GNS Science

Revised descriptions of New Zealand Cenozoic Mollusca from Beu and Maxwell (1990)

New Zealand Cenozoic Mollusca

Anacithara axialis (Marshall, 1918)



scale

(Pl. 26m): paralectotype (incorrectly assumed by Powell (1942, p. 156) to be the "holotype", but see Laws 1939a, p. 498), Pakaurangi Point, Kaipara Harbour, probably Altonian (TM6850, GNS)

Beu & Maxwell (1990): Chapter 11; p. 237; pl. 26 m.

Synonymy: Mangilia axialis Marshall 1918, p. 269; "Guraleus" axialis

Classification: Turridae: "Crassispirinae" clade 7 (Puillandre et al. 2008)

Description: Rather small for subfamily (height c. 6.5 mm), elongate-ovate, spire 0.5 total height. Protoconch narrowly conical, of about 2.5 whorls, last fifth of a whorl with narrow, opisthocyrt costellae, remainder smooth. Teleoconch of 4-5 whorls, weakly subangled near middle on spire, sutural ramp gently concave, whorl sides convex; last whorl weakly excavated. Axial sculpture of prominent, narrowly rounded costae with much broader interspaces, reaching from suture to suture on spire but considerably weaker on ramp than below, dying out on lower part of base of last whorl; 10-11 per whorl. Spiral sculpture of numerous very fine threads which are considerably weaker on ramp than below. Aperture ovate with scarcely differentiated siphonal canal. Inner lip with moderately well developed parietal callus pad; outer lip with narrow, rounded varix, anal sinus very shallow, arcuate, on ramp.

Comparison: Anacithara axialis is distinguished from other New Zealand species of the genus by its relatively narrow protoconch and by having spiral threads over the whorl surface. Anacithara is a warm-water genus at the present day (Powell 1966, p. 111). In New Zealand it ranges from Duntroonian to Lillburnian.

Distribution: Altonian, Pakaurangi Point (type).


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
(Included with a PDF facsimile file copy of New Zealand Geological Survey Paleontological Bulletin 58 in CD version from: Publications Officer, GNS Science, P.O. Box 30368 Lower Hutt, New Zealand)

References

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