New Cenozoic records of genera and families from New Zealand (Mollusca, Gastropoda): Highlights from phillip maxwell's collection

Abstract

Six new gastropod species collected by Phillip Maxwell and a seventh from North Auckland are new records from New Zealand. Globularia maxwelli from Otaio Gorge, South Canterbury (Mangaorapan, Early Eocene) is the first confirmed occurrence of the gastropod family Ampullinidae (Campaniloidea) in New Zealand. Clavilithes philmaxwelli, also from Otaio Gorge (Mangaorapan), is also the first record of Clavilithes (Fasciolariidae) from New Zealand. Maxwellinatica phillipi from Mount Harris Formation (Altonian, Early Miocene), South Canterbury, resembles Cernina (Ampullinidae) but is a new genus and species referred to the Naticidae. Pellasimnia maxwelli (Ovulidae, Ovulinae) from Bridge Point, Kakanui (Runangan, Late Eocene) is the first fossil record of the genus in New Zealand. A second New Zealand ovulid, Prosimnia blackae n. sp. (Prionovolvinae), is described from Tokatoka, North Auckland (Otaian, Early Miocene). Haloceras maxwelli is the fourth (and earliest) world fossil record of the rare family Haloceratidae, from Evans Crossing, Pareora River, Canterbury (Bortonian, Middle Eocene). The neritid Neritina maxwellorum is also from Evans Crossing, Pareora River, Canterbury (Bortonian). The new taxa help confirm warm sea temperatures in New Zealand during Eocene to Miocene time. © 2011 The Royal Society of New Zealand.