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. 3j): holotype, GS10191, CH/f104, near Waitangi radio station, Chatham Island, Waipawan (?) (TM4319, GNS) |
Beu & Maxwell (1990): Chapter 6; p. 92; pl. 3 j.
Synonymy: Venericardia nuntia Marwick 1928, p. 466; V. (Fasciculicardia) nuntia
Classification: Carditidae: Venericardiinae
Description: Small for genus (length 13-17 mm), of rounded outline, posterior end only weakly truncate. Posterior area slightly concave. Lunule small, pouting. Radial sculpture of about 25 prominent costae of triangular section, those on flanks nearly smooth- crested with very broad intercostal spaces, those on posterior area and near anterior end prominently tuberculate and somewhat more closely spaced. Commarginal sculpture of numerous, closely spaced, very fine threads in intercostal spaces. Right hinge with anterior cardinal almost obsolete, fused to lunule, median cardinal very prominent, broadly triangular. Left hinge imperfectly known but having a long, narrow posterior cardinal and, presumably, a small, triangular anterior cardinal.
Comparison: Glyptoactis nuntia is distinguished from other New Zealand venericardiines by its small size, its rounded outline and its broadly triangular, widely separated radial costae that are almost smooth-crested on the flanks. Although it was referred to Fasciculicardia by Maxwell (1969, p. 173), none of the available specimens of this species have the tripartite costae characteristic of Fasciculicardia and other subgenera of Glyptoactis. However, in most other respects it is similar to G. (Fasciculicardia) acanthodes (PI. 5g, h) and is considered to be consubgeneric. The absence of tripartite ribbing in G. nuntia may be related to its relatively small size.
Distribution: Waipawan(?), Red Bluff Tuff, sea-cliffs near radio station, Waitangi, Chatham Islands (type) (uncommon).
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
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Zealand)