Studies on New Zealand cenozoic mollusca, including the eocene ...

Part 1 

Part 2 

Plates 

"I, 

STUTIIES ON J')E1,1 ZEl'JJA1JD 

CENOZOIC f.10LLUSCA 

Vohune 2 

Chapter VIII (Gastropoda) 

References

i. 

Class GASTROPODA 

Order ARCHAEOGASTROPODA 

Superfamily PLEUROTOMARIACEA 

Family SCISSURELLIDAE 

Genus Anatoma Woodward 

1859 Froc. zool. Soc. London (1859): 204. 

Type species (by monotypy): Scissurella crispata Fleming, 1828, 

Recent, North Atlantic and North Pacific. 

Synonym (objective): Schizotrochus Monterosato. 

1877 Ann. Mus. Store nat. Genova 9: 416. 

Anatoma n. sp. 

A specimen of !natoma from the Tahu Member lacking the anterior 

portion of the shell but otherwise well-preserved, is the oldest 

record of the genus from New Zealand. It differs from the only 

other local fossil species so far described, A. miocenica (Laws 1939) 

(Otaian, Pakaurangi) in having more strongly convex spire whorls and 

considerably stronger axial and spiral sculpture. Another distinct 

Upper Eocene species is present in the vlaiareka Tuffs at Lome. North 

Otago (Kaiatan). 

LOCALITY: GS 9508, Tahu Member, McCullough's Bridge (Kaiatrul). 

238

240 

time the serrations are in phase on the 2 cords but eventually those 

on the peripheral (anterior) cord become much stronger and far less 

numerous than those on the posterior cord. About 16 broadly tri 

angular, well-spaced peripheral serrations on last whorl with a few 

weak tubercles in the interspaces. Later whorls with a few fine 

spiral threads between and adjacent to the rows of tubercles. The 

fine axial costellae present on early whorls become obsolete on later 

whorls. On last whorl a narrow, sharp cord emerges from the suture 

to form the peribasal keel, accompanied on the base by 9 strong 

spiral cords, the innermost skirting the inner lip. Fine threads 

are present just below the peribasal keel and in the interstices of 

the basal spirals. Aperture rhomboidal, columella gently concave, 

sloping to right. Inner lip with a narrow nacreous callus band, 

basal lip almost horizontal, meeting inner lip at about 110 0 • Outer 

lip thin, prosocline, gently opisthocyrt, inclined at about 20 0 to 

vertical. Parietal region without callus, basal spirals extending 

well within aperture. 

DIMENSIONS OF HOLUrYPE: Height 9.9, greatest diameter 16.5 rom. 

HOLOTYPE: N.Z. Geological Survey. 

TYPE LOCALITY: GS 9508, Tahu Member, McCullough's Bridge (Kaiatan). 

LOCALITIES: GS 9508 (holotype and 1 paratype, an apical fragment); 

GS 9480, McCullough's Bridge (1 paratype). 

REMARKS: The affinities of this beautifully sculptured shell were 

puzzling until Dr A.G. Beu pointed out its similarity to Benthastelena 

katherina Iredale, a rare deep-water Recen-t species from New South 

Wales. The,two species in fact agree closely in size, shell form, 

sculptural features (particularly the serrated peripheral keel) and 

apertural details and are almost certainly congeneric. The peripheral

around the umbilicus, crenulating its border. About 35 axials on 

penultimate whorl. Little or no change where axials and spirals 

243 

intersect. Aperture damaged in all specimens, apparently subcircular 

with a thin, strongly prosocline outer lip. Inner lip thin, only 

weakly angled abapically where the umbilical border impinges. 

Umbilicus moderately wide, steep-sided, border subangled, sharply 

crenulated by axial plicae, but lacking a definite circum-umbilical 

cord. 

Dll'IENSIONS OF HOLOTYPE: Height 4.9, greatest diameter 5.7 rom 

(largest specimens measure about 9 x 10 mm). 


TYPE LOCALITY: as 11,200, Kapua Tuffs, \{aihae R. (Kaiatan). (Holo- 

type and 29 paratypes; also numerous, largely decorticated specimens 

not designated paratypes). 

REMARKS: Zeminolia kapuaensis differs from other species of the 

genus, both fossil and living, in its larger size and less depressed 

spire. However, the bulbous nucleus of the protoconch, the well 

rounded teleoconch whorls, the nature of the spiral and axial 

sculpture and the umbilical features all indicate relationship with 

the living species Z. semireticulata (Suter 1908). Oddly enough, 

it is less like the mid-Cenozoic species Z. fossa Laws 1932 (Dun 

troonian, \V'harekuri), Z. venusta Maxwell 1969 (Waitakian, Otekaike) 

and Z. carinata Laws 1935 (Altonian, Awamoa Ck). These form a 

compact little group of shells distinguished mainly by their strongly 

shouldered teleoconch whorls and absence of basal spirals on the last 

whorl. 

Zeminolia kapuaensis is the oldest known species of the genus.

1927 Trans. N.Z. Inst. 57: 359. 

Genus Zetela Finlay 

Type species (original designation): Minolia textilis Nurdoch & 

Suter, 1906, Recent, New Zealand. 

Zetela vulcania n.sp. PI. 3, fig. 35. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell small, turbiniform, spire 0.5 total height. 

Protoconch small, of 11 smooth whorls, nucleus bulbous. Teleoconch 

of 5 whorls, first whorl or so convex, later whorls sharply angled 

medially and strongly shouldered abapically, producing an almost 

horizontal sutural shelf. Last whorl contracted quickly over gently 

convex base, periphery sharply keeled. Spiral sculpture consisting 

primarily of 3 narrow cords commencing on about second whorl of teleo 

conch, one marking the shoulder, another margining the lower suture 

and the strongest the median keel. Interstitial threads may be 

present on later whorls. On last whorl the supra sutural cord 

emerges as the peripheral keel, joined on base by 4 somewhat weaker 

cords, the innermost bordering the umbilicus. Interstitial threads 

may be present between basal cords. Axial sculpture consisting of 

distant, thin, low, slightly prosocline lamellae which reach from 

suture to suture on spire but are reduced to low threads on base. 

About 30 lamellae on penUltimate whorl. Sharp prickles formed at 

intersections of spirals and axial lamellae on spire, basal cords 

finely beaded, umbilical border finely crenulated. Umbilicus 

moderately wide and steep with a few weak beaded spirals within. 

Aperture damaged in all specimens, apparently rounded-subquadrate, 

weakly angled abapically by umbilical border. Parietal callus thin, 

outer lip weakly prosocline. 

244

DINENSIONS OF HOLOTYPE: Height 6.4, greatest diameter 6.3 rom. 

HOLOTYFE: N.Z. Geological Survey. 

TYPE LOCALITY: as 11,200, Kapua Tuffs, Waihao R. (Kaiatan). 

LOCALITIES: as 11,200 (holotype and 7 paratypes); as 9481, Lorne 

(Kaiatan) (1 paratype). 

245 

REMARKS: Zetela vulcania is similar to Z. hutchinsoniana Laws,1939 

(Otaian, Pakaurangi), differing in having the spire whorls keeled 

medially instead of at about abapical two thirds, scarcely impressed 

sutures and a less convex base. Laws (1939: 476) based his species 

on a juvenile shell (height 1.5 rom) with only 20 axial lamellae on 

the last whorl; a much larger topotype (height 4.0 mm) has about 30 

lamellae on both penultimate and last whorl, as in the Eocene species. 

Z. vulcania and hutchinsoniana differ from species like .Z • .:eraetextilis 

(Suter 1911) (Duntroonian, Castle Hill Basin), Z. awamoana Laws 1939 

(Altonian, North Otago) and Z. textilis in having more elevated 

spires, keeled rather than convex whorls and fewer but stronger spirals. 

They somewhat resemble species of the genus Calliotropis Seguenza 1903 

(type species Trochus otto! Philippi 1844, Pliocene-Pleistocene, Italy) 

but the latter have large shells with more sharply angled periphery and 

rhomboidal rather than rounded subquadrate aperture. In addition, the 

sculpture in Calliotropis consists of spiral rows of rubercles rather 

than discrete axial lamellae intersecting spiral cords and forming 

prickles at the junctions. It is worth noting in this respect that 

typical Calliotropis is recorded from the Kaiatan of the Buller Gorge 

(as 3301, Inangahua-Westport Rd). 

Zetela vulcania appears to be related to "Solariella" albalitus 

MacNeil, 1960 from the Pliocene Chinen Sand of Okinawa, a species that 

MacNeil (1960: 24) considered to be close to S. amabilis Jeffreys,

?Conominolia n.ap. B 

241 

Specimens of a distinctive small trochid from the Tahu Member, 

McCullough's Bridge are referred tentatively to Conominolia. Diag- 

nostic features include the strongly shouldered whorls producing a 

broad, almost horizontal sutural platform that persists throughout 

growth and the spiral sculpture of numerous narrow, raised cords over 

whole of teleoconch. The stronger cords are finely beaded or crenu 

lated but there is no definite axial sculpture. The umbilicus is 

moderately wide, bordered by a spiral cord slightly stronger than the 

other basal spirals and bears several beaded cords within. The 

largest specimen measureS about 1.5 x 10 mm. Unfortunately, all of 

the available specimens are crushed and somewhat decorticated, so no 

name is proposed until better material becomes available. 

LOCALITY: GS 9508, Tahu Member, McCullough's Bridge (Kaiatan). 

Family TURBlNlDAE 

Subfamily ASTRAElNAE 

Genus Bolma Risso 

1826 Rist. Nat. Europe Merid. 4= 111. 

Type species (by monotypy): Turbo rugosa Linnaeus, 1158, Recent, 

Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic. 

Synonym (fide A.G. Beu, pers. corom.): lncilaster Finlay. 

1921 Trans. N.Z. lnst. 51: 361. 

Type species (original designation): Turbo marshalli Thomson, 1908, 

Oligocene, New Zealand. 

The synonymy of Bolma is discussed in detail by Beu and Ponder (in 

press).

Bolma(?) sp. 

248 

Specimens of a highly fragile depressed astraeine with solid 

columella and apparently rather short spines are not uncommon in the 

upper part of the Ngapuke Member (probably Kaiatan) at McCullough's 

Bridge, but none have so far been collected. A few small opercula 

which may belong with this species are present in collections from 

McCullough's Bridge. None were collected from the Tabu Member 

during the present study but one was found washed out on the outcrop 

just above the cemented band, probably derived from the Ngapuke 

Member. The opercula closely resemble those of Bolma marshall! 

(Whaingaroan, Kakanui) but are less elliptical with more prominent 

wrinkles on the inner face. 

Bolma. 

They may represent a new speoies of 

LOCALITIES: McCullough's Bridge: GS 1986 (1 operculum); GS 9480 

(1 operculum). 

Family SKENEIDAE 

Use of the name Skeneidae instead of Cyclostrematidae follows 

Taylor & Sohl (1962: 13). 

Genus Brookula Iredale 

1912 Froc. malac. Soc. London 10: 219. 

Type species (original designation): Brookula stibarochila Iredale, 

1912, Recent, Kermadec Is. 

Clarke (1961: 354-5) proposed the subgenus Benthobrookula 

Ltype species: B. (Benthobrookula) exquisita Clarke, 1961, Recent, 

S. Atlanti£7 for a number of deep-water skeneids that differ from 

stibarochila in having a relatively large protoconch, axial costae of

umbilicus. Aperture ovate, peristome barely continuous, very thin 

in parietal region. Outer lip thin, weakly prosocline, inner lip 

feebly expanded in umbilical region. 

DIMENSIONS OF HOLOTYPE: Height 1.4, greatest diameter 1.0 rom. 


TYPE LOCALITY: GS 9508, Tahu Member, McCullough's Bridge (Kaiatan) 

(holotype and 2 paratypes, one of which is subadul t). 

REMARKS: Differs from species like L. exigua (Suter 1917) (Altonian, 

Oamaru district) and L. beta Laws 1939 (Otaian, Pakaurangi) in its 

more elevated spire and the presence of spiral sculpture. The 

general facies of the shell is, in fact, more reminiscent of Notosetia 

aoteana Powell 1937 (Recent, northernmost New Zealand), a species that 

Ponder (1965: 103) considered only "doubtfully congener.ic" wHh Noto 

setia neozelanica (Suter 1898), the type species of Notosetia Iredale 

1915. 

Genus Submargarita Strebel 

1908 Wiss. Ergebn. Schwed. Sudpolar-Exp. 6(1?: 75. 

Type species (by monotypy): Submargarita impervia Strebel, 1908. 

Recent, Antarctic. 

Synonym (fide Dell 1972: 33)= Lissotestella Powell. 

1946 Rec. Auck. lnst. Mus. 3: 140. 

Type species (original designation): Lissotesta tenuilirata Powell, 

1931, Recent, New Zealand. 

SUbmargarita primitiva n.sp. Pl. 17, fig. 229. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell minute, turbinate, spire 0.5 total height. 

Protoconch of 1! smooth whorls, nucleus bulbous. Teleoconch of 3 

251

There are also differences in teleoconch sculpture between the two 

groupSt Miopila having lower, more rounded spiral cords and rather 

256 

subdued axials which are often evident only where they gemmulate the 

spirals. 

Cerithium cribarioides Tenison-Woods 1879 (Balcombian, Middle 

1

emainder of base and neck. Axial sculpture consisting of narrow, 

251 

low, sharply defined opisthocyrt costae with broad, flat interspaces 

reaching from suture to suture on spire whorls, stopping at peribasal 

keel on last whorL 20-33 costae on penultimate whorl of largest 

specimens. Intersections of spiral cords and axial costae gemmulate. 

Weak growth lines make up rest of axial sculpture. Aperture ovate, 

siphonal canal open, rather short, twisted to left. Columella 

gently concave above, a weak ridge at inception of canal. Inner lip 

narrowly and rather thinly callused, not flaring; outer lip apparently 

thin. 

DIMENSIONS OF HOLOTYPE: Height (slightly incomplete) 21.6, greatest 

diameter 4.9 mID. (Fragmentary specimens indicate that this species 

may attain a height of at least 35 mm). 


TYPE LOCALITY: GS 9480, McCullough's Bridge, probably from Tuhu 

Member (Kaiatan). 

LOCALITIES: as 9480 (holotype and 1 paratype); GS 9508 (12 para 

types); as 1986 (1 paratype); R.S. Allan ColIn (1 paratype). 

RENARKS: Records of Cerithiella (or Zaclys) tricincta Marshall, 1919 

from McCullough's Bridge probably refer to this species. C. tricincta, 

which was described from Hampden (Bortonian), has more rounded tel eo 

conch whorls and weaker axial sculpture than C. aoteana and is probably 

referable to the new genus Waikakahia described below.

the rather indistinct suture, and on the last whorl or SOt threads 

259 

appear between the primaries. On the last whorl the supramargining 

cord emerges as the peribasal spiral, accompanied by a weaker cord 

immediately below and numerous fine grooves extending across the base 

onto the upper part of the neck. Axial sculpture consisting of low, 

rounded orthocline to weakly opisthocline costae reaching from suture 

to suture on. spire, strongest just above lower suture and weakening 

posteriorly, not extending onto base of last whorl. Interspaces con- 

cave, equal to or somewhat wider than ribs. 15-16 costae on pen- 

lutimate whorl. Spirals override costae with distinct gemmulation 

at intersections. Aperture ovate, columella gently concave above, 

twisted to left below to form short siphonal canal. Inner lip callus 

projecting in front of columella, outer lip thin, slightly opistho- 

cline. 

Greatest 

DIMENSIONS (rom): Height diameter 

Holotype 20.0 6.0 (estimated) 

Paratype (R.S. Allan ColIn) 19.9 (lacks apex) 6.5 


TYPE LOCALITY: GS 9508, Tabu l1ember, McCullough's Bridge (Kaiatan). 

LOCALITIES: GS 9508 (holotype and 1 incomplete paratype); 

R.S. Allan ColIn, McCullough's Bridge (1 paratype). 

REMARKS: The Hampden (Bortonian) species Cerithiella tricincta 

Marshall, 1919 may be related to Waikakahia scitula, but the holotype 

and para type of tricincta both lack the aperture and apex so generic 

assignment is uncertain. C. tricincta is more finely sculptured than 

w. sci tula.

1927 Trans. N.Z. Inst. 57: 382. 

Genus Notoseila Finlay 

264 

Type species (original designation): Cerithium terebelloides Hutton, 


Synonym: Notoseila Allan 

1926 Trans. N.Z. Inst. 57: 291. 

Type species (monotypy): Sella attenuissima Marshall & Murdoch, 1920, 

Middle-Upper Eocene, New Zealand. 

(ICZN Opinion pending; see Beu et ale 1969). 

Notoseila (Notoseila) n.ap. A. 

A young shell from GS 9508 superficially resembles Notoseila 

(Eoseila) gage! n. sp. (described below) but has a smaller protoconch 

with 3 smooth whorls remaining. The teleconch spiral sculpture is 

similar to that of N. gagei, but the growth lines are much weaker, 

less strongly prosocline posteriorly and considerably straighter. 

The smooth, cylindrical protoconch indicates that this specimen 

belongs to Notoseila s.str. 

DIMENSIONS: Height 3.0, greatest diameter 0.85 rom. 

Subgenus Eoseila nov. 

Type species: Notoseila (Eoseila) gagei n.sp., Upper Eocene, New 

Zealand. 

Eoseila is proposed for highly attenuate cerithiopsids with 

teleoconch sculpture like that of Notoseila s.str. but differing in 

protoconch features. Notoseila terebelloides ha.s a cylindrical 

protoconch of about 4 smooth, polished whorls; the new subgenus 

also has a cylindrical protoconch, probably with considerably more

gently concave posteriorly, twisted to left below to form short 

siphonal canaL Inner lip thinly callused, outer lip damaged. 

DIMENSIONS (rom): 

Holotype (incomplete) 

Paratype (lacking tip 

of protoconch) 


Height 

110 1 

9.1 

Greatest diameter 

2.6 

266 

TYPE LOCALITY: GS 9508, Tabu Nember, McCullough's Bridge (Kaiatan) 

(holotype and 1 paratype). 

REH.AR.KS : Differs from Notoseila (Eoseila) attenuissima in its 

larger size, having the 2 lower spirals noticeably stronger than the 

posterior one rather than all tending to be of similar strength, more 

rounded spirals, and larger, differently sculptured protoconch. 

Notoseila clifdenensis Laws, 1941 (Altonian, Clifden) has 

similar adult spiral sculpture to N. gagei, but has a smooth, 6- 

whorled cylindrical protoconch and stronger growth-lines. 

Notoseila (Eoseila) attenuissima (Marshall & Murdoch 1920) 

1920 Sella attenuissima Narshall & 11urdoch; T.N.Z.I. 52: 129; 

1'1. 6, fig. 2. 

1926 Notoseila attenuissima; Allan, T. N .Z.I. 51: 291- 

1927 Notoseila{?l attenuissima; Finlay, T.N.Z.I. 51: 382, 385· 

1966 Notoseila attenuissima; Fleming, N.Z. D.S.I.R. Bull. 173: 48. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell very small, aciculate, t'Urriculate. Protoconch 

cylindrical, 3 whorls remaining in most complete example, sculptured 

by narrow, opisthocyrt costellae reaching from suture to suture. 

Teleoconch of at least 15 whorls, almost straight-sided except for 

3 prominent narrow spiral keels. Last whorl sharply contracted over

267 

base to very short neck, peri basal keel well-marked. Sutures almost 

invisible. Spiral sculpture commencing as 2 narrow, sub equal , 

strongly raised cords of squarish section, one at middle of whorl, 

the other just above the lower suture. A third cord appears on the 

3rd whorl, apparently developing from a weak subsutural swelling; by 

the 10th whorl of the holotype it is similar in strength to the two 

primaries. 

basal keel. 

On last whorl a narrow, rounded cord emerges as the peri- 

Growth lines extremely faint. Aperture apparently sub- 

quadrate, columella with a strong twist to left at inception of the 

short siphonal canal, marked by a narrow rounded plait. Inner lip 

thinly callused, outer lip broken on all examples. 

DlliBNSION OF HOLOTYPE: Height (lacking tip of protoconch) 6.4, 

greatest diameter 1.2 mm. 

HOLOTYPE: TM 4951, N.Z. Geological Survey. 

TYPE LOCALITY: Hampden Beach, North Otago (Bartonian), collected 

P. Marshall. 

LOCALITIES: Hampden (holotype); McCullough's Bridge - GS 9480 (2 

damaged shells); GS 9508 (1 young shell retaining last 3 whorls of 

protoconch) (Kaiatan). 

STRATIGRAPHIC RANGE: Bortonian-Kaiatan. 

REMARKS: The McCullough's Bridge shells have the posterior spiral 

cord remaining somewhat weaker than the primaries throughout growth, 

but in other respects they closely resemble the holotype and are here 

considered conspecific.

TYPE LOCALITY: GS 642, NcCullough' s :Sri dge. 

LOCALITIES: McCullough's Bridge (common in all collections from 

Tahu Member); GS 11,200, Kapua Tuffs (five specimens) (Kaiatan); 

Waihao Downs (Allan, 1926c: 289) (Bortonian); S111/f686, Pareora 

. River (Bartonian); GS 578, Kakahu (Bartonian). 


REMARKS: The Kapua Tuff shells are similar to specimens from the 

Tahu Member, though the 3 primaries tend to be stronger and more 

270 

equal in strength on early whorls compared with topotypes. In view 

of the considerable variation noted in vlaihaoensis, they are con 

sidered to be conspecific. 

Spirocolpus tophinus (Marwick, 1926), originally described 

from Lorne (Kaiatan) and recorded as late as Duntroonlan (1. e. Shell 

Gully, Chat ton) is very similar to S. waihaoensis but has the B 

primary much weaker (quite obsolete in most shells) and secondary and 

tertiary spirals almost completely absent.

1927 Trans. N.Z. Inst. 57: 388. 

Genus Zeacolpus Finlay 

Type species (original designation): Turritella vittata Hutton, 


Zeacolpus lornensis (Marl1ick, 1926). PI. 11, fig. 124. 

1926 Ttrrritella lornensis Marwick; T.N.Z.I. 56: 313, pl. 72, fig. 

20. 

1927 Zeacolpus lornens.i.s; Finlay, T.N.Z.I. 57: 388. 

1957 Zeacolpus lornensis; Harwick, N.Z.G.S. Pal. Bull. 27: 16. 

1966 Zeacolpus lornensis; Fleming, N.Z. D.S.I.R. Bull. 113: 45, 

pl. 74, fig. 812. 

1971 Zeacolpus lornensis; Harwick, N.Z.G.S. Pal. Bull. 44= 21, 

pl. 1, pl. 2, fig. 8, pl. 16, figs. 8, 9. 

DIAGNOSIS: A small thin-shelled peacolpus with early teleoconch 

whorls strongly angled or occasionally convex, later whorls moderately 

convex. Spiral sculpture rather weale, B primary dominant throughout 

except on last whorl or so where C rivals it in strength. 

DIMENSIONS OF HOLOTYPE: Height 14, greatest diameter 6 rom. 


TYPE LOCALITY: as 1100, Waiareka Tuffs, hillside near Lorne (Le. 

Williams Bluff), North Otago (Kaiatan). 

LOCALITIES: Lorne; McCullough's Bridge (common in all COllections) 

(Kaiatan); Trig M, Totara, North Otago (Runangan) (Harwick 1911: 21); 

GS 11,214, Bridge Pt, Kakanui (Runangan). Also recorded by Marwick 

(1971: 21) from as 3359, tuffs, Coleridge Creek, Castle Hill Basin 

(?Whaingaroan) • 

271

274 

striolata" and suggested that they "may represent a separate species 

or merely an extreme morphological type in the sublaevis population". 

Study of about 40 Pareora from GS 9508 leaves little doubt that the 

latter possibility is correct; most shells have 1 or 2 weak lirae on 

early whorls, becoming quite obsolete on later whorls, whereas in 

others they persist onto the last whorl, usually accompanied by finer 

secondary spirals. In other respects, i.e. general shell form, 

whorl convexity and protoconch details the smooth and sculptured forms 

are indistinguishable. 

