Scolecodonts and conodonts are described from five samples of three cores from the Svalis Dome, central Barents Sea. The conodont species Mesogondolella rosenkrantzi and Neospathodus svalbardensis confirm latest Permian (Dzulfian) and earliest Triassic (Dienerian) ages for the investigated intervals. Correlation with adjacent conodont distribution indicates a shorter depositional gap in the late Permian than is evident on Svalbard. The conodont elements show little thermal alteration with CAI (colour alteration index) values between 1.0 and 1.5 indicating a maximum burial temperature of 50-90°C. The scolecodonts described herein have important evolutionary and distribution implications for polychaetes: the order Eunicida shows a richer diversification in the Permian than previously known; the family Paulinitidae survived at least until the Late Permian; the family Hartmaniellidae diversified already in the late Palaeozoic; some forms are considered as representatives of unknown species and genera; the order Phyllodocida originated already in the latest Palaeozoic.

Key words: Scolecodonts, Polychaeta, Conodonta, Permian, Triassic, Barents Shelf, Svalbard.

Hans Arne Nakrem [h.a.nakrem@toyen.uio.no], Palaeontological Museum, University of Oslo, Sars gt. 1, N-0562 Oslo, Norway; Hubert Szaniawski [szaniaw@twarda.pan.pl], Instytut Paleobiologii, Polska Akademia Nauk, ul. Twarda 51/55, PL-00-818 Warszawa, Poland; Atle Mørk [atle.mork@iku.sintef.no], SINTEF Petroleum Research, N-7465 Trondheim, Norway.