PALEOCENE ISOCRINIDS (ECHINODERMATA, CRINOIDEA) FROM THE KAURU FORMATION, SOUTH-ISLAND, NEW-ZEALAND

Crinoids are reported from the New Zealand Paleocene for the first tim e and include rare articulated columnals and brachia with pinnules. Th ese specimens of Metacrinus sp. (Isocrinidae) are Present in basal, fo ssiliferous, coarse-grained, quartzose sediments of the Kauru Formatio n, a few centimeters above schist basement, in the Kakanui Valley, Nor th Otago. The crinoid-bearing facies Probably represents earliest onla p or a storm surge onto a wave cut Platform; sedimentological and pale ontological evidence indicates a moderate- to high-energy environment. The crinoids were most probably buried rapidly while alive or shortly after death. The presence of isocrinids in the Kauru Formation and yo unger Paleogene strata reveals that the supposed shift of some isocrin ids from a shallower to a deeper environment actually occurred much la ter in the Paleogene, and not the Late Cretaceous as previously suppos ed. Associated molluscs indicate a mid to upper ''Wangaloan'' Stage (l ocal), equivalent to mid Paleocene. A summary of the New Zealand crino id fossil record is presented.