An undescribed species closely similar to P. sublaevis is 

present in Mangaorapan tuffs with the orbitoid Asterocyclina speighti 

(Chapman) in White Ck, near Oxford, North Canterbury. This is the 

oldest record of the genus. 

The writer (1966: 446) noted that P. sublaevis appears to be 

very similar to Mesalia stylacris Tate, 1892, from the Upper Eocene 

of Blanche Pt, South Australia. Cotton and Woods (1935: 382) and 

Garrard (1972: 330) refer stylacris to Pareora, but Darragh (1970: 

196) includes it in Sigmesalia. 

Superfamily STROMBlFORMACEA (= Eulimacea) 

Family STROMBlFORJ.'VfIDAE (== Eulimidae) 

Dell (1956b: 18-80) has discussed the nomenclatural problems 

surrounding the genera Eulima Risso, 1826, Melanella Bowdich, 1822 

and Strombiformis da Costa, 1778. He concluded that Eulima is a 

junior objective synonym of Strombiformis, &! unfortunate fact in 

view of the long currency of the name Eulima among molluscan workers 

and its obvious superiority on the count of euphony. Mel anella , 

which has been more widely used than Strombiformis, is apparently

Strombiformis sutcliffei n.sp. Pl. 17, fig. 230. 

ETYMOLOGY: Named for the late Prof. Robin Sutcliffe Allan. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell very small, elongate-ovate, spire cyrtoconoid, 

0.6 total height. Protoconch subcylindrical, of 2! gently convex 

polished whorls, nucleus rather bulbous. Teleoconch scarcely dis- 

tinguishable from protoconch, consisting of 5 gently convex whorls, 

sutures distinct, slightly impressed. La.st whorl contracted 

gradually, periphery with a very subdued and rounded subangulation, 

277 

base almost flat. No sculpture apart from weak growth striae, whorls 

highly polished. Aperture large, ovate, colmuella slightly oblique, 

straight. Inner lip with thin callus in parietal region, outer edge 

in anterior portion marked by a sharp ridge that is conUmlOus with 

the basal portion of the outer lip and merges with the upper part of 

the columella. Outer lip thin, very gently sinuous. 

DIMENSIONS OF HOLOTYPE: Height 4.0, greatest diameter 1.3 mm. 


TYPE LOCALITY: 

(one specimen). 

GS 9508, Tahu Member, McCullough's Bridge (Kaiatan) 

REMARKS: Similar to Balcis lentocontracta Laws, 1941 (Otaian or 

Altonian, Pakaurangi) but with less produced last whorl, slightly more 

convex spire whorls and more distinct sutures. Both species are 

possibly referrable to the genus Rostreulima Cossmann, 191; (type 

species, Eulima lata Briart and Cornet, Paleocene, Denmark). 

Strombiformis arnoensis n.sp. PI. 4, fig. 41. 

DESCRIPTION:. Shell very small, subulate, spire high, weakly cyrtoco- 

noid. Shell axis straight or very feebly curved. Protoconch sub- 

cylindrical of about 3 smooth, weakly convex whorls, not well

278 

differentiated from teleoconch. Teleoconch of about 8 whorls, spire 

whorls almost flat-sided, last whorl contracted evenly over base, 

periphery well-rounded with only the feeblest indication of a sub- 

angulation. sutures flush, very thin but fairly distinct. No 

sculpture apart from weak groove-like varices at irregular intervals. 

Aperture ovate, rather constricted posteriorly, rounded in front. 

Columella almost vertical, very gently concave, thickened at upper 

end. Parietal callus thin, outer edge straight, sharply defined. 

Outer lip thin, opisthocline, weakly concave posteriorly, strongly 

convex below. 




(holotype and two paratypes). 

REMARKS: Baleis kaiparaensis Laws, 1939 (Otaian or Altonian, 

Pakaurangi) is very similar to S. arnoensis, differing chiefly in its 

more broadly conical protoconch and less slender shell. s. arnoensis 

is readily distinguished from small specimens of s. waihaoensis by its 

more slender shell which is weakly cyrtoconoid rather than conica.l, 

more cylindrical protoconch, more rounded periphery and more flexuous 

outer lip.

1868 Amer. J. Conch. 4= 146. 

Superfamily STROMBACEA 

Family APORRHAIDAE 

Genus Dicroloma Gabb 

Type species (original designation): Pterocera 10rierei d'Orbigny, 

1847, Middle Jurassic, France. 

Dicro10ma (s.l.) ze1andica Marshall v 1919. Plo 11, figs. 122, 125. 

1919 Dicrolo!Jla zelandica Marshall; T.N.Z.I. 51: 228-9. Pl. 15, 

fig. 16. 

1920 Dicroloma zelandica; Marshall & Murdoch, T.N.Z.I. 52: 130. 

PI. 1, fig. 1 3 . 

1966 Dicroloma zelandica; Fleming, N.Z. D.S.I.R. Bull. 113: 51. 

REDESCRIPTION: Shell of moderate size, basically elongate-ovate in 

fonn, but greatly modified in adults by apertural processes. Proto- 

conch not definitely distinguishable from teleoconch, but if taken as 

ending at commencement of spiral sculpture, it consists of 4 smooth, 

strongly convex whorls with a small, slightly depressed nucleus which 

gives the apex a flattened appearance. Remaining whorls (5-6 in 

adults) strongly and evenly convex at first, developing a weak median 

angulation on the 5th whorl. Last whorl of subadult shel18 with a 

sharply defined peribasal angulation, base gently convex, neck short. 

On last whorl of adult shells the whorl diameter increases abruptly, 

at which point the median and peribasal angulations develop into 

sharp, strong keels, although the whorl profile otherwise becomes 

more rounded. Spiral SCUlpture commencing as 1 or 8 fine, rounded, 

subequal cords, with interstitial threads appearing during growth. 

On 5th whorl one cord becomes stronger than the others and marks the 

280

median angulation, eventually passing into the strong posterior keel 

on last whorl. On last whorl of subadult shells, the peribasal 

angulation is marked by a comparatively strong cord that becomes the 

anterior keel on adult shells. Base of last whorl with about 8 low 

cords with some interstitial threads, the upper 4 or so relatively 

strong, the others weak. Axial sculpture commencing at about the 

same stage as the spirals, consisting initially of weak, almost 

straight, strongly prosocline threads that quickly become almost 

orthocline then strongly opisthocyrt costellae, reaching from suture 

to suture on spire whorls, but stopping abruptly at peribasal 

angulation on last whorl of subadult shells and becoming obsolete on 

last or penUltimate whorl of adult shells. Aperture moderately 

large, columella vertical, almost straight, probably very short in 

subadul t shells, but produced anteriorly in adults to form a long, 

narrow, open siphonal canal that curves slightly to the left. Inner 

lip with thin callus glaze in young shells, moderately callused In 

adults. Outer lip probably thin and simple with a broad, deep, 

arcuate sinus posteriorly in subadult shells, but considerably 

thickened and bearing 2 prominent digitations corresponding to the 

keels, in adult shells. Posterior digitation directed away from, 

and slightly behind the aperture, anterior digitation directed forwards. 

Both digitations similar in length to siphonal canal and bearing a 

shallow longitudinal groove along inner face. 

DIMENSIONS (mm): Height 

Holotype 28 

Hypotype (Hampden) 22.3 

281 

Greatest diameter (including 

spines) 

23.5 (estimated) 

20·5 

HOLOTYPE: TM 5130; hypotype (Marshall and Murdoch 1920: Pl. 7, fig. 

13), TM 5131, N.Z. Geological Survey. 

TYPE LOCALITY: Hampden Beach, North Otago (Bortonian).

of the calyptraeid Maoricrypta (Zeacrypta) sp. occupying a similar 

284 

position in Polinices shells and it seems possible that in both cases 

the calyptraeid actually lived in the small space available between 

the shell and host animal. Crepidula, a northern hemisphere genus 

related to ZeacrYpta, occasionally inhabits living Polinices in this 

way (see Buschbaum and Milne, 1960: 180). 

Family TRICHOTROPIDAE 

Genus Miplioderma Laws 

1940 Trans. Roy. Soc. N.Z. 70(1)= 53. 

Type species (original designation): Cerithioderma (Miplioderma) 

mangarewa Laws, 1940, Pliocene, New Zealand. 

Subgenus Eosirius Maxwell 

1966 N.Z. Jour. Geol. Geophys. 9(4): 451- 

Type species (original designation): Eosirius admeteformis Maxwell, 

1966, Upper Eocene, New Zealand. 

Eosirius was proposed for a small trichotropid from McCullough's 

Bridge that closely resembles Miplioderma in teleoconch features, but 

has a distinctive protoconch that is initially planorboid and smooth, 

later becoming helicoid and developing spiral lirae. In species of 

Miplioderma the protoconch is of rather similar shape but is smooth 

throughou t. Although it was originally proposed as a full genus, 

Eosirius is so similar in teleoconch features to Miplioderma that it 

is more aptly regarded as a subgenus. The writer (1966: 451) 

suggested that certain small trlchotropids ...,ith lira.te protoconchs, 

described by Tate (1890) from Upper Eocene greensands in the Adelaide 

Bore, South Australia, vlere possibly congeneric \vi th admeteformis,

27.5, greatest diameter (crushed) 16 mm. 

LOCALITY: GS 3274, glauconitic siltstone 32 ft (9.75 m) above 

288 

cemented band, NcCullough's Bridge (Le. Highcliff Siltstone r1ember - 

Kaiatan), collected H. vi. Wellman. 

Family TRIVIIDAE 

The Ne\., Zealand members of this family have recently been 

revised by Cernohorsky (1971a). The writer disagrees with many of 

Cernohorsky's conclusions but only a few of the more relevant points 

are discussed here. 

Subfamily ERATOINAE 

Genus Lachryma Sowerby 

1832 Conch. Illust.; Cat. Cypraeadae: 15-16. 

Type species (by tautonomy): Erato lachryma SO\.,rerby, 1832, Recent, 

south-east Australia. 

Synonyms: Sulcerato Finlay. 

1930 Trans. N.Z. Inst. 61: 40-1. 

Type species (original designation): Erato (Eratopsis) illota Tate, 

1890, Pliocene, Victoria, Australia. 

Cypraeerato Schilder 

1932 Foss. Cat. 1(55): 85. 

Type species (original designation): Erato bimaculata Tate, 1878, 

Recent, south-east Australia. 

(fide Cernohorsky 1968): Eratoena Iredale. 

1935 Aust. Zool. 8: 97. 

Type species (original designation): OVUlU.lIl corrugatum Hinds, 1845

Lachryrna cf. vulcania (Marwick, 1926) 

1926 Erato vulcania Marwick; T.N.Z.I. 56: 314, Pl. 12, fig. 25. 

1932 Erato (Proterato) vulcania; Schilder, Foss. Cat. 1(55)= 84. 

290 

1933 Proterato vulcania; Schilder, Proc. Malac. Soc. Lond. 20(5): 

248. 

1935 Erato vulcania; Laws, T.R.S.N.Z. 65(1)= 19. 

1938 Proterato vulcania; Powell, T.R.S.N.Z. 68(3): 372. 

1966 Proterato vulcania; Fleming., N.Z. D.S.I.R. Bull. 173: 53, Pl. 

90, fig. 1070. 

1971 Proterato (Proterato) vulCCLl1ia; Schilder & Schilder, rnst. 

Roy. Sci. Nat. Mem. (2) 85: 12. 

1971 LachrJrn!a (Proterato) vulcania; Cernoho'rsky, H.A.I.M. 8: 101. 

DIAGNOSIS: A small, narrowly ovate eratoine with ver.J depressed 

spire. Aperture narrow, outer lip weakly denticulate, hmer lip 

with weak denticles on anterior third or so where apertural edge of 

fossula is well-defined. 

DIMENSIONS (mm): 

Holotype 

Hypotype (GS 9508) 

Height 

4.3 ' 

3.1 



TYPE LOCALITY: GS 1100, Waiareka Tuffs, hillside near Lorne, North 

Otago (Kaiatan). 

LOCALITIES: Lorne (GS 1100, GS 9481 - common); Trig. M, Totara, 

North Otago (Laws 1935: 19) (Runangan); GS 9508, Tahu Member, 

McCUllough's Bridge (one specimen) (Kaiatan). 

STRATIGRAPHIC RAlTGE: Ka.iatan-Runangan. 

REMARKS: The Waihao shell agrees closely with some individuals of 

2.9 

2.2

specimens, one of which is badly crushed). 

REMARKS: The figured specimen agrees closely with the holotype in 

293 

general shell form, spire height and apertural shape, but differs in 

having 2 plications, one of which is bifid, at the base of the 

columella, and denticles along the whole length of the inner lip. 

These differences are considered to be due to infraspecific variation. 

The relationship of Proterato (Archierato) accola to P. anti qua 

(Marshall) is discussed below. 

Proterato (Archierato) anti9.ua (Marshall; 1919). PI. 4, fig. 48. 

1919 Erato antigua Marshall; T.N.Z.I. 51: 227. Pl. 15, fig. 7. 

1926 Erato antiqua; Allan, T.N.Z.I. 57: 291. 

1932 Erato (Archierato) antiqua; Schilder, Foss. Cat. 1(55): 83. 

1933 Archierato antigua; Schilder, Proe. Malac. Soc. Lond. 20(5): 

260. 

1935 Erato antiqua; Laws, T.R.S.N.Z. 65(1): 18. 

1938 Archierato antiqua; Powell, T.R.S.N.Z. 68(3): 372. 

1941 Proterato (Proterato) antiqua; Schilder, Arch. Moll. 73: 68. 

1966 Archierato antiqua; Fleming, N.Z. D.S.LR. Bull. 173: 52. 

1971 Proterato (Proterato) antiqua; Schilder & Schilder, Inst. Roy. 

Scl. Nat. Mem. (2)85: 12. 

1971 Lachryma (Proterato) antiqua; Cernohorsky, R.A.I.M. 8: 106. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell small, smooth, ovate, spire very depressed, 

sutures obscured by callus, last whorl large. Aperture narrow, 

slightly curved, lips almost parallel. Fossula broad, well-defined, 

concave anteriorly, flat or gently convex above. Base of inner lip 

damaged on holotype, McCullough's Bridge shells with a moderately 

strong terminal ridge and, in 2 specimens, a weaker, short, oblique 

ridge a short distance above. About 11-12 weak denticles along

narrow oblique fold at the base of the inner lip and a much weaker 

plication immediately above. No denticles on inner lip, but holotype 

296 

wi th a distinct ridge which according to Laws runs "along its entire 

length", marking the edge of the fossula. On the topotypes, this 

ridge is distinct on anterior half of lip where the fossula is flat 

or feebly concave, but obsolete above where the fossula is likewise 

ill-defined. Outer lip much thickened by a heavy, broad varix, inner 

edge with narrow denticles which normally extend along whole length 

but are almost completely obsolete except at anterior end in one topo 

type. Holotype with about 16 denticles, ffinall topotypes with 11-12 

denticles. 


Holotype 



HOLOTYPE: Auckland Institute and Nuseum, ex C.R. Laws ColIn. 

TYPE LOCALITY: NcCullough's Bridge, probably from Tahu Member 

(Kaiatan) • 

LOCALITIES: GS 9508, Tahu Member, McCullough's Bridge (three small 

specimens) • 

REMARKS: The affinities of this species are not clear and it is 

only tentatively referred to Archierato. The relatively high spire, 

excavated inner lip and lack of labial denticles suggest relationship 

to Erato Eukeuriensis Laws, 1935 (Altonian, North OtagO-Sollth Canterbury 

and Northland) but Eukeuriensis has the fossula almost completely 

obsolete and so resembles Hesperato zevitellina Laws, 1941 (Otaian, 

Pakaurangi), Erato tenuilabrum Laws, 1935 (Altonian-Lillburnian, 

CUfden) and an undescribed species from the Duntroonian of Southland. 

An obsolete fossula is a diagnostic feature of Hesperato Schilder, 

2.8 

2.2

298 

by intercalation. The largest shell has about 20 costae denticulating 

the outer and inner lips. Very fine pustules are present between the 

costae on the ventral face and on the outer lip, but not on the rest 

of the dorsum. There is no dorsal furro'Vl, but in the largest she),l 

the costae tend to weaken near the middle of the dorsum. The aperture 

is narrow and gently curved, with inner and outer lips virtually 

parallel. 

Topotypes of E. pinguior are very similar to the Waihao shells 

in shape, apertural features and number of costae, but all available 

specimens are considerably larger than the largest McCullough's Bridge 

specimen, and are therefore difficult to compare directly. The holo- 

type and some topotypes have very coarse costae but one topotype has 

the costae virtually obsolete except on the dors\m. It is uncertain 

whether or not intercostal pustules are present on the imperfectly 

preserved Lorne shells. A weak dorsal furrow is present on some 

specimens but not on others. 

DIME}ffiIONS (rom): Height 

Holotype 7.6 

Largest NcCullough's Bridge shell 5.5 


TYPE LOCALITY: 

(Kaiatan). 


6.0 

3.9 

GS 1100, tuffaceous conglomerate, Lorne, North Otago 

LOCALITIES: Lorne (GS 1100, GS 3869, GS 9481) - rather uncommon; 

GS 9508, Tahu Member, McCullough's Bridge (three specimens); GS 9884, 

Trig. M, Totara (Runangan) (one specimen). 

STRATIGRAPHIC RANGE: Kaiatan-Runangan. 

REMARKS: Cernohorsky (1971a:111-2) referred all of the described New 

Zealand triviines to Ellatrivia but noted that ,Einguior "has a

299 

straighter aperture than is usual". The aperture in pinguior is in 

fact as curved as in E. merces but unlike that species its outer lip 

is almost parallel to the inner lip, instead of diverging from it 

over the anterior portion of the aperture. Trivia pinguior is not 

particularly like E. merces in general appearance and it is difficult 

to believe that they are closely related. However, the limits of 

genus-group taxa in the Triviinae are quite uncerta.in (e.g. Cernohorsky 

1971a: 111), so pinguior is provisionally retained in Ellatrivia. 

Ellatrivia kaiparaensis Laws, 1939 (Otaian, Pakaurangi pt) is 

verJ similar in most feat'uTes to E. ping-ulor and is obviously closely 

related. It differs in having weak intercostal a:x::lal costellae on 

the dorsum near the outer lip, in addition to fine pustules on the 

ventral face.

shallo\", groove. 

straight below. 

Dll1ENSIONS (rom): 

307 

Outer lip moderately prosocline, convex near suture, 

Holotype (fide Finlay 1930) 


Height 

33 

51 


(not given) 

45.5 

HOLOTYPE: Auckland Institute and Museum, ex H.J. Finlay ColIn. 

TYPE LOCALITY: McCullough's Bridge. 

LOCALITIES: GS 9508, Tahu Member, McCullough's Bridge (one adult and 

a damaged young shell). A subadult shell from GS 9481, Lorne (Kaiatan) 

may also belong here. Harwick's record of M. sutherland! from rrrig. M, 

Totara, North Otago (Runangan) (1924a: 555) may also refer to perilis; 

however, specimens from Trig. M are of small size (less than 15 mm in 

height) and therefore not determinable. 

STRATIGRAPHIC RANGE: Kaiatan-Runangan? 

REMARKS: Finlay compared this species with !1agnatica altior 

(:= M. sutherlandi) (Duntroonian, 'fuarekuri and Chatton) noting a number 

of differences, not all of which are borne out by the material available 

to the writer. Topotypes of sutherlandi have a narrm.,rer umbilicus, 

weaker funicular ridge and umbilical channel than parilis and these are 

probably the most reliable distinguishing features. The spire is not 

noticeably "more rotmded" in parilis and the "posterior cha.."1nel to the 

aperture" is not steeper but in fact is similar to sutherla..'1di. 

Magnatica fons Finlay, 1930 (Bartonian, Waihao Downs) is similar 

in shape to parilis but lacks an umbilical groove and has a much weaker 

funicular ridge. Finlay (1930a: 58) included fans in Magnatica s.str. 

but Finlay and Marwick (1937: 57) referred it to Spelaenacca, although 

the umbilical features are those of planispira rather than sutherlandi 

and parilis.

Aperture large, semilunular; inner lip oblique, almost straiePt with a 

fairly heavy parietal callus, rather narrow adjacent to umbilicus, only 

weakly thickened by funicular ridge. Parietal callus projects in front 

of outer lip and is separated from it by a shallow, short groove running 

o 

at about 45 from vertical; a short rounded ridge runs from lower end 

of groove transversely across parietal callus. Young shells with a 

309 

rather weak, rounded tubercle on inner lip just below parietal callus. 

Outer lip thin, strongly prosocline (about 40 0 from vertical), almost 

straight except posteriorly where it is retracted to suture. 

DD1ENSIONS (mm); Height Greatest di81Ueier 

Holotype 16.0 16.1 



TYPE LOCALITY:GS 642, McCullough's Br:l.dge (probably Kaiatan). 

LOCALITIES: McCullough's Bridge - present though not particularly 

common, in all collections from Tahu Member; Hampden Beach (Bortonian) 

(one specimen in Suter collection, Geological Survey, collected 

P. Marshall, that cannot be distinguished from typical McCullough's 

Bridge shells). 


Carinacca aff. allan! (Marwick, 1924). Plo 12, fig. 149. 

1924 Natica (Carinacca) allan! Marwick; T.N.Z.I. 55: 554-5, pl. 45, 

fig. 4. 

1926 Carinacca allani; Allan, T.N.Z.lo 57: 289. 

1966 Carinacca allani Fleming, N.Z. D.S.loR. Bull. 173: 53, pI. 93, 

fig. 1116. 

One specimen of a Carinacca from GS 9508 differs from waihaoensis

in having a more ovate shape (it measures 13 x 12 rom), more prominent 

spire, flush sutures and evenly convex whorls lacking a subsutural 

310 

sulcus (thus giving the shell the outline of a Taniella), more extensive 

parietal callus and lower and narrOvTer umbilicus. Two small denticles 

are present on the inner lip of this shell, one on the lower part of 

the parietal callus, the other somewhat below the callus, corresponding 

to that found in young specimens of waihaoensis. Except for the 

presence of a parietal tubercle, this shell compares closely with young 

topotypes of C. allaqi and is tentatively considered conspecific. If 

further material shows that the parietal tubercle is a constant feature 

then the Jl'IcCullough's Bridge form may be separated specifically or sub 

specifically from allani. 

TYPE LOCALITY: Waihao Greensand, Waihao Downs (Bortonian). Probably 

from left bank, South Branch Waihao River opposite "Waihao Downs" home 

stead. 

LOCALITIES: Recorded from a number of Bartonian 10caHties in North 

Otago and South Canterbury, including Waihao Downs, Bortons, Kakahu and 

Hampden (Narwick 19248.: 555) • Not previously recorded from the Kaiatan. 

STRATIGRAPHIC RANGE: Bortonian-Kaiatan.

312 

ridge runs transversely across the callus. Parietal callus spreading 

anteriorly, completely filling the umbilicus in young shells, usually 

leaving a narrow groove at anterior end in adults. The umbilical 

callus does not project abaxially but is flush or even distinctly con- 

cave, and bears a distinct horizontal groove near middle, sometimes 

separated from a shallower, less elongate depression above by a low, 

irregular rounded ridge. Some specimens also show faint transverse 

grooves below main groove. On the largest specimen seen the main 

groove is replaced by a shallow depression. Outer lip prosocline, in- 

o 

elined at about 20 to vertical, straight except near suture where it 

is smoothly retracted. 

Dll1ENSIONS (mm): Height Greatest diameter 

Holotype (fide Narwick, 1924) 14.5 13 

Topotype (GS 9481) 16.0 13.2 

" " 22 (est.) 19·5 

Hypo type (GS 9508) 25·5 19.8 

" " 15.1 14.0 

HOLOTYPE: Lost (see below). 

TYPE LOCALITY: Marwickrecorded this specie s from GS 1100, V1aiareka 

Tuffs, Lorne and Trig. M, Totara without specifYing the type locality. 

