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. 16h): GS951A, J41/f8475, Target Gully Shellbed, Oamaru, Altonian (GNS) |
 (Pl. 16j): GS951A, J41/f8475, Target Gully Shellbed, Oamaru, Altonian (GNS) |
Beu & Maxwell (1990): Chapter 11; p. 176; pl. 16 h,j.
Synonymy: "Limopsis zitteli Ihering, 1907" of authors, not of Ihering; Limopsis catenata Suter 1917, p. 67
Classification: Limopsidae
Description: Distinguished from L. zealandica (above) by its much larger size (height 30-40 mm), its more trigonal and less oblique shape, its more prominent radial sculpture (particularly near the middle of the shell), its more symmetrical hinge, and its larger resilifer.
Comparison: Shells of this type have in the past been referred to Limopsis zitteli Ihering (= "L. insolita Sowerby" of Zittel (1864) and Hutton (1873b), not of Sowerby) but the identity of that species is uncertain. Hutton (1873b, p. 28) recorded "L. insolita" from The Cliffs, Nelson (Whaingaroan), from Kaniere, Westland (Kapitean or Opoitian) and from Waikari, North Canterbury (probably Tongaporutuan), but no material so identified remains in collections. Suter (1914, p. 38) selected a specimen from The Cliffs as the lectotype, but all available specimens from this locality are very poorly preserved and cannot be compared satisfactorily with other species of Limopsis. L. zitteli is therefore best regarded as a nomen dubium, and Suter's name was accordingly resurrected for this species (which was interpreted in a rather broad sense, e.g., including Clifden shells) by Beu & Maxwell (1990, p. 176).
Limopsis parma (Duntroonian, Chatton) is similar to L. catenata but is considerably smaller and more rounded in outline, has a smoother shell and has a smaller resilifer. L. lawsi (Tongaporutuan, Hurupi Stream area, southern Wairarapa, and Blind River, Marlborough) is smaller than L. catenata, has weaker radial sculpture and has a more asymmetrical hinge.
Distribution: Duntroonian-Waiauan; Target Gully Shellbed, Oamaru, Altonian (type); Ardgowan Shellbed; Southburn Sand, Sutherland's, Tengawai River; Wharekuri Greensand, Wharekuri; Calamity Point Sandstone, Long Beach and Nissen Shellbeds, Clifden. Common at most localities, characteristic of shallow-water sandstone and shellbeds.
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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copy of New Zealand Geological Survey Paleontological Bulletin 58 in CD version
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Zealand)