duvalia) document immigration from the south. The abundance of Tethyan taxa increases in the Hauterivian.