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

Purpurocardia (?) fyfei (Finlay & Marwick, 1937)

(Pl. 1f): GS10195, I44/f8486, Boulder Hill, Wangaloan (GNS)

(Pl. 1i): GS10195, I44/f8486, Boulder Hill, Wangaloan (GNS)

Beu & Maxwell (1990): Chapter 5; p. 78; pl. 1 f, i.

Synonymy: Venericardia fyfei Finlay & Marwick 1937, p. 26; V. (Purpurocardia) fyfei

Classification: Carditidae: Venericardiinae

Description: Size moderate for family (length 40-50 mm), robust, suboval, strongly inequilateral. Lunule small, bounded in front by a deep groove; escutcheon narrow, bounded below by a narrow rib. Posterior area slightly concave. Radial sculpture of about 26 very prominent costae, narrow and tuberculate when young, tubercles decreasing in strength during growth. Anterior and posterior costae remaining relatively narrow throughout growth, others becoming broader with very narrow interspaces. Commarginal sculpture other than costal tubercles consisting of prominent growth lines and ridges. Left hinge with prominent triangular anterior cardinal and narrow, high, arched posterior cardinal tooth. Right hinge with very weak anterior cardinal and a large triangular median cardinal. Adductor muscle scars large, ovate, impressed; pallial line distant from ventral margin. Ventral margin strongly crenulate.

Comparison: The affinities of this carditid are uncertain, although in shape and sculpture it is similar to some species of Purpurocardia, a taxon otherwise known no earlier than Waitakian. Shape in itself, however, is not a reliable indication of relationship in the Venericardiinae, as there is evidence to suggest that elongate species have arisen repeatedly from more equilateral forms in the subfamily.

Distribution: Wangaloan, Boulder Hill (type) (common); Wangaloa (moderately common).

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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