Revised descriptions of New Zealand Cenozoic Mollusca from Beu and Maxwell (1990)
| | Revised descriptions of New Zealand Cenozoic Mollusca from Beu and Maxwell (1990) |
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  (Pl. 8n): GS9508, J40/f8803, McCulloch's Bridge, Kaiatan (GNS) |
Beu & Maxwell (1990): Chapter 8; p. 125; pl. 8 n.
Synonymy: Turris complicatus Suter 1917, p. 45; T. neglectus Suter 1917, p. 46; Surcula mordax Suter 1917, p. 51; Turris insensus Finlay 1924a, p. 103 (invalid name change for T. neglectus); Gemmula complicata; Insolentia mordax; Eoturris neglectus
Type species of Eoturris Finlay and Marwick, 1937
Classification: Turridae: Turrinae?
Description: Size moderate for subfamily (height 25-45 mm), fusiform, spire 0.6 total height. Protoconch narrowly conical, of 5 strongly convex whorls, last 0.25-0.5 whorl with distant, arcuate axial costellae, remainder smooth. Teleoconch of up to 10 whorls, obtusely and often weakly shouldered at a position varying from near mid-whorl height to just above suture on spire whorls; last whorl excavated with a moderately long, narrow neck. Sutural ramp steep, concave, most shells with well developed subsutural fold. Axial sculpture rather variable, typically of moderately strong, rounded nodules largely confined to shoulder but somewhat extended abapically, matched by a row of weaker nodules on subsutural fold; other shells with more numerous and much weaker peripheral nodules but lacking subsutural nodules entirely; extreme range 12-18 nodules on penultimate whorl. Spiral sculpture more variable, some shells lacking it entirely except for a few weak grooves on base and neck, others having 2 or 3 strong cords on sides of spire whorls but none on ramp, and others with 4 or 5 narrow cords on sides and up to 12 on ramp. Sculpture on base and neck tending to match that on spire. Aperture pyriform, columella weakly twisted at inception of moderately long, unnotched siphonal canal. Inner lip smooth, slightly impressed adapically; outer lip thin, with a deep U-shaped anal sinus, its apex slightly but consistently above shoulder.
Comparison: Eoturris complicata differs from E. uttleyi (Pl. 15t) in having more distinctly shouldered teleoconch whorls and nodular rather than comma-shaped axial sculpture. Turris neglectus has hitherto been regarded as a distinct taxon, but the holotype does not differ significantly from some topotypes of Eoturris complicata. The complex synonymy was discussed further by Maxwell (1992, p. 148).
Eoturris seems to have been an endemic genus and has a recorded range of Porangan (?) to Waitakian. Although superficially similar to Comitas, it differs in having a narrower anal sinus with its apex much closer to the periphery than in Comitas, and recognition that Recent species included in Comitas are polyphyletic (Puillandre et al. 2008) makes it certain that Eoturris is a distinct genus.
Distribution: Bortonian-Kaiatan; Waihao Greensand, McCulloch's Bridge, Kaiatan (type locality of T. complicatus and probably of S. mordax) (common); Bortonian?, "Teaneraki" (type locality of T. neglectus - probably lower Waihao Valley); Hampden Formation, Hampden Beach (rare).
Cite this publication as: "A.G. Beu and J.I. Raine (2009). Revised
descriptions of New Zealand Cenozoic Mollusca from Beu and Maxwell (1990). GNS
Science miscellaneous series no. 27."
© GNS Science, 2009
ISBN
978-0-478-19705-1
ISSN 1177-2441
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