Lowermost Ordovician (basal Tremadoc) cherts from the Little Port
Complex, western
Newfoundland, contain a distinctive, moderately well-preserved, radiolarian
assemblage. The fauna differs
from those reported from the Arenig, suggesting that some of the earliest
radiolarian forms may have biostratigraphic
potential. The abundance of radiolarians in chert and the ease with which
they can be extracted
suggest that they are a potentially valuable tool for use in investigations
of the timing and development of
early Palaeozoic orogenic systems. A previously undescribed radiolarian
Beothuka terranova sp. nov.,
belonging to a new genus Beothuka gen. nov. and of uncertain
higher-level affinity is formalized herein.