Since the species is named for T. Esdaile who first collected from 

Lorne, this has been accepted as the type locality by Olson (in Gage 

1957: 114) and by Fleming (1966: 286). This view is supported by 

Marwlck's practice of placing the type locality first in lists of 

localities for other species in this paper. However, the specimen in 

the Geological Survey labelled "holotype" is from GS 963, Trig. M, 

Totara according'to the accompanying label, and this is corroborated by 

the preservation and adhering matrix. This specimen measures only 

11.5 x 10.7 and is therefore considerably smaller than the stated

dimensions for the holotype. It is assumed that the holotype was 

indeed from Lome but has subsequently been lost. 

LOCALITIES: GS 9481, Lorne (Kaiatan); Trig. M, Totara (Runangan); 

313 

McCullough's Bridge - GS 9480 (one specimen), GS 9508 (six specimens); 

R.S. Allan ColIn (five specimens); GS 11,200, Kapua Tuffs (one specimen) 

(Kaiatan) • 

STRATIGRAPFJC RANGE: Kaiatan-Runangan. 

REMARKS: McCullough's Bridge shells are a good match for topotypes, 

and the above description is based on specimens from both localities. 

The various species of Polinella are all rather similar and not always 

readily distinguished from one another. P. esdailei is particularly 

close to P. modesta (Marwick, 1924) (.AI tonian, Oamaru district. but 

recorded from Duntroonian to Waiauan by Fleming, 1966: 54), differing 

in details of the umbilical callus. In modesta this fills the hollow 

completely even to the extent of projecting somewhat in front, whereas 

in esdailei the callus is barely flush in some shells, distinctly 

excavated in others and does not encroach to the same extent, usually 

leaving a narrow groove near the anterior end. Also, the transverse 

groove on the callUS is longer and narrower in modesta. 

An undescribed species of Polinella from GS 11,148, Waihao River 

opposite "Waihao Downs" (BartOnian) appears to be closely related to 

esdailei but differs in having a narrower and less spreading parietal 

callus, leaving a narrow but deep umbilicus.

spirals but no sulcus. On the other hand, the Tongaporutuan species 

F. marwicki Beu, 1970 apparently has neither spiral sculpture nor peri 

317 

umbilical sulcus. Beu (1970c: 218) suggests that "Uberella" pukeuri 

ensis (Nar\dck, 1924) (.Altonian, North Otago), a small species with 

strongly impressed but not canaliculate sutures is an early member of 

Friginatica s.str. If this is the case, it implies that canaliculate 

sutures arose quite independently in tvlO distinct stocks of New Zealand 

naticids and that at the very least they should be separated at the 

subgeneric level. 

Friginatica (Sulconacca) suturalis (Hutton, 1877). PI. 12, figs. 143,144. 

1877 Lunatia suturalis Hutton; T.N.Z.I. 9: 597, pl. 16, fig. 11. 

1887 Natica suturalis; Hutton, Froc. Linn. Soc. lif.S.W. 2(1): 215. 

1915 Ampullina (Megatylotus) suturalis; Suter, N.Z.G.S. Pal. Bull. 

1924 

1926 

1927 

1956 

1966 

3: 10. 

Sulconacca suturalis; 

Friginatica suturalis; 

Friginatica suturalis; 



99 , fig. 1193. 

Marwick, T.N.Z.I. 55: 557, pl. 57, fig. 1. 

Allan, T.N.Z.I. 57: 291. 

Finlay, T.N.Z.I. 57: 395. 

Dell, Bull. Dom. Mus. 18: 73. 

F'leming, N.Z. D.S.I.R. Bull. 173: 54, pI. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell rather small, globose, spire low, about 0.3 total 

height. Protoconch and early teleoconch whorls badly corroded in all 

specimens seen, but former apparently large and bulbous. Teleoconch 

of about 4 whorls sharply shouldered posteriorly, a narrow horizontal 

shelf on early whorls, developing into a narrow, shaxp-edged, concave 

sutural channel during growth. Last whorl globose, capacious. 

Spiral sculpture of variable strength but always very weak, consisting 

of ill-defined threads, often more strongly developed in sutural channel

320 

naticid with depressed spire, strongly impressed though not definitely 

canaliculate sutures and moderately wide, open umbilicus lacking a 

funicle but bounded by a heavy rounded ridge. Marwick (1924a: 554) 

described the protoconch as having a "moderate nucleus", but all speci 

mens seen by the "'Triter have the apex badly corroded. The type species 

was referred initially to Carinacca, then to Friginatica, but it differs 

so much from both genera as to justify a new taxon. The corroded 

nature of the apical whorls is believed to be taxonomically significant, 

as only T. haasti and Friginatica (Sulconacca) suturalis have this as a 

constant feature amongst McCullough's Bridge naticids; in topotypes of 

Carinacca waihaoensis, on the other hand, the protoconch and early 

teleoconch whorls are usually well-preserved. The heavy circumumbilical 

ridge is superficially like that of Carinacca but lacks the sharp, steep 

step on the inner edge and is less rounded in cross-section; young 

shells in fact, usually have the ridge distinctly concave ''lith a steep 

outer edge. The lack of a funicle and the deeply impressed rather than 

feebly impressed or flush sutures further distinguish Tahunacca from 

Carinacca. 

Tahunacca haasti differs from species of Friginatica s. str. and 

Sulconacca in having deeply impressed but not definitely canaliculate 

sutures and in the presence of a heavy circumumbilical ridge. An 

additional feature distinguishing Tahunacca from Sulconacca is the 

absence of a periumbilical sulcus. On balance, the shell features 

suggest that Tahunacca is related to Friginatica and Sulconacca.

HOLOTYPE: N.Z. Geological Survey according to Allan (1926a: 339, foot 

note), but not located there. Hypotype (from Hampden) TM 4954, N.Z. 

Geological Survey. 

TYPE LOCALITY: McCullough's Bridge (Kaiatan). 

LOCALITIES: McCullough's Bridge - moderately common in collections 

from Tahu Member; GS 11,200, Kapua Tuffs (Kaiatan) (two specimens); 

Hampden (Bortonian) (Narwick, 1924a: 554; 1942: 274); GS 4872, Port 

Elizabeth, Westland (Kaiatan). 


1924 Trans. N.Z. Inst. 55: 573-4. 

Subfamily GLOBISININAt!: 

Genus Globisinum IvIarwick 

Type species (original designation): Sigaretus (1) drewi Murdoch, 

1899, Lower Pliocene-Recent, New Zealand (see Dell 1956a: 43-4 for 

synonyms of G. drewi). 

Globisinum elegans (Suter, 1917). Plo 12, fig. 148. 

1917 Sinum (Eunaticina) elegans Suter; N.Z.G.S. Pal. Bull. 5: 11, 

plo 3, fig. 4. 

1924 Globisinum elegans; Marwick, T.N.Z.I. 55: 574-5, pl. 60, fig. 18. 

1926 Globisinum elegans; Allan, T.N.Z.I. 57: 291. 

1966 Globisinum elegans; Fleming, N.Z. D.S.I.R. Bull. 173: 55, pl. 

99, fig. 1203. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell of moderate size, fragile, globose, spire very 

depressed in young shells, up to 0.3 total height in adults. Proto- 

conch large of 3t smooth whorls with strongly impressed sutures and 

322

1798 Nuseum Boltenianum: 133. 

Genus Distorsio Roeding 

329 

Type species (by subsequent designation, J .E. Gray, 1847): l1urex anus 

Linnaeus, 1758, Recent, Indo-Pacific. 

1865 Amer. Jour. Conch. 1: 21. 

Subgenus Personella Conrad 

Type species (by monotypy): Distorsio septemdentata Gabb, 1860, Middle 

Eocene, U.S.A. and Mexico. 

Distorsio (Personella) beui Maxwell, 1968 

1968 Distorsio (Personella beui Maxwell; T.TI.S.N.Z. (Geol.) 6(10): 

135-6, figs. 1-3. 

DIAGNOSIS: A small, ovate cymatiid vIi th somev,hat distorted whorls and 

reticulate sculpture caused by intersection of closely spaced a.··dal 

costae with prominent spiral cords. Varices weakly developed. 

Aperture small with 4 denticles on lower part of columella, 2 weak 

parietal plaits and 8 labral denticles, the strongest being the 3rd from 

the posterior end. 

DINENSIOHS OF HOLOTYFE: Height 21 nun, greatest diameter 12 nun. 


TYPE LOCALITY: GS 9508, Tahu Member, NcCullough's Bridge (Kaiatan). 

REMARKS: The distribution of Personella and possible dispersion routes 

were discussed by Maxwell (1968: 133-4). Since this paper was published, 

the writer has examined topotypes of Distorsio interposita Tate, 1894, 

from Bird Rock Bluff, Victoria, Australia (Janjukian, Oligocene) and 

confirmed their close similarity to beui. Dr E.C. Allison (in litt.)

331 

Apical fragments of a cassid, probably a Galeodea, from GS 9508, 

Tahu Hember, are tentatively assumed to represent the same species as 

in the Ngapuke Hember. 

1798 Museum Boltenianum 2: 148. 

Family FICIDAE 

Genus Ficus Roeding 

Type species (by subsequent designation, Dall, 1906): Bulla ficus 

Gmelin (= Ficus communis and F. variegata Roeding, 1798), Recent, Indo 

Pacific. 

Ficus sp. 

Small, probably subadult, Ficus from McCullough's Bridge and the 

Kapua Tuffs represent the earliest record of the genus from New Zealand. 

Sculpture consists of fine growth lines and rather crude, wri.nkle-like 

axial folds, crossed by narrow spiral cords \.,ith fine interstitial 

threads. The largest shell (from the Kapua Tuffs) measures about 15 

nun in height. 

Only two species of Ficus have been described from New Zealand, 

F. parvus Suter, 1917 and F. imperfectus Marshall and Nurdoch, 1919. 

F. parvus is from blue, calcareous tuff underlying Totara Limestone at 

Old Rifle Butts, Oamaru, probably Runangan in age. It differs from 

the Waihao species in having more closely spaced, finer spirals and 

lacking axial folds. F. imperfectus (Alton1an, North Otago) is 

another species with fine spiral sculpture. 

LOCALITIES: McCullough's Bridge - R.S. Allan Collection (one specimen); 

GS 9508 (4 specimens); Kapua Tuffs (one specimen).

1927 Trans. N.Z. lnst. 57= 501-2. 

Family ARCHlTECTONlClDAE 

Genus Wangaloa Finlay 

Type species (original designation): Omalaxis planus Marshall, 1917 

(= Architectonica inornata Marshall, 1917, Paleocene, New Zealand. 

\{angaloa ngaparaensis (Suter, 1917). PI. 11, fi.gs. 132, 133. 

1917 Architectonica ngaparaensis Suter; N.Z.G.S. Pal. Bull. 5: 14, 

pI. 1, fig. 6. 

1926 Architectonica ngaparaensis; Allan, T.N.Z.I. 57: 291. 

333 

1937 Architectonica ngaparaensis; Finlay and Harwick, N.Z.G.S. Pal. 

Bull. 15: 67. 

1966 Architectonica ngaparaensis; Fleming, N.Z. D.S.LR. Rullo 173: 

46. 

1966 Wangaloa ngaparaensis; Maxwell, N.Z.J.G.G. 9(4): 450-1, figs. 

21, 23. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell small, compressed, lenticular, spire almost plane 

on some shells, low-domed on others. Protoconch heterostrophic, 

nucleus immersed; teleoconch of about 4 whorls, almost flat to gently 

convex dorsally, last whorl sharply keeled, base moderately convex, 

umbilicus wide and perspective. Spiral SCUlpture consisting primarily 

of a narrow, finely beaded cord immediately above suture that becomes 

the peripheral keel on last whorl. Below suture is a row of small 

gemmules, usually without a connecting thread and on base of last whorl 

just below peripheral keel is a narrow, smooth or feebly gemmulate cord 

that appears out of aperture. Remainder of shell surface, both dorsally 

and ventrally, with 1tleak, often subobsolete spiral threads. Axial 

sculpture apart from gemmules marginning the sutures, consisting of weak

growth lines sometimes weakly gemmulating the spiral threads on the 

334 

dorsal surface. Umbilical border strongly crenulated by axial folds, 

about 24-30 on last whorl. Umbilicus normally with a crenulated cord 

within, ending somewhat above middle of inner lip but occasionally 

obsolete. Aperture subquadrate, angled by peripheral keel, umbilical 

border and infraumbilical ridge. 


Holotype (fide Suter, 1917) 


Height 

2 

4.5 

HOLOTYPE: 'TIYI 3869, N.Z. Geological Survey. 


TYPE LOCALITY: Suter (1917: 14) gave the type locality as "no. 487 

Concretions with fossils overlying coal beds, Ngapara, North Otago; 

McKay 1882 - Miocene". The label with the type, however, reads 

"Ngapara (prob. greensands) A. Hrunil ton Coll.", As noted by Maxwell 

(1966: 451) the type is probably from McCullough's Bridge. 

LOCALITIES: NcCullough's Bridge - R.S. Allan CoHn (one specimen); 

Narshall and Murdoch ColIn (one specimen); GS 9480 (three specimens); 

GS 9508 (14 specimens); GS 11,200, Kapua Tuffs (11 specimens). 

REr1.ARI(S: Wangaloa ngaparaensis is a moderately variable species, 

particularly in spire height and strength of spiral sculpture. Most 

specimens possess a prominent infraumbilical cord and so resemble the 

type species W. plana, but in a few the cord is obsolete, in which case 

they look remarkably like Solarium scrobiculatum Conrad, 1833 (Middle 

Eocene, Alabama), the type species of Patulaxis Dall, 1892. The 

presence or absence of an infraumbilical cord has been considered an 

important supraspecific taxonomic character in the architectonicids (e.g. 

Finlay and Marwick, 1937: 67) but it seems that some caution is necessary 

in interpreting this feature. 

6

1885 Man. Conchyl.: 714. 

Genus Pseudomalaxis Fischer 

Type species (by monotypy): ?Bifrontia zanclea Philippi, 1844, Plio 

cene, Italy. 

Pseudomalaxis asculpturatus Maxwell, 1966 

1966 Pseudomalaxis asculpturatus Naxwell; N.Z.J.G.G. 9(4): 444, 

figs. 11-13 . 

DIAGNOSIS: A small, discoidal architectonicid with dorsal surface al- 

most flat, ventral surface broadly and shallowly concave. 

whorls 2, squarish in section, devoid of SCUlpture. 

DDfENSIONS OF HOLOTYPE: 

2.7 nun. 

HOLOTYPE: TN 3864, N.Z. Geological Survey. 

Height 0.6, greatest diameter (ventral) 

TYPE LOCALITY: GS 9480, NcCullough' s Bridge (probably Kaiatan). 

LOCALITIES: 

specimens) • 

REMARKS: 

335 

Teleoconch 

McCullough's Bridge - GS 9480 (holotype); GS 9508 (t1,o10 

A damaged shell from the Wharekuri Greensands, vIal taki River 

(Duntroonian) was recorded as Pseudomalaxis cf. asculpturatus by 

Maxwell (1969: 161). No other records of the genus from Ne1,o1 Zealand 

are known to the writer, but a very similar species occurs in the Upper 

Eocene of South Australia (M.F. Buonaiuto, pers. comm.).

Gegania recorded by Palmer (1937: 90-4) demonstrate. One of these, 

G. antiquata texana (Palmer), closely resembles G. viola in sculptural 

features. Harwick described the protoconch of viola as "paucispiral, 

smooth, til ted about 30° from horizontal and with an immersed nucleus". 

According to Palmer (1937: 90) the protoconch of antiquata "consists of 

one llU'ge smooth "rhorl, incl ined at about 45 0 to the plane of the shell". 

Jeffreys did not figure the protoconch of pinguis, but his description 

of it as "globular and intorted" and "bulbous, introverted" suggests 

that it is not unlike that of viola and antiquata. Gegania viola and 

related species do not seem to be supraspecifically separable from 

antiquata and allied forms, and the latter are apparently "typical of 

the living genotype" (Palmer, 1947: 235). Consequently 'l'ubena is here 

regarded as a synonym of Gegania. The writer (1966: 446; 1969: 180) 

had previously been unwise enough to grant Tubena full generic status. 

Gegania olsoni (Haxwell, 1969) 

1969 TubenaolsoniMax1!lell, T.R.S.N.Z. (Geol.) 6(13): 180-1, pI. 2, 

fig. 28. 

DIAGNOSIS: A moderate-sized, narrowly umbilicate Gegania with 

prominent spiral sculpture of low, rounded cords with occasional inter 

stitial threads and axial sculpture of numerous fine costellae weakly 

gemmulating the spirals. 

DIMENSIONS OF HOLOTYFE: Height 18, greatest diameter 10 mm. 

HOLOTYPE: TN 3906, N.Z. Geological Survey. 

TYPE LOCALITY: GS 4901, North Branch, Sisters Creek, Hakataramea 

Valley, South Canterbury (vlai takian). 

LOCALITIES: Bortonian - GS 9886, abandoned railway cutting, \{aihao 

Downs. Kaiatan - GS 9508, Tahu Member, r1cCullough's Bridge (one almost 

339

1927 Trans. N.Z. Inst. 57: 384. 

Family TRIPHORIDAE 

Genus Notosinister Finlay 

Type species (original designation): Triphora fascelina Suter, 1908, 

Recent, New Zealand. 

Notosinister(?) aoteaensis (Marshall and Murdoch, 1920). Pl.11, fig. 139. 

1920 Triphora aoteaensis Marshall and Murdoch; T.N.Z.I. 52:129-30, 

p1. 6, fig. 3. 

1927 ?Notosinister aoteaensisj Finlay, T.N.Z.I. 57: 386. 

1966 Notosinister aoteaensis; Fleming, N.Z. D.S.LR. Bull. 173: 48. 

DESCRIPTION (based on a topotype and a specimen from NcCullough's 

Bridge) : Shell small, attenuate, turriculate, sinistral. Protoconch 

missing, teleoconch of at least 18 virtually flat-sided whorls, sutures 

ill-defined, almost flush. Last whorl contracted rather quickly, base 

almost flat, neck short. Spiral sculpture consisting primarily of 3 

cords, one of which is subdued and sUbmargins the suture. The strongest 

spiral, which has a sharply defined posterior edge, situated just above 

the suture, the slightly weaker third spiral at approximately posterior 

tpxee fifths. During growth a narrow cord appears above suture and a 

shallow groove just below suture thus defining a narrow sub sutural cord. 

On last whorl, the supramargining cord emerges as the peribasal keel, on 

upper part of base. Axial sculpture of very low, opisthocline costae 

which are usually difficult to discern between the spirals, but form 

prominent gemmules at their intersection with the 2 lower cords and much 

less distinct ones on the sub sutural cord. Peribasal cord unaffected 

by costae. Gemmules are elongated spirally and spaced at about their 

own width apart. 15-17 on penul tima te ",horl. Aperture damaged, but 

341

apparently subquadrate; columella short, nearly vertical, only slightly 

bent to right to form a very short siphonal canal (possibly closed in 

complete shells). Inner: lip moderately heavily callused, outer lip 

broken. 

DIMENSIONS (rom) : Height Greatest diameter 

Holotype (fide Harshall and 9·5 3.0 

}lTurdoch, 1920) 

Topotype 9.5 (incomplete) 2.6 

Hypo type (GS 9480) 17·5 ( " ) 3.6 

HOLOTYFE: Marshall and Hurdoch (1920: 130) gave the type repository 

as Wanganui Museum, but the types in that institution were transferred 

to the GeOlogical Survey in 1946. The type of T. aoteaensis, hovrever, 

was not located in the collections received at the Geological SlITVey. 

TYPE LOCALITY: Hampden Beach (Bortonian). 

LOCALITIES: Hampden; GS 9480, McCullough's Bridge (probably Kaiatan) 

(one specimen). 

STRATIGRAPHIC RAJrGE: Bortonian-Kaiatan. 

REf1ARKS: The specimen from GS 9480 closely resembles the topotype, 

apart from its larger size, but both appear to differ from the holotype 

in having the posterior spiral less strongly developed and less dis- 

tinctly gemmulate. 

As protoconch features are unknown, the reference of this 

species to Notosinister is quite tentative. 

342

Superfamily EPITONIACEA 

Family EPITONIIDAE 

Generic allocation of certain McCullough's Bridge epitoniids has 

proved difficult. Wenz (1939: 787-815) recognises over 100 genus-group 

names in his classification, many of them proposed by the French worker 

de Boury who often based his taxa on obscure and little-known European 

species. Nany of the names are probably superfluous, but this cannot 

be judged by the taxonomist who does not have access to specimens of 

type species. A rather broad interpretation of the better-known taxa 

is the most practical approach until such time as the family can. be 

thoroughly revised. Even so, the assignments of the species described 

below to genera are mostly tentative. 

Genus Cirsotrema Moerch 

1852 Catalog. Conchyl. Comes de Yoldi 1: 49. 

Type species (by monotypy): Scalaria varicosa Lamarck, 1822, Recent, 

Indo-Pacific. 

Cirsotrema zitteli n.sp. Pl. 11, fig. 137. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell of moderate size, narrowly conical, spire 0.75 

total height. Protoconch not seen, teleoconch of about 10-11 whorls, 

evenly and strongly convex on spire, sutures indistinct, usually ob 

scured by fusion of axial costae and varices with the supramarginal 

cord and with costae on preceding whorl. Last whorl with a strong 

basal disc situated well below the periphery, base almost flat except 

for a well-defined, narrow fasciolar ridge adjacent to the aperture. 

Axial sculpture very strong, consisting of narrow, well-raised, 

moderately prosocline costae which reach from suture to suture on spire 

343

and across base of last whorl onto the fasciolar ridge. Each costa 

344 

composed of several lamellae apparently fused together at the base but 

generally well-separated on the crest where each individual lamella can 

be clearly discerned. Lffinellae distinctly foliated by influence of 

intervariceal spiral elements. Costae concave abaperturally but 

almost vertical in front. Heavy varices of irregular distribution 

with 1-5 costae between each pair, constructed of numerous closely 

packed lamellae which are less clearly distlnguishable than in the 

intervariceal costae. On well-preserved shells, both varices and 

costae have a small triangular spine posteriorly giving the whorls a 

pseudocanaliculate appearance. 11 to 17 costae and varices on pen 

ultimate whorl. Spiral sculpture consisting of a cordsupramaxgining 

the suture, usually obscured by axial costae, but emerging on base of 

last whorl to form the basal disc, together with 5-6 prominent, narrow 

cords with numerous fine interstitial cords and threads, the posterior 

cord weaker than the others. Interstitial spirals may be finely 

reticulated by growth lines. Numerous fine spirals beh-leen co stae on 

base of last whorl. Spirals present between axial costae and on their 

abapertural faces, not surmounting them but foliating and crenulating 

them, except on base. Aperture circular, peristome continuous; outer 

lip variciform, with a small spur posteriorly; basal lip margin 

truncated, merging with the narrow fasciolar cord margining the inner 

lip. 

DI.fv1ENSIONS OF HOLOTYPE: Height 32 (est.), greatest diameter 11.9 mm. 



LOCALITIES: HcCullough's Bridge - GS 9508 (holotype and four para 

types); GS 9480 (two small paratypes)i R.SeAllan ColIn (three para-

types. 

REMARKS: Probably the species listed by Allan (1926c: 291) as 

Cirsotrema cf. lyrata (Zittel). C. lyrata is one of the most fre 

quently cited names in lists of New Zealand Cenozoic molluscs, but 

many of the records probably refer to other species. Cirsotrema 

zitteli differs from Zittel's species in its smaller size, stronger 

varices relative to intervariceal costae, in its more discrete costal 

lamellae and in the spiral cords not surmounting the axials. In 

C. lyrata, kuriense and several other New Zealand species the lamellae 

comprising the costae are so well fused as to be almost indistinguishable. 

1853 Genera Rec. Moll. 1: 222. 

Genus Opalia H. and A. Adams 

Type species (by subsequent designation, de Boury, 1886: Scalaria 

australis Lamarck, 1822, Recent, Australia. 

