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. 6s): paratype, GS480, J40/f8372, Waihao River, probably South Branch near Waihao Downs, Bortonian (TM5753, GNS) |
Beu & Maxwell (1990): Chapter 7; p. 110; pl. 6 s.
Synonymy: Euthriofusus spinosus Suter 1917, p. 24
Type species of Speightia Finlay, 1926
Classification: Speightiidae; Conoidea?
Description: Moderately large (height 55- 90 mm), broadly biconic, spire about 0.4-0.5 total height. Protoconch not known. Teleoconch of 7 or 8 whorls, sharply keeled a short distance above suture on spire; last whorl with rounded peribasal subangulation, broadly excavated below; neck moderately long, slightly curved. Axial sculpture of prominent, vertically compressed, rounded tubercles on peripheral keel; 9-11 per whorl. Spiral sculpture of subdued cords and threads below keel. Aperture pyriform; columella straight or slightly concave adapically, twisted to left at inception of moderately long siphonal canal. Inner lip moderately thickly callused with a narrow entering ridge near adapical end. Outer lip thin, smooth within, with a moderately broad, shallow anal sinus on ramp, its apex much closer to keel than to suture.
Comparison: Speightia is a monotypic genus so far known only from Bortonian faunules of offshore facies, but it is apparently closely related to Clinuropsis Vincent, 1913 (Paleocene, Belgium, Zaire) and Andicula Olsson, 1929 (Early Eocene, Peru). Powell (1942) proposed the family Speightiidae for these three genera and placed it near the Turridae, although the relationship may not be as close as is implied. Species included in the family superficially resemble some buccinulids, e.g. Penion, but speightiids are readily distinguished by their relatively pronounced anal sinus.
Distribution: Bortonian, Waihao Greensand, Waihao River (type) — probably South Branch near Waihao Downs; Hampden Beach; Black Point, Bortons; Pareora River. Not uncommon at most localities.
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)