Belemnites from the Lower Jurassic of East Greenland and their biostratigraphical and biogeographical significance

described for the first time. Two belemnite faunas are recognised. The Rzvekl0ft Member yielded Nannobelus, Pseudohastifes, Passaloteuthis?, Gastrobelus? and a hastitid, giving an age of the Lower Pliensbachian Upfonia jamesoni to Prodacrylioceras davoei zones for the molluscan-rich lower faunal division. The Ostreaelv Member yielded Parapassalofeuthis, Acrocoelifes (Toarcibelus), A. (Odonfobe-lus), Simpsonibelus and "Parabrachybeus " representative of a Toarcian Hildoceras bifrons to Haugia variabilis Zone age as previously determined. However, the presence of Parapassalofeuthis gives a oldest age of at least Dacfylioceras commune Subzone, with a loose specimen of a possible juvenile Acrocoelifes trisulculosus suggesting that the Ostreaelv Member may range into the Harpoceras falciferum Zone. The Pliensbachian species are identical to those from western Europe and are the most northerly repre-sentatives of their taxa. The Toarcian species have closest affinity to those of northwest Europe rather than the distinct and endemic Siberian Toarcian belemnite fauna which arose at this time