Opalia marshalli n.sp. Pl. 11, fig. 138. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell of moderate size, narrowly conical, spire about 

0.75 total height. Protoconch and early tel eo conch whorls missing, 

10 whorls remaining, strongly and evenly convex on spire, last whorl 

with a strong basal disc, base gently concave. Axial sculpture con 

sisting of prominent rounded orthocline to slightly opisthocline costae 

reaching from lower suture to a short distance below upper suture, 

stopping at edge of basal disc on last whorl. Disc with weak, i11- 

defined folds only. Varices at irregular intervals with 1-5 costae 

between each pair, somewhat higher and more oblique than costae, and 

reaching from suture to suture. 12-13 costae and varices on penultimate 

whorl, with concave interspaces considerably wider than the costae. 

345

DIMENSIONS OF HOLOTYPE: 

4.0 mm. 

349 

Height 12.3 (incomplete), greatest diameter 

HOLOTYPE: Canterbury HuseUT:l, collected R.S. Allan. 

TYPE LOCALITY: HcCull ough t s Bri dge (probably Kaia tan) • 

RE}IARKS: Four species of epitoniids are referred to Turriscala by 

Fleming (1966: 49); one of these, Epitonium tenuispiralis Marshall, 

1919 (Bortonian, Hampden) has been transferred to 9palia (see above). 

Of the remaining species, Scalaria marginata Hutton, 1885 (7 Waitakian, 

Curiosi ty Shop, Rakaia R.) is much larger than Tur:dscala allani and 

has almost flat-sided vlhorls, Epi tonium (Clathroscala} c;[lindrellum 

Suter, 1917 (Duntroonian, Castle Hill Basin) has strong spiral sculpture 

and Turriscala kaiparaensis Laws, 1939 (Otaian, Pakaurangi) is much 

smaller, more slender, has a stronger peribasal keel and almost obsolete 

spiral sculpture. Some, if not all of these species may not be 

correctly located generically; unfortunately marginata and cylindrellum 

are both based on very imperfect material. 

Genus Hemiacirsa Boury 

1889 Bull. Soc. malac. Ital. 14: 268. 

Type species (original designation): Turbo lanceolata Brocchi, 1814, 

Upper Miocene, Italy. 

Hemiacirsa lawsi n.sp. Pl. 4, fig. 41. 

DESCRIP'rION: Shell small, moderately attenuate, spire elevated, 0.8 

total height. Protoconch narrowly conical, of 4 smooth convex whorls. 

Teleoconch of 11-12 ,.,rhorls, strongly and. evenly convex on spire with 

distinct, impressed sutures, last whorl \.,i th a rather \I'eak basal elise, 

peri basal angle not ver'J strongly marked. Axial sculpture of narrow

spirals. The New Zealand species are only superficially similar and 

in the writer's opinion, not congeneric; on the other hand they do 

closely resemble some European species of Hemiacirsa, although the type 

species is considerably more attenuate and flatter-iVhorled than any NevI 

Zealand species. 

Hemiacirsa la"Tsi has more strongly convex whorl s than 

H. kaiparaensis and a better-defined peribasal angle. H. elata has 

heavier axial costae and broader spiral cords than either lawsi or 

kaiparaensis. 

1926 Trans. N.Z. Inst. 56: 231. 

Genus Notacirsa Finlay 

Type species (original designation): Turbonilla (Pyrgiscus) _oamal'Utica 

Suter, 1917, LOioJer Miocene, New Zealand. 

Notacirsa vetusta n.sp. PI. 4, fig. 39. 

DESCRIPrION: Shell small, turriculate, spire elevated. Protoconch 

corroded in all specimens, teleoconch of at least 10 whorls, gently con 

vex on spire, last whorl contracted rather quickly, periphery well- 

rounded, base lightly convex. Axial sculpture consisting of subdued, 

rounded, orthocline or slightly prosocline costae with concave inter 

spaces, reaching from suture to suture on spire whorls but dying out 

rapidly on upper part of base of last whorl. Costae tending to become 

obsolete near the irregularly spaced, broad, rather ill defined varices. 

11-14 costae and varices on penultimate whorl, difficul t to count 

because of their vleak nature. Spiral sculpture also rather subdued 

on spire v/horls, consisting of broad, loYl, strap-like cords with narrow 

interspaces, occasionally containing interstitial threads. About 9 

351

LOCALITIES: McCullough's Bridge - GS 9480 (holotype and two paratypes); 

GS 9508, Tahu Member (paratype). 

Order NEOGASTROPODA 

Superfamily MURICACEA 

Family MURICIDAE 

Subfamily MURICINAE 

Genus Pterynotus Svrainson 

1833 Zool. Illus. (2): 3, caption to Pl. 100. 

Type E?pecies (by subsequent designation, Swains on , 1833): Nurex 

pinnatus Swainson, 1822 (= H. alatus Roeding, 1798), Hecen'G, Indo 

Pacific. 

354 

Beu (1970b) recently transferred the New Zealand Cenozoic muri 

cids usually included in Pterynotus, to the superficially similar genus 

Pteropurpura Jousseaume, 1880. He has subsequently reversed his 

decision and now includes them in pterynotus (A.G. Beu, pers. comm.). 

pterynotus laetificus Finlay, 1930 

1930 Pteronotus (sostr.) laetificus Finlay, TeN.Z.I. 61: 76. 

1931 Pteronotus n. sp., Marwick, N.Z.G.S. Pal. Bull. 13: 118, pI. 12, 

fig. 226. 

1962 pterynotus (sostr.) laetificus; Fleming, T.R.S.N.Z. (Zool.) 

2(14): 111, pI. 1, figs. 2-8. 

1966 pterynotus (Pterynotus) laetificus; Fleming, N.Z. D.S.I.R. 

Bull. 113: 51, pI. 104, figs. 1266-71. 

1910 pteropurpura laetifica laetifica; Beu, T.R.S.N.Z. (BioI. Sci.) 

12(12): 135-8, pI. 1, figs. 1-3,4,8; pI. 2, figs. 13-15, 18. 

A small, somewhat fractured but otherwise well preserved

Coluzea climacota (Suter, 1917). Text fig. 5A, pl. 12, fig. 153. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell of moderate size, elegantly fusiform, spire about 

half total height. Protoconch conical-pagodiform of 3! whorls, 

nucleus small; first whorl or so smooth, a narrow cord appearing just 

above suture on 2nd \-/horl, rising to form a sharp keel just below 

middle of whorl by 3rd whorl but descending somewhat on last ·ilt whorl. 

On last quarter whorl a few weak opisthocyrt costellae appear just 

above keel. Teleoconch of at least 10 whorls, sharply keeled at or 

slightly below middle, ramp and sides gently to moderately convex; 

last whorl contracted rather quickly over base to a long, narrow, 

almost straight neck. Spiral sculpture commencing at beginning of 

teleoconch, a narrO\OT cord marking the median keel, a slightly weaker 

one (which corresponds to the protoconch keel) about halfway between 

it and lower suture, and another bordering lower suture. Also 3 or 4 

threads on ramp. An additional spiral appears between the lower 2 

cords on the first whorl or so. On later whorls these primaries, 

except for the posteriormost spirals on ramp, tend to become of similar 

strength and are joined on base and neck of last whorl by about 20 well 

spaced cords decreasing in strength anteriorly, the lowest very indis- 

tinct. Apart from very weak striae and in one case, a narrOlv thread, 

there are no spirals between the primary cords. The topmost of the 

basal spirals enters the aperture, usually accompanied by the one below 

(albeit more weakly); the others stop at the edge of the inner lip 

359

A 

c 

Text fig. 5. Apices of Coluzea climacota (Suter) and C. cf. dentata 

(Hutton). A. C. climacota. R.S. Allan ColIn, McCullough's Bridge. 

B. Q. cf. dentata, GS 11,154, Pareora R. (Otaian). C & D. C. cf. 

dentata, GS 11.283, Bluecliffs, Otaio R. (Otaian). All figures X 30. 

B 

o

climacota and "typical" species of Coluzea are a matter of degree, not 

kind. 

In other respects, including the development and strength of 

spiral sculpture, the shape of the peripheral spines, character of 

growth lines and apertural details, Coluzea climacota is very similar 

to C. dentata. Apart from the protoconch, the main differences are 

the smaller size of Coluzea climacota, its more slender shape, less 

strongly keeled teleoconch and rather more prominent axial costae. 

1927 Trans. N.Z. lnst. 57: 430. 

Superfamily BUCCINACEA 

Family COLUMBELLIDAE 

Genus Liratllia Finlay 

Type species (original designation): Daphnella conguisita Suter, 1907, 

Pleistocene-Recent, New Zealand. 

Liratilia pulchella n.sp. PI. 4, fig. 36. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell small, narrowly ovate, spire 0.6 total height. 

Protoconch narrowly dome-shaped, of about 2 gently convex whorls, 

polished and smooth apart from numerous, very fine spiral striae. 

Teleoconch of 4! lightly to moderately convex whorls, last whorl con- 

tracted rather quickly to a short neck. Axial sculpture consisting 

of low, rounded, opisthocline costae with concave interspaces, tending 

to become obsolete on last whorl or earlier, reaching from suture to 

suture on spire but dying out quickly on base of last whorl. 14-16 

costae per whorl; also numerous fine growth lines between spirals. 

Spiral sculptlrre rather prominent, commencing as 6-7 low, flattish 

topped cords with narrow interspaces, occasionally joined on later

elow the 2 sub sutural grooves on last! whorl. Aperture narrow, 

elongate, columella gently convex, smooth. Inner lip distinctly 

366 

impressed; outer lip thin, flexuous, broadly and shallowly concave on 

upper 2/5ths, convex below. 

DIHENSIONS (rom): 

Holotype (incomplete) 


Height 

12.1 

15·0 



TYPE LOCALITY: GS 419, "marly greensands, Waihao River", colI. 

A. McKay. The exact provenance is unknown (see p. 115) but could be 

Waihao Downs (Bartonian) or McCullough's Bridge. 

LOCALITIES: GS 479 (holotype); GS 480, "Island Sandstone", Waihao 

River (?Late Dannevirke Series) (two paratypes, fide Suter, 1911); 

GS 11,216, South Branch Waihao River, opposite "Waihao Downs ti homestead 

(Bortonian) (two specimens); GS 9480, McCullough's Bridge (probably 

Kaiatan) (one specimen). 

STRATIGRAPHIC RANGE: ?Late Dannevirke Series, Bortonian-Kaia:tan. 

REMARKS: The above description is based on the specimen from GS 9480. 

One of the Bortonian shells from South Branch, Waihao River is very 

similar, the other has less prominent spiral sculpture. All are 

considerably more slender than the holotype of mackayi, but in view of 

the uncertainty surrounding the type locality and the probability of 

some variation in shape in this species, it would be unwise to propose 

a new name for the McCullough's Bridge and Waihao Downs shells. 

I1itrella (Bastro:eia) mackayi is remarkably similar to the type 

species of Bastropia (figured by Palmer, 1931, pl. 37, figs. 1, 1) and 

Quite distinct from any other New Zealand columbellid. The subgenus

is known only from the l'1iddle Eocene of Texas and Ivlississippi and the 

Middle to Upper Eocene of New Zealand. 

Family NEPl'UNEIDAE 

Genus Austrofusus Kobelt 

1879 Syst. Conch. Cab. (2) Lief. 281: 121. 

Type species (by subsequent designation, Martens, 1881): Drupa glans 

Roeding, 1198, Pleistocene-Recent, Ne"l Zealand. 

Austrofusus (Austrofusus) separabilis nosp. Pl. 12, fig. 156. 

1926 Austrofusus (s.str.) acuticostata (Suter); Allan, T.N.Z.I. 51: 

291 (not of Suter, 1911). 

DESCRIPTION: Shell of moderate size, biconic, spire about half total 

height. Protoconch conical, of 4 convex whorls with small and bulbous 

nucleus; narrow, weakly opisthocyrt costellae on last 1- whorl and a 

few weak spirals toward end, other\'lise smooth. Teleoconch of about 1 

whorls in adult shells, first few whorls usually rather evenly convex 

with only a slight indication of a shoulder. On later whorls the 

shoulder (at or slightly above middle) becomes progressively more 

distinct, producing a moderately steep, flat or gently concave sutural 

ramp, sides vertical. Last whorl with prominent peribasal angle 

giving it a biangulate outline. Below this, the last whorl is broadly 

and deeply excavated with a moderately long, curved neck. Axial 

sculpture consisting of prominent rounded, orthocline costae with broad 

concave interspaces which reach from suture to suture on early whorls 

but scarcely extend above shoulder on later whorls, dying out rapidly 

on sutural ramp. On last whorl, costae die out on upper part of base, 

somewhat below the peribasal angle. 12-13 costae on penultimate whorl.

Other axial sculpture consisting of numerous fine growth lines. Spiral 

sculpture prominent, consisting primarily of 6 or 7 narrow, subequal 

cords with additional finer cords and interstitial threads appearing 

later. On later whorls the primary cord on the shoulder is somewhat 

;68 

more prominent than the others while the cords on the sutural ramp are 

weaker than the 2 primaries between the shoulder and the lower suture. 

The spiral cord marking the peribasal angle on the last whorl is 

similar in strength to the shoulder spiral and is accompanied on base 

and neck by about 12 cords with one or two interstitial threads, de 

creasing in strength anteriorly. Spirals thicken slightly \ ... here they 

cross axial costae, especially on shoulder and peribasal angle which 

become bluntly serrated as a result. Spirals are themselves finely 

granulated by growth lines. Aperture capacious, pyriforrn; columella 

gently concave posteriorly, twisted to left at beginning of the curved, 

open siphonal canal. Inner lip moderately to heavily callused in 

adult shells, a few basal spirals showing through parietal callus, 

otherwise smooth. Outer lip almost straight, orthocline or slightly 

prosocline, thickened within and bearing about 15-16 short, narrow 

lirae in adult shells. Fasciole weakly marked. 

DIMENSIONS OF HOLOTYPE: Height (lacks protoconch) 30.0, greatest 

diameter 19.4 mm. 


TYPE LOCALITY: GS 9480, }lcCullough I s Bridge (probably Kaiatan). 

LOCALITIES: McCullough's Bridge: GS 9480 (holotype and two paratypes); 

GS 9508 (two adult and five juvenile paratypes); R.S. Allan collection 

(t, ... o subadul t para types) ; ?GS 11,155, Hampden Beach (Bortonian) (one 

damaged shell that may belong here). 

STRATIGRAPHIC RANGE: ?Bortonian-Kaiatan.

preserved holotype and paratypes. 

'572 

Austrofusus cf. bicarinatus differs from A. separabilis n.sp. in 

its smaller size, more fragile shell, more sharply keeled whorls with 

sharper serrations and finer spiral sculpture on spire whorls, 

particularly on the sutural ramp. 

1926 Trans. N.Z. lnst. 56: 233. 

Genus Nassicola Finlay 

Type species (original designation): Neptunea (Sipho) costatus Hutton, 

1877 non Link, 1807 (= Austrofusus (Nassicola) contractus FInlay, 1926), 

Lower-Middle Miocene, New Zealand. 

Nassicola sp. 

Allan (1926c: 291) recorded "Nassicola cf. costata Hutton" from 

McCullough t s Bridge and Finlay and Marwick (1937= 77) noted that; "two 

specimens in the Finlay collection" from the same locality were 

"inseparable from N. nassa Finlay specifically". The only McCullough's 

Bridge Nassicola seen by the writer is a crushed but otherwise well 

preserved shell from GS 9508 that differs from both contracta and nassa 

(species that seem to have a considerable overlap in their recorded 

stratigraphic ranges) in its stronger spiral sculpture and less concave 

sutural ramp. Further material is required before the Waihao species 

can be firmly identified but it seems likely that a new species is 

represented.

amp usually gently concave due to presence of sub sutural swelling. 

Last whorl contracted rather quickly over gently convex base to a short, 

straight or curved neck. Axial sculpture commencing near beginning of 

375 

teleoconch, consisting of strong, \'lel1 rounded costae with broad, con 

cave interspaces, reaching from suture to shoulder on spire but obsolete 

on ramp and dying out on upper part of base of last whorl. Costae tend 

to become obsolete on last ird whorl. 8-10 costae on penultimate whorl. 

Spiral sculpture variable, in some specimens consisting of 3-5 narrow 

rather weak, low cords below the shoulder on spire whorls and a few 

subobsolete grooves on ramp, others with fine cords on ramp and up to 8 

slightly stronger ones below, and a few shells \·lith moderately strong 

cords on both ramp and whorl sides. Spirals on base and neck of last 

whorl similar in strength to, or considerably stronger than those on 

lower part of spire whorls but tending to become obsolete towards 

anterior end. Spirals cross axial costae unchanged. Aperture pyriform 

with a short, open unnotched siphonal canal usually bent to left. 

Columella straight or gently concave posteriorly, convex below, 

normally bearing 2 plaits which vary considerably in strength, sub- 

obsolete in some individuals, moderately distinct in others. Anterior 

plait slightly the stronger. Inner lip moderately callused, outer lip 

thin, very gently sinuous, smooth within. 

Dll1ENSIONS (mm): 

Holotype 

Para type (GS 9508) 

Height 

9·2 

12.2 



TYPE LOCALITY: GS 9508, Tabu Member, McCullough's Bridge (Kaiatan). 

LOCALITIES: Quite common in collections from the Tabu .Nember, but 

probably ·often confused with the turrid Cordieria rudis (Hutton).

R»IARKS: The type species of Lathyrulus is more fusiform than 

L. fraudator, has a conical protoconch, a considerably longer last 

whorl and stronger columellar plaits and it is possible that the Waihao 

species is not congeneric. The type species of Nanaria Smith, 1906 

(M. thurstoni Smith, 1.906, 401 fathoms, Gulf of Bengal) is superficially 

similar to fraudator, but is larger (height 33 mm), has a single 

columellar plait and a lirate aperture. Wenz (1943: 1251) tentatively 

included Manaria in the Fasciolariidae. 

This is probably the species listed by Allan (1926c: 291) as 

"LaUrus" mysticus Allan MS. Some speoimens are remarkably similar to 

376 

Cordieria rudis but may be distinguished by the much larger protooonch 

and straighter outer lip. In C. rudis the posterior columellar plait 

is usually stronger than the anterior one, the reverse of the situation 

in fraudator. 

Genus Fractolatirus Iredale 

1936 Rec. Austral. Mus. 19(5)= 317. 

Type species (original designation): Fractolatirus normalis Iredale, 

1936, Recent, N.S.W. 

Fractolatirus(?) optatus (Harshall & Murdoch, 1923). Plo 4, fig. 42; 

pl. 12, fig. 155. 

1923 Latirofusus optatus Marshall and Murdoch; T.N.Z.I. 54: 123-4, 

pI. 12, fig. 2 • 

1926 Latirofusus optatus; Allan, T.N.Z.I. 57: 291. 

1966 Latirofusus(?) optatus; Fleming, N.Z. D.S.I.R. Bull. 173: 63. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell small, narrowly fusiform, spire 0.6 total height. 

Protoconch oonical, of about 4 whorls, apex rather narrow, a narrow cord 

margining lower suture appearing at beginning of 3rd whorl, gradually

ascending to sharply carinate the last whorl at anterior three quarters. 

Teleoconch of about 7 whorls, shouldered near middle on early ",horls, 

strongly and evenly convex on later whorls, last whorl contracted 

quickly to a rather long neck. Axial sculpture consisting of strong, 

rounded orthocline costae with broad, concave interspaces reaching from 

suture to suture on spire though usually weaker on posterior half, dying 

out on neck of last whorl. 7-9 costae on penultimate whorl. Spiral 

sculpture commencing as 3 narrow, subequal cords, one on shoulder, 

another just above suture, the third about halfway between. Additional 

cords appear on later whorls, 7 .. 8 in all on penultimate whorl, with 

about 14 or more appearing on base and neck of last whorl. Aperture 

pyriform, produced anteriorly into a moderately long na.rro", s.iphonal 

canal which is probably almost closed .in complete shells. Columella 

gently concave posteriorly, bearing a single weak plait (in one shell 

reduced to a weak denticle) near middle, twisted to left at inoeption 

of siphonal canal. Inner lip moderately callused, projecting noticeably 

in more complete shells. Outer lip thin, bearing a denticle near 

anterior end, otherwise smooth. 

growth lines. 


Holotype 

Topotype (GS 9480) 

Height 

10·7 

14·6 


TYPE LOCALITY: 11cCullough's Bridge. 

377 

Fasciole prominent, marked by lamellar 


LOCALITIES: McCullough's Bridge: GS 9480 (one specimen); GS 9508, 

Tahu !1ember (three specimens). 

REt1ARKS: This unusual little species has proved difficult to place 

generically. Latirofusus funiculosus Lamarck, 1803 (Eocene, Paris

y its more solid shell, more distinct sutures due to the presence of 

a weak sub sutural band, heavier axial costae and finer spiral sculpture, 

consisting of "weak incised spiral lines separated by wider flat areas, 

about ten on penultimate Hhorl, and scarcely seen surmounting the axial 

costae" (Laws, 1935b:26). All of these features are highly variable 

and oocur in various combinations in members of the E. waihaoensis 

popUlation. In some individuals the spiral sculpture undergoes a 

change from strong, well-spaced cords on early whorls to broad, low, 

flat cords with linear interstices like that on the type of submarginata. 

In other shells the "submarginata" sculpture is present throughout 

growth. 

383 

Two other names should probably be included in the synonymy of 

Exilia waihaoensis. Exilia crassicostata Suter, 1917, described from 

GS 630, "Teaneraki" (see p.117), was distinguished from \.,raihaoensls by 

its fewer, coarser axial costae (only 12 per whorl as agalnst 20 on the 

holotype of waihaoensis). The holotype of crassicostata (which is only 

15 mm in height) can be matched fairly closely with some small specimens 

of waihaoensis with 12-14 costae per whorl. Allan (1926c: 291) re 

corded crassicostata from McCullough's Bridge. 

Zexilia hampdenensis Marwick, 1942 was stated to differ from 

waihaoensis in having somewhat less convex whorls and more numerous 

axial costae (20 on penultimate, 28 on last whorl). In other respects 

the two species were considered very similar. Some topotypes of 

waihaoensis, however, have up to 20 costae on the penultimate whorl and 

although none has as many as 28 on the last whorl, this distinction may 

prove unimportant when more Hampden shells are available for comparison.

are: 

Falsicolus (Falsicolus) obruta Finlay, 1930 (probably Kaiatan - 

see Naxwell, 1968: 125). 

F. (:E'alsicolus) alla...Yli Finlay, 1930 (D1..mtroonian-Ivaita.1dan). 

F. (Falsicolus) kaiparaensis (Suter, 1917) (Otaian-Altonian). 

F. (Falsicolus) teuriensis Fleming, 1943 (Lillburnian). 

Besides these species there are undescribed forms from the Bortonian of 

Bortons and Pahi and the Al tonian of Parengarenga Harbour. 

Subgenus Liracolus nov. 

Type species: Pusinus solidus Suter, 1917, Upper Eocene, New Zealand. 

The majority of the described species of Falsicolus can be 

assigned to the new subgenus Liracolus which differs from the nominate 

subgenus in details of whorl shape and sculpture. fPeleoconch whorls 

are evenly convex throughout growth or become only moderately shouldered 

because of the development of a slightly concave sutural ramp. Axial 

sculpture consists of low, rounded costae reaching from suture to 

suture on early whorls but becoming obsolete on sutural ramp on later 

\>/horls. Costae may be somewhat nodular on periphery in some species, 

but none has the strong compressed tubercles or serrations found in 

Falsicolus (s.str.). In some species, notably F. levata, the axials 

tend to become completely obsolete on adult whorls. Spiral SCUlpture 

is variable but usually stronger than in Falsicolus (sostr.); in one 

species (F. waiauensis) the spirals are exceptionally coarse. 

Liracolus is superficially similar to Falsifusus Grabau, 1904 

(type species: Pusus ottonis Aldrich, 1897, Eocene, U.S.A.) but differs 

in having a distinct columellar twist. 

The following species are referred to Liracolus 

385

388 

and inurbana both have a conical protoconch of 3! .... lhorls with opistho- 

cyrt costellae on the last whorl. The similarities are unlikely to be 

the result of convergence in unrelated stocks and dictyotis is there- 

fore also referred to Falsicolus (Belacolus). The significance of 

protoconch differences in the fusinoid fasciolariids evidently needs 

some investigation. It seems probable that the Fusinus type protoconch 

(paucispiral) has evolved from the Falsifusus type (polygyrate-conical) 

on a number of different occasions in the past and that consequently 

the presence of a paucispiral protoconch in a fusinoid shell is not an 

infallible indicator of relationship to Fusinus colus Linnaeus, the 

type species of Fusinus. 

