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. 48o): GS10909, R22/f6391B, Omapu Shellbed, east of Kai- Iwi Beach, Castlecliff coast west of Wanganui, Castlecliffian (GNS) |
Beu & Maxwell (1990): Chapter 16; p. 361; pl. 48 o.
Synonymy: Aeneator delicatulus Powell 1931, p. 91
Classification: Buccinulidae
Description: Moderately large for genus (42-68 mm high), with relatively low spire (0.4 height of aperture and canal) with lightly concave outlines, weakly concave sutural ramp but whorls otherwise evenly and strongly convex, last whorl contracting strongly to moderately long, almost straight, widely open canal directed slightly to left. Sculpture of very many, exceedingly fine, closely spaced spiral threads, 20 to 25 on penultimate whorl and at least 100 on last whorl and canal, poorly defined on some specimens; the only axial sculpture is faint growth ridges. Aperture large, oval; outer lip almost smooth, faintly flared, with wide, shallow sinus over shoulder and sutural ramp; a tall, narrow posterior canal at top of aperture; inner lip thin except for low parietal callus bearing 2 narrow ridges, and irregular nodes and ridges down columella and particularly on basal columellar angle. Protoconch as in A. marshalli.
Comparison: Aeneator delicatulus is similar to A. marshalli in shape, size, and protoconch, differing in its slightly lower spire, its deeper sinus in the shoulder of the outer lip, its wider aperture, and its exceedingly fine spiral sculpture.
Distribution: Early Castlecliffian only; "between Kai Iwi and Okehu", Castlecliff section, west of Wanganui, Castlecliffian (type). A beautiful shell, restricted to lower beds of the type Castlecliffian sequence at Wanganui, occurring in the Lower Kai-Iwi Siltstone and Upper and Lower Okehu Siltstone, but most commonly collected from Omapu Shellbed (Fleming 1953); all occurrences are in offshore siltstone deposited in about 40-60 m of water.
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)