Falsicolus (s.str.) has not been found at NcCullough's Bridge, 

but Liracolus is not uncommon. Species of both groups occur together 

at Lorne, however, and in Oligocene beds at Hharekuri (Dnntroonian) and 

Trig. Z, Otiake (Waitakian). 

Falsicolus (Liracolus) solida (Suter, 1917). PI. 12, figs. 157, 158. 

1917 Fusinus solidus Suter; N.Z.G.S. Pal. Bull. 5: 23, ;pI. 3, fig. 14. 

1923 Verconella delicatula Marshall and Murdoch; T.N.Z.I. 54: 123, 

pl. 14, figs. 3 and 4. 

1926 Fusinus delicatulus; Allan, T.N.Z.I. 56: 340. 

--- 

1926 Colus delicatulus; Allan, T.N.Z.I. 57: 291. 

1926 Colus solidus; Allan, T.N.Z.I. 57: 291. 

1927 Colus delicatulus; Finlay, T.N.Z.I. 57= 413. 

1930 Falsicolus solidus (= V. delicatula); Finlay, T.N.Z.L 61: 263. 

1966 Falsicolus solidus; Fleming, N.Z. D.S.I.R. Bull. 173: 63. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell of moderate size, young shells rather fragile, 

adults tending to be robust, fusiform, spire 0.4 total height.

1840 Treat. Malac. 130: 320. 

Superfamily VOLUTACEA 

Family r1ITRIDAE 

Subfamily MITRINAE 

Genus Cancilla Swainson 

Type species (by subsequent designation, Herrmannsen, 1846): Tiara 

isabella Swainson, 1831, Recent, Indo-Pacific. 

Subgenus Fusimitra Conrad 

1855 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 7(7): 261. 

393 

Type species (by subsequent designation, Grant and Gale, "1931): Mitra 

mellingtoni (= millingtoni) Conrad, 1855, Upper Eocene, south-eastern 

U.S.A. 

Cancilla (Fusimitra) hectori (Hutton, 1905). Pl. 13, fig. 169. 

1905 Mitra hectori Hutton; T.N.Z.I. 37= 473, pI. 44, fig. 2. 

1915 Mitra (Cancilla) hectori; Suter, NeZ.G.S. Pal. Bull. 3: 20. 

1926 Mitra hectori; Allan, T.N.Z.I. 57: 291. 

1927 Mitra hectori; Finlay, T.N.ZeI. 57= 407. 

1966 Clifdenia hectori; Fleming, N.Z. D.S.I.R. Bull. 173: 64. 

- 

1970 Nitra (Mitra) hectori; Cernohorsky, B.A.LN. 8: 34. 

Small, probably subadult, specimens of a mitrid from McCullough's 

Bridge and the Kapua Tuffs appear to be conspecific with the elegant 

species long known as Nitra hectori. The protoconch is narrowly coni- 

cal, of about 4 smooth, lightly convex whorls, the teleoconch narrowly 

fusiform with spi're somewhat convex with a narrm'o' sutural shelf. 

Spiral sculpture on spire whorls consists of 3-6 very weak broad grooves

395 

Fusimitra, previously recorded only from the United States. M. hectori 

does not attain the large size reached by the type species (height up to 

about 125 rom - Palmer, 1947: 401) but closely resembles the Claibornian 

species F. poUta (Gabb, 1860) in size, shape and, as far as can be 

judged from the figures in Palmer (1937: pl. 66, figs. 16, 17h in 

sculpture. The only important difference behmen hectori and the North 

American species is the presence of an extra columellar plait in the 

former, but this may not be a supraspeclfically slt,'11ificant feature. 

The number of columellar plaits is certainly not a constant feature in 

other mitrid taxa (Cernohorsky, 1970: 5). 

Another taxon that is relevant in this disoussion of the 

affinities of hectori is Clifdenia Laws, 1932 (type species C. turned 

Laws, 1932, Altonian, Clifden), originally proposed as a genus of the 

Hitridae. Neither Laws nor Grant-Mackie (1965), who described a new 

subspecies of turneri, commented on the relationships of this genus, 

but Cernohorsky (1970: 61) removed it from the Mitridae to -the Volutidae, 

remarking that its affinities were with the Scaphellinae. Cernohorsky 

was particularly influenced in his decision by the columellar plaits. 

He states that they "are very unmitrid-like, they are distant with 

interspaces twice the width of the thickness of the folds, they are too 

deeply recessed for any mitrid, and the folds do not decrease in size 

from top to bottom; the second posterior fold is slightly thicker than 

the firstll. 

Cernohorsky's objections lose much of their force when a series 

of specimens, including young shells, is studied. The writer has 

examined adults of the type species from Clifden (Altonian), a young 

shell (probably of the subspecies inflata Grant-Mackie) from Pakaurangi 

(Altonian), subadult shells from the \1harekuri Greensands (Duntroonian)

and an adult and several young shells from GS 9805, Wendon Valley, 

Southland (Duntroonian). LThe Duntroonian shells are probably con 

specific \1ith the form recorded from Wharekuri by Laws (1932: 193) and 

possibly also from Shell Gully, Chatton, Southland (Duntroonian) (Grant 

Mackie, 1965: 8917. The subadult shells are narrowly fusiform with 

gently convex whorls, turned in to'.1ards the upper suture to form a 

narrow sutural shelf and sculptured by distant, feeble grooves on the 

spire and narr0\1 cords on the base and neck of the last whorl. They 

are in fact very similar to specimens of N. hectori. The columellar 

plaits occupy much the same positions as in hectori but are narrower, 

which of course makes them appear more widely spaced. As in hectori 

there are 4 prominent plaits and a fifth, much weaker one a:t the 

anterior end. The plaits decrease in strength from top to bottom. 

In the adult specimens the last 2 or 3 whorls become strorlgly c:onvex, 

the spiral grooves become obsolete and the spiral cords on base and 

neck become less prominent. The columellar plaits shift to a lower 

position and the fasciole, very feeble on young shells, becomes strongly 

marked. In the adult shell from Wendon Valley the plaits decrease in 

strength regularly. 

In view of the above observations, the writer calIDot endorse 

Cernohorsky's conclusions regarding the affinities of Clifdenia. It 

seems more likely that the volutoid appearance of Clifdenia is super 

ficial, a case of convergence in widely separated stocks. When COm 

plete apices of Clifdenia are found, they should prove to have proto 

conchs like hectori, i.e. narrowly conical and polygyrate. Despite 

their apparently close relationship, Clifdenia (known only from the 

Oligocene-Middle Miocene of New Zealand) and Fusimitra are probably 

\olOrthy of at least subgeneric distinction. Whether to regard hectori 

as an early species of Clifdenia (as did Fleming, 1966: 64) or as a 

396

DIMElISIONS (mm): 

Holotype 11. inconspicua 

(fide Suter, 1915) 

Holotype V. apicicostata 

Height 

17 

11·5 


7·5 

5.0 (est.) 

TYPES: Holotype M. inconspicua: M 3152, Canterbury Huseum. 

Holotype V. apicicostata: TM 5061, N.Z. Geological Survey. 

TYPE LOCALITY: Hutton (1885: 326) recorded 1'11 tra inconspicua from "Nt 

Harris" and "Waihao Greensands" without specifying a type locality. 

Suter (1915: 20) regarded the former (of Otaian or Altonian age) as the 

type locality, but Marwick (in Allan 1926a: 341) re-examined the two 

type specimens and concluded that they were definitely from the Waihao 

Greensands. The types of N. inconsEicua and 4 other species of mollusos 

described by Hutton (1877, 1885) were in fact collected by von Haast in 

1867 from a locality later given by Hutton (1886: 430) as "Waihao Forks". 

The exact provenance of Haast's fossils remains obscure, though 

McCullough's Bridge seems most probable (see p. 114). 

The type locality of V. apicicostatum is GS 479, "marly green- 

sands, Waihao River". As noted elsewhere (p. 115) the collection 

bearing this number is composite, but part, including the holotype of 

apicicostatum, is probably from McCullough's Bridge or a similar horizon. 

LOCALITIES: McCullough's Bridge (common in all collections from Tahu 

Member) (Kaiatan); GS 11,200, Kapua Tuffs (two shells) (Kaiatan); 

GS 9481, Lorne (Kaiatan); GS 4872, Port Elizabeth, Westland (Kaiatan); 

as 3301, Inangahua-Westport road (Kaiatan). Allan's record of 

inconspicua from Waihao Downs (Bortonian) (1926b: 289) probably refers 

to Waimatea amplexa Finlay, 1930. 

REt1ARKS; Cernohorsky (1970: 126) has pointed out that the holotype of 

apicicostatum falls within the limits of variation of ltlaimatea 

399

ounded anterior end and weaker columellar plaits. The two taxa 

appear, on shell characters at least, to be closely related and 

probably only 'VlOrthy of subgeneric separation. The common Lower Mio- 

cene marginellid Protoginella conica (Harris, 1897) (Altonlan, North 

Otago) differs from P. cenodoxa in its much larger shell (height up to 

8.0 rom), broader form and lower, more conical spire. 

Subgenus Alaginella Laseron 

1957 Austral. J. Mar. Freshw. Res. 8(3): 286. 

Type species (original designation): Marginella ochracea Angas, 1871, 

Recent, N. S • v"- 

Protoginella (7 Alaginella) ponderi n.sp. PI. 5, figs. 57, 58. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell small, strombiform, spire bluntly conical, 0.25 

total height. Protoconch dome-shaped, largely obscured by thin callus. 

Teleoconch difficult to distinguish from protoconch, of about 2ft convex 

whorls, most specimens with a very weakly defined, well-rounded shoulder, 

last whorl contracted gradually, with only a weak suggestion of any 

excavation anteriorly. Sutures 'Vleakly impressed, covered by callus, 

barely distinguishable. Aperture elongate, rather narrow, rounded 

anteriorly. Columella with 4 moderately strong plaits arranged 

similarly to Protoginella cenodoxa. Outer lip with a similar profile 

to P. cenodoxa but with a shallower posterior sinus. Outer lip some 

what thickened internally and bearing a number of rather weak denticles 

within, adapertural face tending to be somewhat flattened, making the 

outer edge bluntly angled. External callus moderately thick. 

DD1ENSIONS OF HOLOTYPE: Height 4.0, greatest diameter 2.4 rom. 

406

Genus Volvarinella Habe 

1951 in Kuroda, Illus. Cat. Jap. Shells 1(16): 101. 

Type species (original designation): Vol varinella makiyamai Habe, 

1951, Recent, Japan. 

Synonym (fide Coan 1965: 190): Longinella Laseron 

1957 Austral. J. Mar. Freshw. Res. 8(3): 286. 

Type species (original designation): Harginella .maugeana Hedley, 1915, 

Recent, south-east Australia (non Longinella Gras and Lestage, 1927). 

Volvarinella aveniformis (Narsha1l, 1919). PI. 5, fi g. 56 • 

1919 Marginella aveniformis Marshall; T.N.Z.I. 51: 230, pI. 15, 

fig. 8. 

1966 Narginella (Volvarinella) aveniformis; Fleming, N.Z. D.S.I.R. 

Bull. 173: 69. 

DIAGNOSIS: A moderate-sized, alongate-ovate Volvarinella, spire 0.35 

total height, teleoconch spire whorls gently and evenly convex, last 

whorl weakly excavated anteriorly. 4 strong columellar plaits, the 

anterior one almost vertical; outer lip descending steeply from suture, 

no posterior sinus; anterior end truncated, unnotched. 

DIMENSIONS OF HOLOTYFE: Height 6.2, greatest diameter 2.9 mm. 

HOLOTYPE: TH 5063, NeZ. Geological Survey. 

TYPE LOCALITY; Hampden Beach, North Otago (Bortonian). 

LOCALITIES: Hampden; GS 9508, Tahu Member, McCullough's Bridge 

(Kaiatan) (one specimen). 


REMARKS: The specimen from GS 9508 is smaller than the holotype 

408

(measuring only 4.8 x 2.5 rom) but agrees with it in all other 

significant features. Vol varinella haka taramea (Naxwell, 1969) 

(Waitakian, Brothers Stm) is considerably larger than V. aveniformis 

and has a much more elevated spire and a smooth outer lip, but otherwise 

seems closely related. 

Family VOLUTIDAE 

Subfamily ZIDONINAE 

Genus Waihaioa Marwiclc 

1926 Trans. N.Z. Inst. 56: 266, 274-5. 

Type species (original designation): Waihaoia (vlaihaoial allanl 

Marwick, 1926, Upper Eocene, New Zealand. 

409 

Waihaoia was proposed for rather small, fusiform volutes with a 

"scaphelloid" protoconch of 2 or 3 whorls, teleoconeh sculpture of 

narrow axial costae or tubercles, a weak or obsolete fasciole and 4 or 

5 strong columellar plaits. In his description of the type speeies, 

Mar.lick (1926a: 275) described the protoconch as "scaphelloid, of about 

3 smooth whorls" and remarked that "the nucleus of the holotype is not 

normal, having the appearance of being unrolled". Examination of a 

number of well-preserved topotypes of allani has shown that Har, ... ick's 

description of the protoconch requires some modification. Most speci 

mens in fact have a strong apical spike like that found in the genus 

Spinomelon; only one small apical fragment was found with an 

irregular, bulbous nucleus like that of the holotype. Presumably 

Waihaioa allani normally shed the nucleus leaving the "caricelloid" 

spike on the succeeding .... 'horl; many living volutes with a horny 

nucleus have a similar deciduous habit (Dall 1890: 67-8) but in the

413 

anteriorly. Columella gently concave or almost straight, usually with 

5-7 narrow plaits which tend to become obsolete within the aperture, 

but occasionally almost smooth. Columellar callus pad bordered above 

by a shallOi'i groove ("basal groove" of Olson 1956: text fig. 1) that 

does not extend into the aperture. Above the basal groove is a weak 

ridge, bordering a very shallow sulcus that extends to the apex of the 

anterior notch. Rest of anterior callus band smooth, upper edge 

rather sharp, not bordered by a depressed band. Parietal callus rather 

narrow, outer edge extending almost vertically alongside the aperture, 

then sweeping backwards to form a V at the junction with the spire 

callus which extends down onto the upper tenth or so the last vlhorl. 

Outer lip slightly opisthocline, very gently concave on upper four 

fifths, somewhat prosocline below, the change in direction obtusely sub 

angled. 

DTI-lENSIONS OF HOLOTYPE: Height 11.9, greatest diameter 5.2 nun. 



LOCALITIES: McCullough's Bridge: quite common in collections from 

Tahu Member, but probably confused in the past with young Amalda 

morgani - GS 9508 (holotype and about 40 paratypes); GS 9480 (2ix para 

types); N.Z.G.S. (unnumbered colIn) (four paratypes); R.S. Allan ColIn 

(10 paratypes); GS 11,200, Kapua Tuffs (Kaiatan) (one paratype). 

REHARKS: Ancillus olsoni differs from all other described New Zealand 

ancillines in lacking a depressed band bordering the anterior callus. 

In his review of the Ancillinae, Chavan (1965) recognises 5 genus-group 

taxa lacking a "bande denticulaire" but 3 of these (Ancilla, Sparella 

and Chiloptygma) have callus covering the whole of the shell, whereas

HOLOTYPE: Canterbury .Huseum. 

TYPE LOCALITY: McCullough's Bridge (probably from Tahu Member, i.e. 

Kaiatan) • 

LOCALITIES: McCullough's Bridge (represented by numerous specimens 

in collections from Tahu Member; also noted in Highcliff Nember); 

Waihao DmVDs (Allan 1926a: 343) (Bortonian); GS 5653, Duntroon 

Livingstone Rd and GS 5653, 5658, Tokarahi (Bortonian localities in 

North Otago, recorded by Olson 1956: 27). 


REMARKS: Arnalda morgani is one of the most common molluscs in the 

Tahu Member at McCullough's Bridge but is not known from the Kapua. 

Tuffs where a species of Alocospira apparently takes its place. It is 

also absent from the supposedly deeper-water beds at Hamp(ien (Bortonian). 

1899 Essai Pal. Compo 3: 64. 

Subgenus Alocospira Cossmann 

416 

Type species (original designation): Ancillaria papillata Tate, 1889, 

Pliocene, Victoria, Australia. 

Arnalda (Alocospira) komata n.sp. Pl. 13, figs. 170, 111. 

ETYMOLOGY: From the Naori komata - a nipple. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell rather small, subcylindrical to narrowly ovate, 

spire 0.5-0.6 total height with a distinctly papillate apex formed by 

protoconch and early teleoconch whorls projecting above posterior 

callus. About 5-6 ",horls in all, last whorl gently convex; tapering 

gradually to the ,truncated anterior end. Posterior callUS composed of 

two distinct deposits, the spire callus and the parietal callus, the

egarded as being subgener1.cally distinct. Ponder (1968a: 43-4), how- 

419 

ever, concluded that the New Zealand species referred to Alocospira are 

incorrectly located and are, in fact, closely related to Ancillaria 

edithae Pritchard and Gatliff, 1898 (Recent, southern Australia), the 

type species of Austrancilla Habe, 1959, which he synonymised with 

Gracilispira. This conclusion has been disputed by Beu (1970a: 130) 

who points out that A. edithae and the New Zealand Alocospira are more 

closely related to the type species of Alocospira than to such living 

Australian forms as Arnalda marginata (Lamarck, 1810) and A. oblonga 

(Sowerby, 1830) that Ponder regarded as typical Alocospira. Arnalda 

marginata, in particular, is an unusual species with an inflated shell, 

a large, strongly projecting apex, thin spire callus, restrlotecl 

parietal callus and sculpture of 2 strong spiral cinguli on the spire 

whorls, quite unlike the spirals in A. papillata and related species. 

It may well require a new genus or subgenus. 

Subgenus Micrancilla nov. 

Type species: Arnalda (Micrancilla) granum n.sp., Upper Eocene, New 

Zealand. 

DIAGNOSIS: Shell very small for subfamily, narroHly ovate, spire 

elevated, apex rather broad, well-rounded. Parietal callus thin, 

ascending almost vertically from the top of the columella then bending 

back sharply, running parallel to and at some distance from the base 

of the callus band in the previous whorl, so producing a clear spiral 

band on posterior portion of whorls. Sutures just hidden by callus. 

Aperture small, narrowly ovate, columella short, nearly vertical with 

a few narrow plaits. 

Hicrancilla differs from other Ne'd Zealand ancillines in its

end. Parietal callus ascending almost vertically from the top of the 

columella to above the top of the aperture where it bends back rather 

sharply to run parallel to the lower edge of the callus band on the pre 

ceding \omorI, thus producing a clear, uncallused band about !rd whorl 

wide on the posterior part of the spire whorls. Parietal callus 

thickest near posterior end of aperture, forming a distinct ridge in 

the holotype. Sutures barely covered by callus. No true spire 

callus. Aperture narrowly ovate, constricted posteriorly, moderately 

strongly notched anteriorly. Columella short, almost vertical, weakly 

concave, bearing 4 narrow, oblique plaits, the topmost the strongest. 

Basal groove shallow, rather indistinct. Anterior callus moderately 

thick, bordered above by a comparatively broad depressed band. Outer 

lip opisthocline for a very short distance below suture then almost 

vertical and slightly concave down to the depressed band "ihere it be 

comes slightly prosocline before curving back to the anterior noteh. 

DIMENSIONS OF HOLOTYFE: Height 5.7, greatest diameter 2.1 mm. 



LOCALITIES: McCullough's Bridge - GS 9508 (holotype and five paratypes); 

GS 1986 (two paratypes). 

REMARKS: The undescribed species fromGS 3301 differs from M. granum 

in having more distinctly concave spire whorls, but is otherwise very 

similar. Young specimens of Arnalda (Gracilispira) morgani are readily 

distinguished from M. granum by their more inflated shells, more pro 

nounced basal groove above the columellar pad and more extensive 

posterior callus which completely covers the spire whorls and spreads 

down on the upper part of the last whorl. 

421

1758 Systema Naturae ed. 10: 712. 

Superfamily CONACEA 

Family CONIDAE 

Genus Conus Linnaeus 

Type species (by subsequent designation, Children 1823): Conus 

marmoreus Linnaeus, 1758, Recent, Indo-Pacific. 

Conus (s.l.) ,gagei n.sp. Plo 13, fig. 175. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell of moderate size, biconic, spire 0.25 total height. 

Protoconch missing, about 8 whorls on teleoconch, obtusely shouldered a 

short distance above suture on spire, sutural ramp (or anal fasciole) 

gently concave, moderately steep, outlines of spire slightly convex. 

Last whorl contracted gradually, unexcavated; periphery rounded. 

Spiral sculpture consisting of a few weak threads on anal fasciole, 

about 5 on penultimate whorl, joined by about 45 rounded cords on last 

whorl, present over whole of base but tending to become obsolete 

posteriorly, those on anterior end moderately strong and well-spaced. 

No axial sculphtre seen apart from fine growth lines, but possibly once 

present on the slightly corroded early whorls. Aperture narrow, inner 

and outer lips quite parallel, columella unexcavated. Outer lip thin, 

s".,inging forwards in a broad curve below the moderately deep anal sinus. 

DIHEN$IONS OF HOLOTYPE: Height 40, greatest diameter 16.6 rum. 



REMARKS: Conus pseudoarmoricus Marshall and Murdoch, 1920 (Bortonian, 

Hampden) is similar to this species, but has a more strongly gradate 

422

extant species are uncertain. Nonetheless, an attempt has been made 

here to allocate the McCullough's Bridge turrids to the subfamilies 

recognised by McLean. 

1942 Bull. Auck. Inst. Hus. 2: 99. 

Subfamily CLAVINAE 

Genus Tahudrillia Powell 

Type species (original designation): Tahudrillia simplex Powell, 1942, 

Upper Eocene, New Zealand. 

425 

Tahudrillia simplex lacks a parietal callus pad and is therefore 

only doubtfully referred to the Cla,yinae (as amended by Morrison 1966 

and McLean 1971). However, it does show some resemblance to species 

of Splendrillia, which McLean (1971: 116) includes in this subfamily. 

Tahudrillia simplex Powell, 1942 

1942 Tahudrillia simplex Powell; B.A.IoN. 2: 99, pI. 4, fig. 4, 

text fig. C13. 

1966 Tahudrillia simplex; Po\vell, B.A.I.M. 5: 87-8, pI. 13, fig. 18. 

1966 Tahudrillia simplex; Fleming, N.Z. D.S.I.R. Bull. 173: 73. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell small, elongate-biconic to narrowly fUsiform, 

spire 0.55 total height. Protoconch dome-shaped, of 1! smooth, 

strongly convex whorls. Teleoconch of about 5i whorls, subangled 

near middle on spire, sutural ramp slightly concave. Last whorl con 

tracted gradually, some shells with shoulder more sharply defined than 

on spire, base scarcely excavated, neck only weakly defined on most 

shells. Axial sculpture of elongated nodules or low, broadly rounded 

opisthocline costae strongest on periphery, usually obsolete on ramp

428 

peripheral costae by weak growth ridges. During growth costae become 

increasingly more restricted to periphery and assume a comma shape. 

15-18 costae on penultimate whorl. Spiral sculpture weak on spire 

whorls, consisting typically of a narrow suprasutural cord, sometimes 

accompanied by one of similar strength halfway between it and periphery 

and about 3 very ,\-leak threads on periphery i taelf. On some shells, in- 

eluding the holotype, about 3 weak threads appear on the ramp on the 5th 

whorl or so. 15-17 additional spirals appeax' on base and neck of last 

whorl, the upper 5 or so of similar strength to those on the lower part 

of the spire whorls, the remainder becoming increasingly more closely 

spaced and indistinct anteriorly. Aperture elongate-pyriform, columella 

gently convex, siphonal canal long, narrow, open. Inner lip thinly 

callused, slightly impressed; outer lip thin, smooth within, descending 

o 

vertically from suture, swinging rapidly through 90 at the periphery to 

form a typical deep, narrow sinus, then swinging forward broadly below. 

DIMENSIONS (mm): Height Greatest diameter 

Holotype 13.9 (incomplete) 4.7 

Topotype (GS 9508) 21.5 6.0 (est.) 

HOLOTYPE: TM 5064, N.Z. Geological Survey, collected G.H. Uttley. 

TYPE LOCALITY: McCullough's Bridge (probably from Tahu Member, i.e. 

Kaiatan) • 

LOCALITIES: McCullough's Bridge: moderately well represented in 

collections from Tahu Member; GS 11,200, Tapua Tuffs (one small shell 

with somewhat sharper axial costae on teleoconch but otherwise resembling 

NcCullough's Bridge shells) (Kaiatan). 

REMARKS: Gemmula waihaoensis is not particularly close to any other 

species so far described from New Zealand.

431 

Gemmula bimarginata is easily distinguished from G. waihaoensis 

by its smaller adult size, more rounded peripheral nodules, lack of 

subsutural ridges and by its two heavy basal spiral cords which are 

markedly stronger than those below instead of subequal to them. 

Gemmula duplex (Suter, 1917). PI. 6, fig. 66; pI. 13, fig. 174. 

1917 Turris dUElex Suter; N.Z.G.S. Pal. Bull. 5: 45-6, pI. 5, fig. 15- 

1926 Gemmula dUElex; Allan, T.N.Z.1. 56: 343. 

1926 Gemmula dUElex; Allan, T.N.Z.lo 57: 291. 

1942 Gemmula dUEl ex; Powell, B.A.loM. 2: 48. 

1964 Gemmula dUElexi Powell, Indo-Pacific Mollusca 1(5): 266. 

1966 Gemmula dUElexi Fleming, N.Z. D.S.l.R. Bull. 173: 70. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell small, narrowly fusiform, spire c. 0.6 total 

height. Protoconch tall, conical, of about 5 moderately convex whorls, 

last 2 whorls with rather closely spaced, narrm.,r opisthocyrt costellae 

that become more strongly opisthocline immediately above the suture. 

Teleoconch of about 8 whorls, bluntly angled somewhat below middle on 

spire, peripheral band of variable width, normally rather narrow and 

sharp; sutural ramp and whorl sides concave, the former with a 

moderately strong subsutural fold. Last whorl contracted gradually, 

peribasal keel only moderately well marked, base slightly convex, neck 

long and narrow. Axial sculpture consisting of squarish peripheral 

gemmules that are rounded and blunt in some shells but normally rather 

prickly, and a row of small sub sutural gemmules, each of which is set 

forward considerably from the corresponding peripheral gemmule. 16 

gemmules on penultimate whorl. Spiral sculpture consisting primarily 

of a narrow cord margining and partly immersed in the lower suture. 

On most shells a cord of similar strength appears during growth between

unknown, but in teleoconch features, the first is quite similar to 

Marshallaria impar, the second is not unlike M. waitakiensis in shell 

shape, sculpture and sinus, while the third is closely related to a new 

439 

species described below as Narshallaria decipiens. All are certainly 

more conveniently placed in Harshallaria than in Marshallena. 

The holotype of Turricula esdailei has a dome-shaped, almost 

smooth protoconch like that of Verconella formosa, the type species of 

the new genus Tahuia (see below). 

The most surprising case, however, is Marshallena carinaria. 

Powell (1935b: 337) describes the protoconch as "tiny, smooth ••• of 2-! 

whorls" but a topotype collected by the writer has very fine opistho 

cline costellae crossed by weaker prosocline costellae on at least the 

last whorl. Such decussate protoconch sculpture is known in the rrurri- 

dae only in the subf8Jllilies Daphnellinae and 'l'hatherHnae. The sharply 

keeled teleoconch whorls and the axial sculpture of short, narTO\" costae 

that are tubercular on the shoulder and absent from the sutural ramp 

suggest that M. carinaria should be referred to the thatcheriine genus 

Clinura, although the sinus is deeply arcuate with its apex near the 

middle of the sutural ramp rather than near the suture as is normal for 

that genus. For this reason, its assignment to Clinura is only 

tentative. 

Marshallaria (Marshallaria) 

The type species of Marshallaria is the uncommon McCullough's 

Bridge shell Verconella spiralis, which is of broadly fusiform, almost 

biconic shape with bluntly shouldered teleoconch whorls sculptured by 

rather weak, narrow axial costae and crisp, squarish-sectioned spiral 

cords with only occasional interstitial threads. The aperture is

Tahuia, and having strong spiral sculpture on the last whorl (Powell 

1942: text fig. B4; 1966: 37). Teleoconch features are also rather 

different; Acamptogenotia attains a larger size (height of at least 

443 

55 rom), has a more weakly excavated last whorl and tends to have axial 

sculpture reduced to peripheral nodules on adult whorls (Powell 1966: 

37). 

Tahula formosa has long been confused with the superficially 

similar species of Marshallaria described bel 0'11 as M. decipiens n. sp. 

Besides the type species, Tahuia includes the slightly younger 

Turricula esdailei and an undescribed species from the Bluecliffs Silt 

stone (Otaian) of Pareora R. The latter species has a somewhat more 

depressed protoconch, weaker and more strongly opisthocllne costae and 

coarser spiral cords on the teleoconch than the two Eoeene species. 

To summarise this revision of the turrids hitherto assigned to 

Marshallena and Marshallaria, the species are listed below, with the 

age and locality of the holotype following the nrune. 

Genus Marshallena 

Subfamily TURRICULINAE 

Marshallena neozelanica (Suter, 1917), Kaiatan, f.1cCullough' s 

Bridge. 

Genus Marshallaria 

Subgenus Marshallaria s. str. 

I1arshallaria (Marshallaria) spiralis (Allan, 1926), Kaiatan, 

McCullough's Bridge. 

M. (Marshallaria) senilis (Marshall & Murdoch, 1920), Bortonian, 

Hampden.

1927 Trans. N.Z. Inst'. 57: 413. 

Genus Narshallena Finlay 

445 

Type species (original designation): Belophos incertus Harahall, 1919 

(= Daphnella (Raphitoma) neozelanica Suter, 1917), Biddle-Upper Eocene, 

Ne',.,r Zealand. 

Synonym: Narshallena Allan. 

1926 Trans. N.Z. Inst. 57: 201, 285, 289, 291. 

Type species (by subsequent designation, Finlay, 1930): Daphnella 

(Raphitoma) neozelanica Suter, 1917. 

See Beu et ale (1969: 46). 

Harshallena neozelanica (Suter, 1917)· PI. 14 , fig. 18"'. 

1917 Daphnella (Raphitoma) neozelanica S'.l.ter; N.Z.G.S. PaL BulL 

5: 60, pl. 7, fig. 4. 

1919 Belophos incedus Marshall; T.N.Z.I. 51: 229, plo 15, fig. 3. 

1926 "Belophos!l incertus; Allan, T.N.Z.I. 56: 341, pI. 76, fig. 8. 

1926 Narshallena neozelanica (==Belophos incertus)i Allan, T.N.Z.I. 

57: 291 (list and footnote). 

1927 l'1arshallena neozelanica; Finlay, T.N.Z.lo 57: 413. 

1942 Narshallena neozelanica; Powell, B.A.LN. 2: 82, text figs. 

B7, E33· 

1966 Marshallena neozelanica; Powell, B.A.I.l'1. 5, pI. 1, figs. 14, 

15, text fig. A3, 21. 

1966 I>larshallena neozelanica; Fleming, N.Z. D.S.loR. Bull. 173: 72. 

1969 Marshallena neozelanica; Pm"eU, Indo-Pacific Nollusca 2( 10): 

365,372, pl. 277, figs. 1,2. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell of moderate size, fusiform, spire 0.45 total

length. Outer lip thin, vlith a broadly arcuate sinus occupying 

whole of sutural ramp, swinging forvlard gently belm." shoulder. 

447 

DDlEHSIOKS (mIn): Height Greatest diameter 

Holotype D. neozelanica 14.1 (slightly 6.4 (est.) 

incomplete) 

II B. incertus 17.0 ( " ) 

Hypotype (GS 9508) 21.5 9·5 

HOLOTYPES: D. neozelanica, TN 5074, N.Z. Geological Survey. 

B. incertus, Tf.r 5075, N.Z. Geological Survey. 

TYPE LOCALITIES: D. neozelanica; GS 630, "Teaneraki", i.e. vlcd.hao 

R., possibly mouth of Piru18.cle Gully. B. incerb-l.?.i Hampdrm Beach, 

North Otago (Bortonian). 

LOCALITIES: McCullough's Bridge - not common in collections from Tahu 

Member, but probably under-represented because of its fragUit,j; 

Hampden Beach. 

STRATIGRAPHIC RANGE: Bortonian-Kaiatan.

etween the anterior cords on later whorls, the number of spire spirals 

does not increase. On last whorl an additional 15-16 cords, some with 

449 

interstitial threads, appear on base and neck, all except for those on 

the IOHer part of the neck, comparable in strength vlith the spire 

spirals. Axial sculpture of rounded or triangularly-sectioned opistho- 

cline costae extending from lOy/er sutu.re to shoulder but scarcely 

evident on ramp on spire whorls, and dying out

aised in large paratype. Outer lip thin, with a broad, shallow 

454 

arcuate sinus occupying sutural ramp, broadly convex below. Siphonal 

fasciole moderately well-developed on large paratype, rather weak on 

holotype. 


Holotype 

Para type 

(R.S. Allan ColIn) 

Height 

25.7 

39.5 (slightly 

incomplete) 

HOLOTYFE: Canterbury Museum, ex R.S. Allan ColIn. 


11.8 (slightly 

distorted) 

TYPE LOCALITY: McCullough's Bridge, probably from Tahu Member (Kaiatan). 

LOCALITIES: McCullough's Bridge - R.S. Allan CoHn (holotype anti para 

type); GS 9480 (one young paratype with protoconch); GS 9508 (bw 

paratypes, one a young shell, the other a fragmentary a.dult). 

REr1ARKS: Marshallaria (Zeatoma) allani appears to be closer to 

M. celsa (Marwick, 1931) (Tongaporutuan, Gisborne district) than to 

other species of the subgenus. The holotype of !'1_, celsa is crushed 

and lacks part of the anterior end, but it seems to have had more 

numerous but much more subdued spiral cords on the base and neck of the 

last whorl. 

Marshallaria (s.l.) n.sp. C. 

A small slightly damaged shell from HcCullough's Bridge, 

measuring about 19 x 8 mm, has a typical Marshallaria protoconch but 

differs from the 3 species described above in having teleoconch 

sculpture of narrow, strongly opisthocline costae (15 on penultimate 

whorl) crossed on spire vmorls by a few weak spiral threads, the 

strongest on the shoulder. An additional ·12 or so somewhat stronger 

but still very subdued spirals are present on base and neck of last

1924 Trans. N.Z. lnst. 55: 514. 

Genus Parasyrinx Finlay 

Type species (original designation): Pleurotoma alta Harris, 1897, 

Lower Hiocene, He'." Zealand. 

1942 Bull. Auck. Inst. Hus. 2: 69. 

Subgenus Lirasyrinx Powell 

Type species (original designation): btrasyrinx anomala Powell, 1942, 

Oligocene, Hew Zealand. 

Parasyrinx (Lirasyrinx) pm·lelli n.sp. Plo 14, figs. 189, 194. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell of moderate size, fusiform-pagodii'orm, spire about 

half total height. Protoconch dome-shaped, of 3 strongly convex whorls, 

nucleus bulbous but not projecting greatly, last whorl with about 6 

narrow spiral cords, remainder apparently smooth. Ireleoconch of 7 

whorls, sharply keeled somewhat below middle on spire, last whorl with a 

well-defined peribasal angle, contracted very gradually below, broadly 

excavated, neck long and narro\v. Sutural ramp steep, flat to gently 

concave, whorl sides sloping inwards. Spiral sculpture rather variable, 

typically commencing with a narrow cord margining the lower suture, 

gradually joined during growth by somewhat weaker cords on whorl sides 

(8-10 on penUltimate whorl of adults) and a few weak spirals on ramp, 

tending to be strongest posteriorly. On last \vhorl the supra sutural 

cord emerges as the peribasal angle, accompanied by a variable number 

of weaker cords on base and neck (about 22 on holotype), becoming in 

distinct anteri.orly. (On the figured paratype the supra sutural cord 

remains weak throughout, even on the last whorl and so is scarcely 

distinguishable from the other spirals). Axial sculpture limited to

Inquisitor(?) waihaoensis POiwll, 1942. PI. 14, fig. 191. 

1942 Inquisitor "raihaoensis PO\.,rellj B.A.LN. 2: 95, pI. 3, fig. 2. 

1966 Inguisitor waihaoensisj Fleming, N.Z. D.S.I.R. Bull. 113: 13. 

410 

DIAGNOSIS: A slender, fusiform turrid with spire c. 0.6 total height, 

weakly shouldered ",horls, a low sub sutural fold that becomes less dis- 

tinct on later whorls and a steep, concave sutural ramp. Axial sculp- 

ture of rather narrow opisthocline costae almost obsolete on ramp 

except where they weakly nodulate the subsutural fold on early "'horls; 

13 on penultimate whorl. Spiral sculpture of \.,reak, narrow cords most 

prominent on base of last whorl. Aperture rather narrow, parietal 

callus very thin; anal sinus fairly broad and deep, U···shaped, occupying 

ramp. Apparently no "stromboid notch" in outer lip. 

DINENSIONS OF HOLOTYPE (fide Powell, 1942): Height 33.7, greatest 

diameter 9 mm. 

HOLOTYPE: Auckland Institute and Nuseum, .£.! H.J. Finlay ColIn. 

TYPE LOCALITY: McCullough's Bridge, probably from Tahu Member 

(Kaiatan) • 

LOCALITIES: 

. 

McCullough's Bridge - rare in Tahu Nember; GS 3213 (one 

shell); GS 9480 (one shell); GS 9508 (two shells). ?GS '11,200, 

Kapua Tuffs (one shell, doubtfully conspecific, with stronger spiral 

sculpture and more strongly concave sutUral ramp than MdCullough's 

Bridge specimens). 

REMARKS: This species is very doubtfully referrable to Inquisitor in 

view of its weak spiral sculpture, subdued sub sutural fold (sharply 

raised in typical Inquisitor) and the apparent absence of a parietal 

callus pad and a"stromboid notch". There is certainly little evidence 

to support Powell's suggestion th-'lt it is ancestral to the Lower Miocene

474 

this collection and differs from them in several significant features. 

In particular, the axial costae, if present at all, must have become 

obsolete at a much earlier stage of growth on the large shell (the 

early spire whorls are somewhat co:croded), the spirals on the base of 

the last whorl are stronger and more numerous, there are more columellar 

plications (11 as against 7 in the holotype) and the columella is oblique 

rather than nearly vertical. These differences are attributed to onto- 

genetic and intraspecific variation and are not considered to have 

taxonomic significance. 

Eoscobinella is very rare in the New Zealand Cenozoic, but one 

undescribed species, ve:rry similar to E. tahuia though with much weaker 

columellar plications I is lrnown by a single specimen from .u tonian ail t 

stone at Parengarenga Harbour. Beu (1970; 235) has described a frag 

mentary shell from the Tongaporutuan of Wairarapa as Eoscobinella sec\illda 

but the strongly convex whorls, prominent axial costae, strong raised 

spiral cords and the nature and high position of tile 2 remaining 

columellar plaits suggest that it is not closely related to E. tabuia 

or to the Parengarenga species. 

Subfamily MITROLUMU1INAE 

McLean (1971: 127) has recently revived this subfamily (first 

proposed by Sacco) for small turrids, usually truncated anteriorly with 

a weakly developed anal sinus and a plicate columella. Typical 

borsoniines, on the other hand, have an elongate aperture and a con 

siderably deeper anal sinus.

Genus Cordieria Rouault 

1848 Bull. Soc. geol. France (2) 5: 207. 

Type species (by subsequent designation, Cossmann, 1896): Cordieria 

iberica Rouault, 1850, Eocene, Europe. 

Cordieria is usually placed with Borsonia and related taxa in 

classifications of the Turridae, but its small size, rather short 

aperture and broad, shallow anal sinus suggests that it has more in 

common with the mitrolumnines. 

Cordieria rudis (Hutton, 1885). Pl. 5, figs. 51, 53-5. 

1885 Clathurella rudis Hutton; rr.N.Z.I. 17: 328. 

1915 Hangilia (Clathurella) rudisi Suter, N.Z.G.S. Pal. BulL 3: 39, 

pI. 8, fig. 14. 

1917 Borsonia (Cordieria) rudis; Suter, N.Z.G.S. Pal. Bull. 5= 84. 

1926 Borsonia rudis; Allan, T.N.Z.I. 51: 291. 

1930 Cordieria rudis; Finlay, T.N.Z.I. 61: 82, pl. 4, figs. 47-50. 

1930 Cordieria haastii Finlay, T.N.Z.I. 61: 83, pl. 4, figs. 57-9. 

1930 Cordieria verrucosa Finlay; T.N.Z.I. 61: 83-4, pl. 4, figs. 

60, 61. 

1942 Cordieria rudisj Powell, B.A.I.M. 2: 121, text fig. F14, 15. 

1942 Cordieria haasti; Powell, B.A.I.M. 2: 121. 

1942 Cordieria verrucosa; Powell, B.A.I.M. 2: 121. 

1966 Cordieria rudis; Powell, B.A.I.M. 5: 59, text fig. A3, 41. 

1966 Cordieria haasti, Powell, B.A.I.M. 5: 59. 

1966 Cordieria verrucosa; Powell, B.A.I.M. 5: 59. 

1966 Cordieria rudis; Fleming, N.Z. D.S.I.R. Bull. 173: 14. 

1966 Cordieria haasti Fleming, N.Z. D.S.I.R. Bull. 173: 74. 

1966 Cordieria verrucosai Fleming, N.Z. D.S.I.R. Bull. 173: 74. 

415

Text fig. 6. 

7 

'- 6 

 

-(f) 

E5 

(] 

°4 

3 6 7 

Text fig. 7. 

6 7 8 9 ro 

\ 

No. of costae \ 

I I 12 

Frequency diagram of nmnber of axial costae on 

penultimate whorl of Cordieria rudis (Hutton) 

from McCullough's Bridge. 

G rudls 

haasti 

)( verrucose 

f3

482 

and become quite obsolete near the aperture. 12 costae on penultimate 

whorl. Spiral sculpture rather weak, commencing as 4 narrow, low sub 

dued cords on whorl sides, the strongest on the shoulder, with a 

slightly weaker one appearing on the ramp a short distance below the 

suture on the 2nd whorl. During growth additional threads appear be- 

tween the primary cords while the cord on the ramp weakens drastically 

and is joined by a few very indistinct threads between it and the 

shoulder. About 18 additional low, rounded or flattish-topped cords 

appear on base and neck of last whorl. The cord marking the shoulder 

becomes slightly thickened where it crosses the axial costae, but the 

others cross them unchanged. Aperture pyriform, columella gently 

convex, only slightly twisted to left at inception of -the short, un 

notched siphonal canal. Inner lip thinly callused, \",eakly impressed 

posteriorly, flush below; outer lip thin, almost straight, sinus not 

differentiated. 




(holotype only). 

REMARKS: The type species of Syngenochilus has a "large, dome-shaped" 

protoconch, "flattened on top, of two whorls, first smooth, the second 

with 14 strong, regularly spaced axial ribs lt (Powell 1944: 66). The 

columella bears "four or five characteristic weak Daphnellid plications". 

A closely related species with similar protoconch and columellar 

features is represented by several specimens in a collection in the 

Geological Survey made by Dr A.G. Beu from the Glen Aire Clay (Upper 

Eocene), Victoria. Associated "lith this species is a superficially

first 4 whorls or so smooth, remainder with narrow, distant arcuate 

costellae and a fine supra sutural margining thread. Teleoconch not 

sharply marked off from protoconch, of at least 13 gently to moderately 

convex whorls, often wealdy and broadly sulcate posteriorly; last 

whorl contracted rather quickly, periphery well-rounded, base lightly 

convex, neck short. Axial sculpture of narrow, rather sharp-crested, 

orthocline to slightly opisthocline, opisthocyrt costae with wide con- 

cave interspaces, reaching from suture to suture on spire but dying out 

on periphery or upper part of base of las'r, whorl. 13-17 costae on 

penul timate whorl, their spacing tending to be irregular on last whorl 

or so. Spiral sculpture of numerous very fine threads elld grooves on 

later whorls of some shells but absent from most specimens, probably 

because of preservation. Aperture narrow, coltunella s traigh t to 

gently concave posteriorly, twisted to lefi; belm ... to form a short, 

shallowly notched siphonal canal. Inner lip lightly callused and im- 

pressed; outer lip broken in all specimens, apparently concave. 

Fasciole well-marked, margined by a narrow, sharp ridge that stops at 

the edge of the inner lip. 

DIMENSIONS (mm): Height Greatest diameter 

Holotype 30.2 (lacks canal and 7 (incomplete) 

apical tip) 

Hypotype (GS 9508) 19.7 

" ( " " ) 22.2 


TYPE LOCALITY: Hampden Beach, North Otago (Bortonian). 

DISTRIBUTION: Hampden; McCullough's Bridge - not particularly well 

represented in most collections from Tahu Member, most individuals 

tending to be subadult; GS 11,200, Kapua Tuffs, Waihao R. (one shell).


RENARKS: The holotype of Zeacuminia tahuia has weakly convex whorls 

and orthocline to slightly prosocline costae. Host of the specimens 

of ZeacLUninia from NcCullough I s Bridge have moderately convex whorls 'I'd th 

485 

opisthocline costae, but a few compare closely with the Hampden shell. 

As there is complete gradation behreen the lightly and moderately con 

vex ... ,horled forms and some variation in the inclination of the costae 

(sometimes even in one individual) in t1cCullough' s Bridge shells, they 

are considered to be conspecific with the Hampden species. 

The combination of slender shape, axial sculpture of narrow, 

sharp costae that remain fairly constant in strength across each Hhor1 

and the Heak spiral sculpture distinguish Zeacuminia tahula from the 

other species so far described from New Zealand. 

The rather misleading specific name dates from a period vlhen the 

Hampden beds Here considered to be of Tahuian age (see p. 97). 

?Family PERVICACIIDAE 

Rudman (1969 ) subdivided the tere braid shell s into hlO major 

groups, the Terebridae with a poison gland, and the new fruIlily 

Pervicaciidae, without a poison gland. Although some sort of sub 

division is probably warranted, it is unfortunate that Rudman's con 

clusions were based largely on a study of the Recent New Zealand 

species Pervicacia tristis (Deshayes, 1859) and not on the type species 

of Pervicacia, which mayor may not be closely related to tristis. 

Until such time as the anatomy of P. ustulata is studied in detail, 

there must be some doubt ,{hether Pervicaciidae can be maintained as 

distinct from Terebridae.

Genus Pervicacia Iredale 

1924 Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 49: 183, 262. 

486 

Type species (original designation): Terebra ustulata Deshayes, 1857, 

south-east Australia. 

?Pervicacia n. sp. PI. 15, fig. 202. 

Three terebroids from l"IcCullough t s Bridge differ from specimens 

of Zeacuminia tahuia in their less attenuate shells and in having finer 

and more numerous axial costae (19-25 on penultimate whorl). The 

whorls are broadly and wealcly concave posteriorly. In general appear- 

ance these shells resemble undescribed mid-Cenozoic species of Pe.£yicacia 

but as none of the specimens retains a protoconch (paucispiral in 'pervi 

cacia), their affinities are uncertain. 

DIMEb'SIONS (most complete shell, from GS 9508): 

conch) 18.3 rom, greatest diameter 5.9 rom. 

Height (lacks Pl.'oto- 

LOCALITIES: McCullough's Bridge - GS 9508, Tahu Member (two shells); 

R.S. Allan ColIn (broken shell consisting of last 3 whorls of specimen 

7.7 rom in diameter). 

Order 1:TEHATOGLOSSA 

Family CANCELLARIIDAE 

Olson (1970) has recently proposed that the cancellariids, on 

the basis of their highly unusual radulae, should be transferred from 

the Neogastropoda to a new order, the Nematoglossa. Olson did not 

propose any major subdivisions of the order, but it seems probable that 

more than one family should be recognised in the eli verse group of taxa 

presently included in the "Cancellariidae". Cossmann (1899: 4-5)

Narona s.str. and opisthocline, non-collabral costae in Naronista. 

488 

Non-collabral axial sculpture is, in fact, very rare in the Gastropoda 

and the writer knO\vs of no other instance of its occurrence in the 

c'3ncel12.riids. 

Narona (Naronista) kaitara n.sp. Pl. 15, figs. 198, 199. 

ETYNOLOGY: From the Naori kaitara - rough, treated as the feminine of 

a Latin adjective. 

DESCRIPrION: Shell rather small, biconic, spire moderately elevated, 

about half total height. Protoconch unknown, tel eo conch of about 6 

whorls, sharply angled just below middle on spire, sutural ramp rather 

steep, sides sloping inwards. 

excavated, neck well defined. 

Last whorl contracted gradually, Btrongly 

Sutures impressed. Axia.l sculpture 

consisting of low, rounded opisthocline, non-collabral costae reaohing 

from lower suture to shoulder on spire whorls but not extending across 

ramp, and dying out on lower part of base of last whorl. 10 costae on 

penultimate whorl. Spiral SCUlpture apparently commencing as 3 narrow, 

subequal cords, one on the shaul del', another iDal:gini nB' the lower suture, 

the other about halfway between, plus several indistinct threads on 

sutural ramp. During growth t.'1e shoulder spiral becomes noticeably 

stronger than the other 2 primary cords while the margining cord may 

become partially immersed in the suture. Weak threads also appear 

between the primaries on later whorls. On last whorl, 3 moderately 

strong cords with interstitial threads appear on base, accompanied by 

several much weaker ones (7 on holotype) on neck. Spiral cords thicken 

considerably on crossing the axial costae, particularly on the shoulder 

where prominent vertically compressed tubercles are formed. Aperture 

ovate, columella almost straight and vertical, gently twisted to the

489 

left anteriorly, at the inception of the short, weakly notched siphonal 

canal. 2 narrmv, oblique plaits near middle of columella. Inner lip 

weakly callused in young shell, more heavily in adult but not to the 

extent of completely obscuring the heav'-y basal spiral cords. Outer 

lip slightly prosocline, thin and weakly crenulated in young shell, 

bearing a heavy, rounded varix extending from suture almost to anterior 

end and lirate immediately within in adult. Fasciole rounded, rather 

weak., forming a small pseudumbilical chink between it and inner lip. 


Holotype 

Paratype (GS 9480) 

Height 


14.8 (lacks apex) 

18·4 (" ,,) 


8.4 

10.5 (est.) 

TYPE LOCALITY: GS 9508, Tabu Member, McCullough's Bridge (Kaiatan). 

LOCALITIES: McCullough I s Bridge - very rare in Talm Nember - GS 9508 

(holotype and damaged paratype); GS 9480 (paratype). 

Genus Unitas Palmer 

1947 Bull. Amer. Paleont. 117: 413-4. 

(non subst. pro Uxia Jousseaume, 1887 non \valker, 1866). 

Type species (original designation): Cancellaria costulata Lmnarck, 

1803, Eocene, Paris Basin and England. - 

Unitas marshalli (Allan, 1926). Pl. 7, fig. 78; pl. 15, fig. 200. 

1926 Uxia? marshalli Allan; T.N.z.r. 56: 342, pl. 17, figs. 3a, b. 

1926 Uxia? marshalli; Allan, T.N.Z.I. 51: 291. 

1927 Uxia? marshalli; Finlay, T.N.Z.I. 57: 428. 

1930 Uxia marshalli; Finlay, T.N.Z.I. 61: 81.

including rather weak and sporadic varices, on penultimate whorl. 

493 

Spiral SCUlpture consisting primarily of distant, narrow, rounded cords, 

4 or 5 on spire whorls, the topmost on the shoulder, with a few threads 

and numerous very fine threadlets appearing between the primary cords 

and on the sutural ramp during growth. S"or 9 additional cords, also 

with interstitial threads and threadlets, the 4 anterior mostly rather 

weak, appear on base of last whorl. Spirals considerably stronger on 

axial costae than in between them. Aperture ovate, rather capacious; 

columella gently concave, twisted to left below to form very short, 

unnotched siphonal canal. 3 narrow, subequal colwnellar plaits, the 

lowest on the twist. Inner lip moderately callused in columellar 

region, thinly in parietal region where the upper basal spirals show 

through as nodulose ridges. Outer lip prosocline, vl.i th a hea.vy, broad 

varix extending from the suture almost to the anterior end externally 

and bearing S-10 narrow lirae within. 


Holotype 

Para type 

Height 

14·0 

11.2 



TYPE LOCALITY: GS 950S, Tahu Member, McCullough's Bridge (Kaiatan) 

(holotype and paratype). 

RD1.ARKS: Assignment of this species to Fusiaphera is made largely on 

the basis of its general similarity to the living Japanese species 

referred there by Habe (1961). However, it should be noted that the 

Recent species have straighter columellas than F. jenkinsi and, as far 

as can be judged from the figures given by Habe, paucispiral protoconchs 

not unlike that in the Australian Miocene species Fusiaphera exal tata 

7.4 

6.s

496 

that. Plesiocerithium palmerae is undoubtedly related to P. magloirei 

and P. (Cancelrana) finexa, but its distinctive protoconch suggests 

that it is worthy of subgeneric separation, although careful examination 

of the hro last-named species i'roulo. be desirable before a new taxon is 

proposed. 

Genus Parapept8; noy. 

Type species: Parapepta pinguis n.sp., Upper Eocene, New Zealand. 

Shell small, ovate, spire elevated. Protoconch subcylindrical, 

the apex rather flattened, of 3! moderately convex whorls with a small 

slightly projecting nucleus, the last! whorl with narrow, rounded 

weakly opisthocyrt costae, the remainder apparently smooth. Teleoconch 

whorls strongly convex and inflated, sutures strongly impressed to 

canaliculate. Axial sculptu.re of prosocline, rounded costae, spiral 

sculpture of narrow but rather prominent cords. ApertlJ_re trigonal 

ovate, columella almost straight, bearing a single rather weak plait 

near the middle. Outer lip apparently smooth within. 

Parapepta has a very similar protoconch to Inglisella Finlay, 

1924 but differs in its strongly convex teleoconch whorls and deeply 

impressed to canaliculate sutures and in the presence of but one 

columellar pIal t. Pe.pta Iredale, 1925 (type species, Admete stricta 

Hedley, 1907, Recent, N.S.W.) also has a single columellar plait but 

only gently convex teleoconch whorls and a protoconch described by 

Laseron (1955b: 272) as a "single dome-shaped whorl". The aperture of 

Pepta stricta is rounded anteriorly and differs from the ovate-trigonal 

aperture of Inglisella and Parapepta.

eing weakly tubercular where they cross axial costae. Axial 

sculpture of broad, rather low, rounded, slightly prosocline costae 

with broad, concave interspaces, reaching from lower suture to upper 

angle on spire whorls, but dying out on rmnp before reaching upper 

suture. Costae die out rapidly on upper part of base of last whorl. 

8-10 costae on penultimate whorl. Aperture ovate, rounded anteriorly; 

columella almost straight posteriorly, becoming convex below, bearing 2 

narrow, oblique plaits near middle. Inner lip thinly callused 

posteriorly, laterally compressed to form sharp ridge bordering the 

weak spout near anterior end. 

7-10 narrow lirae within. 

DINENSIONS (mm): 

Holotype 

Paratype 

Outer lip thin, prosocline, bear.ing 

Height 

6.0 

8.4 



TYPE LOCALITY: GS 9508, Tahu Member, McCullough's Bridge (Kaiato.n) 

(holotype and four paratypes). 

REMARKS: Anapepta allani differs from the sympatric A. lamellifera in 

having more prominent primary teleoconch spirals that a.re tubercular at 

their intersections with the axial costae and in lacking the prominent 

lamellar growth lines of the latter species. Anapepta finlayi MaTIiick, 

1931 (Altonian, Awamoa Ck) also has biangulate spire whorls and tubercu 

late sculpture, but differs in having more numerous axial costae (12-14 

per whorl). A. nucleosa Marwick, 1931 (Lillburnian, Gisborne district) 

is also similar, but has a larger protoconch and \veaker and more strongly 

prosocline axial costae. 

502

shells, but that in other respects they are very similar. All speci- 

mens of Pyrgiscilla seen by the writer from McCullough's Bridge are 

much smaller and less robust than topotypes of P. hampdenensis (maximum 

height of 7 mm) and have flatter-sided whorls. In view of these 

differences, the Waihao shells are only tentatively assigned to 

fYrgiscilla hampdenensis. 

Genus Syrnola A. Adams 

1860 Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (3) 5: 405. 

Type species (by monotypy): Syrnola gracilli.ma A. Ada.ms, 1860, Hecent, 

Japan. 

Syrnola koekoa n.sp. PI. 7, fig. 85. 

ETYMOLOGY: From the Maori koeko - tapering to a point. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell moderately large for genus, very attenuate, spire 

very elevated. Protoconch small, of about 2 whorls, nucleus bulbous. 

Teleoconch of up to about 18 whorls, early whorls lightly convex, later 

whorls tending to become strongly overhanging anteriorly; base lightly 

convex. Spiral sculpture of numerous very fine stria.e, scarcely evi- 

dent on later spire whorls, most noticeable on base of last whorl; 

axial sculpture of fine growth striae only. Aperture ovate, columella 

almost vertical, gently concave, with a strong, sharp plait at posterior 

end. Inner lip thinly callused in parietal region, sharp and slightly 

reflected below; outer lip damaged in all shells, apparently almost 

straight and distinctly opisthocline. 

DIMENSIONS OF HOLOTYPE: Height 8.9 (almost complete), greatest 

diameter 1.6 mm •. (A fragmentary paratype from GS 1986 consisting of 

the last 5 \'/horls, measures 8.8 x 3.8 rom, indicating an original height 

508

Elodirunea eocenica Laws, 1941 

1941 (1) Elodiamea eocenica Laws; T.R.S.N.Z. 71(1): 18, pl. 2, 

fig. 18. 

1966 (?) Elodiamea eocenica; Fleming, N.Z. D.S.I.R. Bull. 173: 83. 

DIAGNOSIS: A small, ovate pyramidellid with whorls shouldered 

posteriorly producing a narrow sutural shelf, la.st whorl with rounded 

periphery. Axial SCUlpture of narrow, rounded, orthocline costae 

reaching from suture to suture on spire aXld dying out on upper part of 

base of last whorl. No spiral sculpture. 

oblique, arcuate, with a weak plait within. 


Holotype 

Topotype (R.S. Allan Colln) 

Height 

4.1 

4.6 


515 

Aperture ovate, columella 

Greatest dia.meter 

1.95 

TYPE LOCALITY: McCullough's Bridge (probably from Tahu Member, Le. 

Kaiatan). 

LOCALITIES: NcCullough's Bridge - R.S. Allan Colln (one shell). 

REMARKS: Laws did not comment on the weak columellar plait in this 

species, apparent only as a weak swelling on the columella on the holo 

type but more prominent on the topotype. The reference to Elodiamea 

seems reasonable if the similarity of E. eocenica to the Recent 

northern Australian species assigned here by Laseron (1959) is any 

guide. 

2.0

(holotype and two para-types). 

517 

REMARKS: This species is referred to Maxacteon rather than to Acteon 

Nontfort, 1810, on the basis of its similarity to the living H. milleri 

Rudman, 1971& Maxacteon can only be confidently distinguished from 

Acteon on anatomical features. Haxacteon rudmani is of similar shape 

to N. milleri but has considerably finer sculpture. 

Genus Acteon Montfort 

1810 Conchyliologie Systematique 2: 315. 

Type species (original designation): Voluta tornatilis Gmelin 

(:=< v. tornatiLis Linnaeus, 1766), Recent, Europe. 

? Acteon n.sp. 

An acteonid from the Kapua Tuffs, represented by two fragmentary 

shells, differs from other New Zealand species in its slender form, 

tall spire, flattish-sided spire whorls, spiral sculpture of fine in 

cised grooves and its sharp columellar plait. It is only tentatively 

referred to Acteon; the elongate shell and elevated spire suggests 

relationship to Tenuiacteon Aldrich, 1921 (type species T. pertenuis 

Aldrich, 1921, Eocene, Alabama). 

LOCALITY: GS 11,200, Kapua Tuffs, Waihao R. (Kaiatan).

whorl, tending to be narrower centrally than at the posterior and 

anterior ends. Aperture pyriform, strongly constricted posteriorly; 

columella concave, bearing 2 plaits, a vertical one bordering the 

shallow siphonal notch and a stronger and more nearly horizontal one at 

the top of the columella. A third plait, somewhat stronger than the 

posterior columellar plait, on lower part of parietal region. Inner 

lip strongly callused, especially in parietal region where its outer 

522 

edge is marked by a heavy, rounded ridge that is steeper in front than 

behind, extending from top of columella almost to posterior end of 

aperture. Some shells with a second, very short ridge or tubercle 

wi thin the aperture, above the parietal plait. Outer lip slightly 

prosocline, thickened externally by a broad, rather low varix and also 

padded wi thin, bearing 2 strong denticles on anterior half (the 10\>191.' 

one bordering the siphonal notch) a.nd up to 10 wealcer ones (sometimes 

almost obsolete) above. Space between 2 major denticles of variable 

width, sometimes with 2 or 3 weak denticles but often quite smooth. 

Siphonal notch shallow, deflected to right, scarcely affecting outline 

of basal lip. 

Dll1ENSIONS (rnm): 

liolotype (fide Marshall 1916) 

Hypotype (GS 11,200) 

Height 

7.0 

8.6 

HOLOTYPE: Geology Dept, University of Otago. 


TYPE LOCALITY: "Onekarara beach, near Hampden" (Bartonian). 

LOCALITIES: as 11,155, Hampden (two shells); JVlcCullough's Bridge 

GS 1162 (one shell), as 9480 (one shell), GS 9508 (three shells); 

GS 11,200, Kapua Tuffs, Waihao R. (20 shells). 


6.0 

6.9

Superfamily PHILINACEA 

Family PHILINIDAE 

GenusPhiline Ascanius 

1772 K. Vetensk Akad. Handl. Stockholm 33: 331. 

Type species (by monotypy): Bulla aperta Linnaeus, 1758, Recent, 

Hediterranean. 

Philine zeprisca n.sp. Pl. 15, figs. 208, 209. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell small, fragile, strongly compressed normal to 

plane of aperture, outline ovate. Spire app3.rently immersed in the 

very large last whorl. Dorsal surface moderately convex, ventral 

surface broadly convex, producing a furrow that disappears into the 

umbilical chink beneath the parietal callus. Spiral sculptltre of 

distant, fine, shallow, weakly crinkled grooves present over whole of 

last whorl except for an arcuate zone on adapertural side of' ventral 

surface. Axial sculpture of weak growth lines. Aperture very large, 

outer lip produced posteriorly well beyond spire; inner lip thin and 

sharp except posteriorly where a thin parietal callus is folded in over 

the umbilical hollow. 

DlliErffiIONS OF HOLOTYPE: 

(estimated) • 


Height 5.6, greatest diameter 5.5 mm 


(holotype only). 

REMARKS: This is the oldest species of Philine so far recorded from 

New Zealand. The spiral sculpture is very similar to that in 

524

is based on a specimen with shell missing from around the aperture, the 

infilling matrix giving the impression of a continuous peristome; in 

528 

fact, the aperture is similar to that in Spiratella helicina. Spira- 

tell ids similar to L. limata are known in the New Zealand Cenozoic from 

Wangaloan to Al tonian., but it is by no means certain that the planorboid· 

species are closely related. (tornia marwicki Powell, 1935, described 

from the Altonian of f1otutara, Auckland and recorded widely in the 

Otaian-Al tonian of Northland is not a spiratelUd but a coiled cavo- 

liniid belonging to the genus Sphaerocina Jung, 1971). At least two 

prior names are available for planorboid spiratellids and will require 

consideration when the family is thoroughly revised; these are Heli 

conoides d'Orbigny, 1836 (type species Atlanta inflata d'Orbigny, 1836, 

Recent) and Val vatina Bornemann, 1855 (type species V. umbUicata 

Bornemann, 1855, Oligocene, Germany). In the former species the 

aperture is produced .into a rostrum, but in the other the aperture is 

apparently simple as in tornia limata. Curry ("1965: 367) doubts the· 

taxonomic importance of spire elevation in the spiratellids and con- 

siders Valvatina a synonym of Spiratella. In view of Curry's 

conclusions, there seems little justification for retaining Lornia as 

a taxon distinct from Spiratella, and it is therefore regarded as a 

synonym of the latter.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

533 

The writer will always be grateful to the late Prof. R.S. Allan, 

who first introduced him to the subject of McCullough's Bridge in the 

course of his lectux'es on New Zealand stratigraphy, and later encouraged 

him to monograph its interesting molluscan falma. Prof. Allan also 

generously made available his own valuable collection of McCullough's 

Bridge molluscs for study. 

The '\-lriter also thanks his supervisor, Dr D.G. Jenkins, for his 

advice and encouragement, and Dr M. Gage for access to office, laboratory 

and library facilities in the Geology Department. He is also grateful 

to Dr D. Kear, formerly Director of the New Zealand Geological Survey, 

for permission to lmdcrtake this study at the University of Canterbury 

and allowing him to complete the long process of writing up after his 

return to Lower Hutt. Special thanks are due Dr C.A. Fleming, Chief 

Paleontologist, Geological Survey, for generously undertaking to read 

the original typescript of this thesis, and making many useful comments 

on details of layout and syntax, thereby making it somewhat more read- 

able. The writer's colleague, Dr A.G. Beu, Geological Survey, provided 

information on a number of taxonomic matters, particularly in the family 

Cymatiidae. Another colleague, Dr N. de B. Hornibrook, head of the 

Micropaleontology Section, Geological Survey, provided some important 

biostratigraphic information on the \vaihao Greensands in the McCullough IS 

Bridge area. 

The excellent stipple-board dravTings comprising Plates 1-7 were 

made by Mr R.C. Brazier, Geological Survey; the macrophotographs, apart 

from a fe,,, taken by Nr D.J. Jones, Technical Officer, Geology Department, 

University of Cariterbury, are the \'lOrk ofMr L. Homer, Chief Photographer, 

Geological Survey, and Mr L. Laronde, formerly of the same institution.

The scanning electron photomicrographs were taken on the Cambridge 

"Stereoscan" housed at Physics and Engineering Laboratory, D.S.I.R., 

Lower Hutt; the writer is indebted to the Director, Dr M.C. Probine, 

for permission to use the 3DI, and Messrs B.J. Burt and J.E. Simes, 

Geological Survey, for operating it. 

Last, but not least, the writer is grateful to the various 

534 

D.S.I.R. typists who typed out the first draft of this thesis, and to 

Nrs M. Brown, of Lower Hutt, for the final draft. 

REF:ERENCES 

Adkin, G.L.: 1954. Bibliographic Index of New Zealand Stratigraphic 

Names to 3"1 December 1950. New Zealand Geoloeica1 Survey 

Memoir 9. 121 pp. 

Aldrich, T.R.: 1897. Notes on Eocene Mollusca, with descriptions of 

some new species. Bulletins of American Paleontology 2(8): 

167-92, pl. 2-6. 

Allan, R.S.: 1926a. Fossil Mollusca from the Waihao Greensands. 

Transactions of the New Zealand Institl1te 56: 338-46, pl. 76-7, 

1 fig. 

1926b. The Geology of the Lower \{aihao Basin, South 

Canterbury, New Zealand. Reports of the Aush-alasian Association 

for the Advancement of Science 17: 323-6. 

1926c. The Geology at1d Palaeontology of the Lower Waihao 

Basin, South Canterbury, New Zealand. 

Zealand Institute 57: 265-309. 

Transactions of the NeVI

Superfamily CARDIACEA 

Family CARDIIDAE 

Subfamily PROTOCARDIINAE 

Genus Hedecardium Marwick 

1944 Trans. Roy. Soc. N.Z. 14(3)= 260. 

Type species (original designation): Cardium (Trachycardium) waitakiense 

Suter, 1901, Oligocene, New Zealand. 

566 

_ 

Keen (in Moore 1969: .N586) treats Hedecardium ...... -- .. as a subgenus of 

Vepricardium Iredale, 1929 (type species, V. pUlc_hricostatum Iredale, 

1929, Hecent, Aus·bral.ia) but the two taxa differ in several significant 

features, some of them already noted briefly by Marwick (1944: 260), viz. 

1) Veprica.rdiu!!!....Eulchricostatum has nearly equilateral valves with 

the posterior end well-rounded to weakly truncated; species of Hede- 

cardium have more inequilateral valves with distinctly truncated 

posterior ends. In addition, the large species of Hedecardium, i.e. 

H. greyi (Hutton), H. cantuariense (Lmo/s) and H. marwicki n. sp., have 

pronounced posterior gapes, whereas V. pulchricostatum and the smaller 

species of Hedecardium like H. waitakiense and H. olsson! f1arwick appear 

to lack the gape entirely. 

2) Radial sculpture in V. pulchricostatum consists of prominent 

plicae (i.e. costae affecting the interior of the shell as well as the 

exterior) of roughly pentagonal cross-section and bearing moderately 

large, closely spaced tubercles on the crests, particularly distally. 

There is no differentiation of radial sculpture into "main" and 

"posterior" costae (in the sense of lVlarwick 1944: 260). 

Of the known species of Hedecardium only H. subcordaturn (Suter)

Canterbury is already very similar, apart from its small size, to the 

type species. Keen (in Moore 1969: N586) includes Vepricardium and 

Hedecardium in the subfamily Cardiinae, but the presence of tubercles 

on tl1e anterior flanks of the posterior costae in H. waitakiense and 

other species of Hedecardium is at variance with Keen's diagnosis for 

the Cardiinae, viz. "rib ornamentation along rib crests, as beading or 

furrowing, never arising from sides of ribs" (Keen in Moore 1969: N583). 

In addition, none of the other taxa included in the Cardiinae by Keen 

has the radial sculpture differentiated into main and posterior costae 

that is so pronounced in Hedecardium. 

In the writer's opinion !J:edecardiuru belongs in the subfamily 

Protocardiinae and is probably derlved from a species of Nemocardium 

(s.1.). In species of Nemocardium Meek, 1876 (s. str.) (type species 

Cardium semiaseerum Deshayes, 1858, Eocene, France) the main radial 

sculpture is obsolete, but in the subgenus Pratulurn Iredale t 

1924 (type 

species C. thetidis Hedley, 1902, Recent, southern Australia) it con 

sists of numerous narrow costellae that are weaker, though not noticeably 

narrower, than the posterior costellae. The posterior costellae in 

species of Pratulum bear small tubercles springing from their anterior 

flanks, whereas the main costellae are weakly sculptured by fine con- 

centric iamellae or irregular wrinkles. The oldest known species of 

Hedecardium, H. collinsi, is also the smallest (holotype measures 21 x 

20 mm) and is comparable in size with some species of Pratulum. The 

oldest New Zealand species of Pratulum, N. modicum Marwick, 1944 

(Wangaloan, Boulder Hill), has about 45 main and about 16 posterior 

costellae which compares closely with H. collinsi with about 45 main 

and 15 posterior costellae. Mart.,rick (1960: 17) noted the similarity 

of H. coUinsi to Nemocardium and Pratulum and suggested that it might

slightly concave, descending moderately steeply, posterodorsal margin 

somewhat convex, more so in right valve than in left. Anterior margin 

moderately convex, merging smoothly with less convex ventral margin; 

posterior margin strongly truncated, lightly convex, sloping steeply, 

junctions with posterodorsal and ventral margins subangled. Posterior 

areas narrow, slightly concave, distinguished from disc mainly by 

change in radial sculpture; posterior gape large. Lunule large, 

almost smooth, nearly flat on holotype, concave on £'i.gured paratypej 

escutcheon narrow, concave on left valve of holotype, convex on right 

val vee (In figured paratype the left valve escutcheon is slightly con 

VHX, the rJght valve eseu tcheon is damaged). Nain radial sculpture of 

48 smooth costae that are strongly convex in section anteriorly but 

become more flattened medially and broadly triangula.r posteriorly. 

Intercostal spaces concave and equal to or slightly 1el38 than costae in 

width a.l1teriorly, but becoming much narrower (locally linear) medially 

and broadening again posteriorly. Posterior costae 13··15, low, convex, 

more subdued and less regular than main costae. Concentric SCUlpture 

of numerous, very fine intercostal striae over most of shell except for 

posterior areas, and rather subdued growth ridges at :irregular intervals, 

partiCUlarly near ventral margin. Internal featUres only pn.rtly known - 

hinge apparently similar to H. cantuariense but with left anterior 

cardinal tooth some",hat heavier. Nymph plates strong, rectangular with 

deep, narrow ligamental grooves between them and shell margins. 

Marginal crenulations apparently as in H. cantuariense. 


Holotype 

Paratype 

'rYPE LOCALITY: 

Length 

114.5 

142.5 

Height 

107·5 

126.5 

Inflation (d. v.) 

90 

105 

OS 11,188, Rockfall Beach, east side Park Bluff, 

575

Clifden Section, Waiau R., Southland, collected by Dr A.G. Beu and the 

writer, February 1969. 

FORMATION: Gari Sand, Park Bluff Formation (type Lillburnian). 

LOCALITIES: GS 11,188 (holotype)i GS 2371, 60 chain at 110 0 from Trig. 

G, Nangaotoro S.D., Dannevirke (Lillburnian), collected A.M. Quennell, 

1938 .(paratype, a damaged left valve); GS 841, "East Wairarapa", 

collected by a Nr CharI ton of Christchurch, probahly late in 19th 

century - probably from Hangapakeha Valley (large, double-valved para 

type); GS 1853, End Hill Stream, Mangapakeha Valley, road from 

Masterton to Castlepoint, 'i-/airarapa, collected N. Ongley and J. Marwick, 

1933 (about Waiauan-Tongaporutuan from associated l1lo11uscl3) (two para 

types, one double-valved, other a right valve). 

STRATIGRAPHIC RANGE: Lill burnian-ltlaiauan or Tongaporutuan, 

576 

REMARKS: Hedecardium (Titanocardi:wn) marwicki is apparently closely 

related to H. cantuariense but di. ffers in having a much broader lunule 

and rather different main radial sculpture. The anterior costae are 

similar in both species, but the other main costae, particularly the 

posterior ones, are much more flattened in H. cantuariense ru1d tend to 

develop narrow longitudinal medial grooves distally, a feature absent 

from H. marwicki, where the posterior main costae are triangular in 

section. 

Marwiek (1944: 263) referred specimens of Hedeeardium marwicki 

from Mangapakeha Valley to H. greyi, but they differ from Oneroa shells 

in having a broader lunule, weaker posterior costae and stronger 

posterior gape. The longitudinal grooving of main radial costae is 

even more strongly developed in H. greyi than in H. cantuariense.

generally strongest on posterior flanks of costae and often almost 

obsolete on crests. Interior of shell weakly plicated by medial costae 

but not by posterior costae. Anterior and ventral shell margins finely 

crenulated internally, posterior margin more coarsely crenulated. 

Adductor muscle scars ovate, flush or weakly impressed. Left hinge 

rather light, strongly arched; anterior lateral A II triangular, rather 

prominent, with a moderately deep groove above, but no socket to take 

.A I belo1t/, having instead a narrow radial ridge at i is bas.e; anterior 

cardinal 2 small, narrolt/ly triaIlooular, wi th a weak groove in front, 

posterior cardinal 4b low, thin, lamellar, separated from 2 by a small 

triangular socket; posterior lateral P II small, with a weakly defined 

socket below. Nymph plate subrectangular, projecting sUghtly above 

posterodorsal margin, ligament groove deep and naxrow. Hight yalve 

hinge shortened by antero··posterior crushing; anterior lateral A I very 

prominent, broadly triangular with a deep elongate soeket between it and 

a thin A III; anterior cardinal destroyed by crushing, posterior 

cardinal 3b small, tubercular; posterior lateral P I moderately strong, 

broadly triangular with a short but deep socket above. 

nTI1ENSIOrrs OF HOLOTYPE: Length 49.0, height 43.5, inflation 16.3 mm 

(measurements taken from left valve, right valve somewhat crushed). 

TYPE LOCALITY: GS 11,185, Slip Pt, Clifden Section, Waiau R., Southland, 

collected by the writer, February 1972. 

FORMATION: Slip Pt Siltstone, Ngapari Formation, about 3 m below 

oyster bed (type Clifdenian). 

REtIfARKS: Trachycardium southlandicum is the first representative of 

Regozara to be recorded from New Zealand. It belongs to a group of 

closely related Pacific species that differ f.r'om typical Regozara in 

their smaller size, more lightly buil t shell, more rounded outline and 

581

594 

accepted by Keen (in Hoore 1969: N608). However, apart from the fact 

that it possesses a well-defined lunule, Cardilona bensoni is very 

similar to European species of the verticordiid genus Pecchiolia figured 

by workers such as Hoernes (1870: pl. 20, figs. 41-d, reproduced as fig. 

F31, 2a-c in Moore 1969: N857) and Sacco (1901: pl. 29, figs. 23-31). 

The European species also differ in having the beaks considerably more 

tightly coiled than C. bensoni (vlhich is on the way to uncoiling); this 

would effectively obscure any lunule generated in a similar way to that 

in bensoni (Le. by that segment of the shell margin bearing the chondro 

phore). In the writer's opinion, the degree of coiling is significant 

only at the specific level in this group (some variation in this feature 

seems evident in the speeimens figured by Sacco) and Cardilona is 

accordingly synonymised with Pecchiolia. 

Pecchiolia is not known living, all of the Recent !3pecies 

previously referred there having been transferred to other genera (Soot 

Ryen 1966). The genus ranges from at least Upper Eocene (Bartonian) to 

Pliocene in Europe (Sacco 1901: 131-2), and is also recorded from the 

Upper Eocene of 1t1ilmington, North Carolina (P. dalliana Harris, 1919, 

described by Harris as "exogyroid" in form and similar to the European 

Upper Eocene species P. wemmelensis Vincent, 1897). The presence of 

Pecchiolia in the Upper Eocene of NeVi Zealand may be further evidence 

for the warm (probably subtropical) conditions that seem to have pre 

vailed at this time (e.g. see Beu and Haxwell 1968).

604 

Spiral sculpture, apart from the keels, consisting of 1 or 2 rounded 

cords '\oJi thin the umbilicus and much finer, rounded threads between the 

spiral keels and umbilical cords. Axial sculpture consisting of 

prominent, ,strongly raised collabral prosocline costae, narrow on early 

whorls but broadly triangular in section on last whorl. On spire 

whorls costae reach from suture to suture and on last whorl of subadul t 

shells they perslst a.cross base and lnto the umbilicus, gradually 

weakening adaxlally, but on adults they project la'cerally lnto the 

umbilicus thus giving it a serrated profile, but do not extend far 

11ithin. Costae slightly thickened where they are c:r:osfH:ld by keels. 

Costae number 12-'13 on penul timate whorl, 8-9 costae on last whorl of 

adults. In and between the costae are numerous, ra.ther prornlnent 

collabral lamellae that are finely reticulated and gemmulated by the 

spiral threads between the keels. Umbilicus broad and open on sub- 

adult shells, much narrower and with steeper sides on adults, bearing a 

rather weakly defined funicular ridge adapically that, nea:r' the aperture 

of adult shells, suddenly twists to form a short, vertical, lamellar 

process adjacent to the inner lip. Aperture circular, prosocline, 

nacreous within, peristome continuous; outer and basal lips heavily 

variciform, outer margin angled by spiral keels, inner lip narrower 

with a strong, triangular denticle projecting into umbilicus at lower 

end. 


TYPE LOCALITY: GS 9957, thin, partly cemented shellbed with abundant 

corals (especially Dendrophyllia sp.) and molluscs in glauconitic sands, 

bed of South Branch, Haihao R. about 100 m E of road, near "Pentland 

Hills" homestead,' collected by T.A. Darragh and the writer, ]!lebruary 

1968.

anteriorly); as 11,216, bluish-grey micaceous sandstone, mouth of 

gully entering South Branch, Waihao River near ""[aihao Dmms" (Bortonian) 

(six paratypes, smaller than Hampden shells and rather worn but apparent 

ly conspecific). 

RD1ARKS: The type species of Ancillina lacks columellar grooves and 

has the columella itself strongly oblique to the shell axis, thus giving 

617 

it the appearance of a small Melanops1s, but in other respects it seems 

very similar to the two species described here. Superficially similar 

small ancillines in ,"hich the spire callus band does not cover the spire 

",horls, but which differ from !>nc!:.1)1na in having a blunt, callus 

covered apex are recorded from several mid·-Cenozoic locali t1 es including 

McCullough's Bridge (Kaiatan,Upper Eocene) and Long Boach, Clifden 

(AI tonian, Lower Miocene). A new genus-group taxon 18 pJ:'opoBed else- 

where for these species (see p. 419). 

Ancillina wellmani n. Spa Pl. 18, fig. 239. 

DESCRIPTION: Shell of similar size to Ancillina kalcano n. sp. but less 

slender, and more pointed posteriorly. Protoconch conical, of about 4 

gently convex whorls, slightly narroVler than in the Hampden species. 

Teleoconch of about 3 whorls, more distinctly concave over the spire 

callus band than in A. kakano, giving the spire a weaJdy gradate out- 

line. Spire callus band similar in ".,idth to that in A. kakano but with 

posterior margin rather less Vlell defineq; parietal callus pad heavier 

than in the Eocene species. Aperture essentially similar to that in 

A. kaka.no, but vii th a more heavily padded columella bearing stronger 

grooves.

figure of the holotype (the only known specimen) the shoulder is 

situated much higher up on later spire whorls than in C. wollastoni. 

Conilithes oliveri seems to be closer to C. vrollastoni; Harwick (1931: 

132) distinguished it "by the more slender form and steeply inclined 

shoulders", but these features vary Itridely in both species. A more 

reliable distinguishing feature is the protoconch which is considerably 

larger and more narr01.,ly conical in C • oliveri tha.n in wollastoni. 

ACKNOH1EDGNENTS 

The writer thanks Drs C.A. Fleming a.nd A.G. Bell, NevI Zealand 

625 

Geological Survey, for reading and making useful comments on the manu- 

script of this section. In particula.r, Dr Beu first pointed out the 

similarity of the Net., Zealand and Japanese Recent species of .9x,Y.peras. 

Special thanks are due Nr Graeme Hasan, formerly of 'llemuka, for 

donating the specimens of Perotrochus masoni ,to the Geological Survey 

for description. The writer also thanks Dr N. de B. Hornibrook, 

Geological Survey, for information on the ages of certain collections, 

f1r R.C. Brazier, Geological Survey, for the drawings, and Mr 1. Homer, 

Geological Survey, for the photographs.

Kira, 

629 

rp 0 -.. 1962. Shells of the Western Pacific in color. 224 pp., 

72 pIs. 

Kuroda, T.; Habe, T.: 1957. On a ne", genus of the family Oocoryidae. 

Publica,tions of the Seta Narine Biology Laboratory 2i .. 1); 27-9, 

5 figs. 

Lamy, E.: 1917. Revision des lITactridae vivants du J'·Iuseum d'Histoire 

Uaturelle de Paris f1"st par.,}7. Journal de. Conch,yliologie 63( 3): 

173-275, pl. 6, 8 figs. 

19'18. Revision des r1actridae ..•••••••• [2nd par.,:t7. Ibid. 

63(1): 291-411, pl. 7, 22 figs. 

IVlar\·!ick, J.: 1931 • 'rhe IrerUary JViollusca of the Gisbor-ne District. 

pp., '18 pIs. 

pl. 23-5. 

1942. Some Eocene Nol1u8ca from NeVI Zealand. 

1943· Some Tertiary Mollusca from North Otago. Ibid. 

12i2): 181-92, pl. 25-7. 

1944· New Zealand fossil and Recent Cardiidae (Nollusca). 

Ibid. 74(3): 255-72, pl. 35-7. 

1960. Early Tertiary Mollusca from Otaio Gorge, South 

Canterbury. New Zealand Geological Survey Paleontological 

Bulletin 33. 32 pp., 2 pIs, 1 fig., 3 tables. 

Hayer, H.C.: 1857. Description de coquilles nouvelles des etages 

superieurs des terrains tertiaires. Journal de Conchyliologie 

§.: 176-87. 

Hoore, R.C. (ed.): 1969. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology. Part 

N. Mollu'sca 6. Bivalvia (1 & 2). xxxviii + 952 pp.

1890. The gastropods of the Older Tertiary of Australia 

(Part III). Ibid. 13(2): 185-235. 

Traill, c.: 1870. On the Tertiary Series of Oamaru and Moera.1d. 

Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 2: 166-9. 

632

634 

PLATE 2 

Figs. 13, 14. Yoldiella malletioides n.sp. Holotype, GS 9508, 

Tabu Member, McCullough's Bridge (Kaiatan). X 22. 

Figs. 15, 16. Notolimopsis hampdenensis (Marshall, 1919). Hypo type , 

GS 9508, Tahu Member (ICaiatan). X 16. 

Figs. 11, 18. Ledella bracbyryncha n.sp. Holotype, GS 9508, Tabu 

Member (Kaiatan). X 22. 

Figs. 19, 20. Ledaspina knudseni n.sp. Holotype, GS 9508, Tabu 


Figs. 21, 22. .Caryocorbula robini n.sp. Holotype, GS 9508, Tahu 

Member (Kaiatan). X 10.

- 

23 24 

31 

27

637 

PLATE 5 

Figs. 50, 52. Cordieria huttoni (Finlay, 1930). 

Tahu Member, McCullough's Bridge (Kaiatan). 

fig. 52, X 10. 

Topotype, GS 9508, 

Fig. 50, X 65; 

Figs. 51, 53-5. Cordieria rudis (Hutton, 1885). Topotypes, GS 9508, 

Tabu Member (Kaiatan). Fig. 51, X 65; figs. 53-5, X 6.5. 

Fig. 56. Volvarinella aveniformis (Marshall, 1919). Hypotype, GS 

9508, Tahu Member (Kaiatan). X 10. 

Figs. 57, 58. Protoginella (7 Alaginella) ponderi n. sp. Holotype, 

GS 9508, Tabu Member (Kala tan) • X 10. 

Fig. 59. Arnalda (rlficrancilla) granum n.sp. Holotype, GS 9508, Tahu 


Figs. 60, 61. Ancillus olsoni n.sp. Holotype (fig. 60) and paratype, 

GS 9508, Tahu Member (Kaiatan). X 6.5. 

Figs. 62, 63. Protoginella (Protoginella) cenodoxa n.sp. HoI 0 type , 

GS 9508, Tahu Member (Kaiatan). X 10.

641 

PLATE 9 

Fig. 99. Eucrassatella (Eucrassatella) cf. australis (Hutton, 1873). 

Hypotype, GS 9508, Tahu Member, McCullough's Bridge (Kaiatan). 

X 3. 

Figs. 100, 101. Notocorbula allani n.sp. Holotype, GS 9508" Tahu 


Fig. 102. Parathyasira flemingi n.sp. Hdlotype, GS 11,200, Kapua 

Tuffs (Kaiatan). X 4. 

Figs. 103, 104. Nemocardium (Nemocardium) carteri n.sp. HoI o type 

(Otago Univerai ty), "lower greensand", McCullough's Bridge 

(Bortonian). X 2. 

Figs. 105-8. Pycnodonte (Pycnodonte) maCkay! (Suter, 1917). Holo 

type (figs. 105, 107), GS 642, McCullough's Bridge (probably 

Bortonian); hypo type (figs. 106, 108), GS 1987, below"phos 

phatic" band, McCullough's Bridge (Bortonian). X 1.

PLATE 13 

Figs. 159-64. Exilia (Zexilia) waihaoensis Suter, 1917. Holotypes 

Zexilia submarginata Laws, 1935 (fig. 159) and Z. tenuilirata 

Laws, 1935 (fig. 160) (Auckland Institute and Museum), 

McCullough's Bridge (probably Kaiatan); hypotypes, GS 9508, 

Tabu Member, McCullough's Bridge (Kaiatan). X 3. 

Figs. 165, 166. Arnalda (Gracilispira) morgani (Allan, 1926). Topo 

types, GS 9508, Tabu Member (Kaiatan). X 2. 

Figs. 167, 168. Waihaoia allani Marwick, 1926. Topotype (fig. 167), 

GS 9508, Tabu Member (Kaiatan), showing caricelloid protoconch; 

topotype (fig. 168), R.S. Allan ColIn, McCullough's Bridge (probably 

Kaiatan). Fig. 167, X 2; fig. 16B, X 1.5- 

J?ig. 169. 0&lci11a (Fusimitra) hectori (Hutton, 1905). Holotype 

(Canterbury Museum), ttWaihao, near the coal mine" (probably 

Bortonian). X 2. 

Figs. 170, 171. Arnalda (Alocospira) komata n.sp. Holotype (fig. 170), 

para type (fig. 171), GS 11,200, Kapua Tuffs, Waihao River 

(Kaiatan). X 2. 

Fig. 172. Gemmula waihaoensis Finlay, 1924. Topotype, GS 9508, Tahu 


Fig. 173. Gemmula bimarginata (Suter, 1917). Hypo type , GS 9508, 

Tahu Member (Kaiatan). X 3. 

Fig. 174. Gemmula duplex (Suter, 1917). HYpotype, GS 9508, Tahu 


Fig. 175. Conus (s.l.) gagei n.sp. Holotype, GS 9508, Tahu Member 


Fig. 176. Conilithes tahuensis (Allan, 1926). 

McCullough t s Bridge (probably Kaiatan). 

HYPO type , GS 9480, 

X 2. 

Figs. 177-180. Eoturris complicata (Suter, 1917). Hypot.ypes (figs. 

177-179), GS 9508, Tahu Member (Kaiatan); hypotype (fig. 180), 

GS 9480, McCullough's Bridge (probably Kaiatan). X 3.

PLATE 14 

Fig. 181. Marshallena neozelanica (Suter, 1917). Hypo type , GS 9508, 

TahuMember, McCullough's Bridge (Kaiatan). X,. 

Fig. 182. Marshallaria (Marshallaria) spiralis (Allan, 1926). Holo 

type (Canterbury Museum), McCUllough's Bridge (probably Kaiatan). 

X 3. 

Fig. 18,. Tahuia formosa (Allan, 1926). Topotype, OS 9480, 

McCullough's Bridge (probably Kaiatan). X,. 

Fig. 184. Marshallaria (Zeatoma) imEar (Powell, 1942). Type species 

of Zeatoma n.subgen. Topotype, OS 1579, Wahanui Rd, Waiau S.D., 

Gisbome district (Opoitian). X 1.5. 

Figs. 185, 186. Marshallaria (Zeatoma) allani n.sp. Holotype (fig. 

186), paratype (fig. 185), R.S. Allan Colln, McCullough's Bridge 

(probably Kaiatan). X 2. 

Fig. 187. Marshallaria (Marshallaria) decipiens n. sp. Holotype, GS 

9480, McCullough's Bridge (probably Kaiatan). X 3. 

Fig. 188. Notogenota. finlayi Powell, 1942. Topotype, GS 9508, Tabu 


Figs. 189, 194. Parasyrinx (Lirasyrinx) powelli n.ap. Holotype (fig. 

194), paratype (fig. 189), GS 11,200, Kapua Tuffs, Waihao R. 

(Kaiatan). Fig. 189, X 1.5; fig. 194, X 2. 

Fig. 190. Cosmasyrinx (Tholosyrinx) kaiata n.ap. Type species of 

TholosYEinx n.subgen., GS 4872, Port Elizabeth (Kaiatan). X 4. 

Fig. 191. Cosmasyrinx (Tholosyrinx) n.sp. B. Hypo type , GS 11,200, 

Kapua Tuffs (Kaiatan). X 4. 

Fig. 192. Cochlespira (Tahusyrinx) maorum (Marshall & Murdoch, 1920). 

Topotype, GS 9508, Tahu Member (Kaiatan). X 2. 

Fig. 193. Zemaciea marginalia (Marshall, 1919). Hypotype, GS 9480, 

McCullough's Bridge (probably Kaiatan). X 2. 

Figs. 195, 196. Eoscobinella tahuia Powell, 1942. 

9508, Tabu Member (Kaiatan). Fig. 1'95, X 3; 

Topotypes, GS 

fig. 196, X 2. 

Fig. 197. InquiSitor (?) waihaoensis Powell, 1942. Holotype 

(Auckland Institute and Museum), McCullough's Bridge (probably 

Kaiatan). X 2.

641 

PLATE 15 

Figs. 198, 199. Narona (Naronista) kaitara n.sp. Holotype (fig. 

199), as 9508, Tabu Member, McCullough's Bridge (Kaiatan); 

paratype (fig. 198), GS 9480, McCullough's Bridge (probably 

Kaiatan). X ,. 

'Fig. 200. Unitas marshalli (Allan, 1926). Topotype, GS 9508, Tabu 


Fig. 201. Fusiaphera jenkinsi n.sp. Holotype, GS 9508, Tahu 

Member (Kah.tan). X 4. 

Fig. 202. ?Pervicacia n.sp. Hypo type , GS 9508, Tabu Member 


Figs. 203, 204. Zeacuminia tabuia Finlay, 1930. Hypotypes, GS 9508, 

Tahu Member (Kaiatan). X 3. 

Figs. 205-1. Spiratella kapuaensis n.sp. Holotype, GS 11,200, 

ICapua Tuffs, Waihao R. (Kaiatan). X 10. 

Figs. 208, 209. Philine zeprisca n.sp. Holotype, GS 9508, Tabu 

Member (Kaiatan). X 8.

650 

PLATE 18 

Figs. 235-7. Liotina turua n.sp. Holotype, GS 9951, South Branch, 

Waihao R. (1 Bortonian). 

X 10. 

Fig. 238. Ancillina kakano n.sp. Holotype, GS 11,155, Hampden 

Beach (Bortonian). X 1.66. 

Fig. 239. Ancillina wellmani n.sp. 

Street, Greymouth (Clifdenian). 

Holotype, GS 3159, Alexander 

X 1.66.

:-23 1 

8 

1

651 

PLATE 19 

Figs. 240-2. Trachycardium (Regozara) southlandicum n.sp. HoI o type , 

GS 11,185, Slip Ft, Clifden (Clifdenian). X 1. 

Figs. 243, 244, 241. Hedecardium (Hedecardium) rotundum n.ap. Holo 

type (figs. 243, 244), GS 9516, Trig. Z, Otiake (Waitakian); 

paratype (fig. 241), GS 9806, Shell Gully, Chatton (Duntroonian). 

X1. 

Figs. 245, 246. Dimya westonensis n.sp. Holotype, GS 9539, Taylor's 

Qllarry, Weston (Runangan). X 3. 

Figs. 248, 249. Proxichione darraghi n.ap. Rolotype, GS 9805, 

Waikaka Stream, Southland (Duntroonian). X 1. 

Figs. 250, 251. Proxichione otiakensis n.ap. Holotype, GS 9516, 

Trig. Z, Otiake (Waitakian). X 1.

652 

PLATE 20 

(All figs. % 2/3) 

Figs. 252, 253, 255, 256. Hedecardium (Titanocardium) marwicki n.sp. 

Holotype (figs. 252, 253, 255), GS 11,188, Gari Sand, Clifden 

(Lillburnian); paratype (fig. 256), GS 1853, End Hill Stream, 

Mangapakeha Valley (Waiauan-Tongaporutuan). 

Pigs. 254, 257. Hedecardium (Titanocardium) cantuariense (Laws, 1933). 

Topotype, GS 9700, terrace-face near Sutherlands, South Canter 

bury (Al toman). Type speoies of Ti tanocardium.

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