Gemmocolus

Gemmocolus
Temporal range:
Gemmocolus gemmata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Family: Fasciolariidae
Subfamily: Fusininae
Genus: Gemmocolus
P. A. Maxwell, 1992
Type species
Falsicolus gemmatus
A. W. B. Powell, 1935
Synonyms[1]
  • Falsicolus (Gemmocolus) P. A. Maxwell, 1992

Gemmocolus is an extinct genus of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Fasciolariidae.[2] The genus includes two species, G. ectypa and G. gemmata, both known from the Miocene of New Zealand.

Description

The genus has a differing gemmate sculpture compared to other closely related genera such as Falsicolus.[3]

Taxonomy

Gemmocolus was first described by Phillip A. Maxwell in 1992 as a subgenus of Falsicolus.[1] By 2009, it was raised to genus level.[4]

Distribution

Fossils of the genus date to the early Miocene and middle Miocene of New Zealand.[5][1] Fossils found in the Westland District may represent a third, undescribed species.[1]

Species

Species within the genus Gemmocolus include:[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Maxwell, P.A. (1990). "Eocene Mollusca from the vicinity of the McCulloch's bridge, waihao River, South Canterbury, New Zealand: paleoecology and systematics". New Zealand Geological Survey Paleontological Bulletin. 65: 125.
  2. ^ a b Gemmocolus gemmata (A. W. B. Powell, 1935) †. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 13 January 2026.
  3. ^ Beu, A.G.; Raine, J.I. (2009). "Revised descriptions of New Zealand Cenozoic Mollusca from Beu and Maxwell (1990).". GNS Science miscellaneous series no. 27. © GNS Science. ISBN 978-0-478-19705-1.
  4. ^ Maxwell, P.A. (2009). "Cenozoic Mollusca". In Gordon, D.P. (ed.). New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity. Volume one. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. Christchurch: Canterbury University Press. p. 246. ISBN 978-1-877257-72-8.
  5. ^ Blom, Wilma M. (2025). "Annotated Catalogue of Fossil and Extant Molluscan Types in the Auckland War Memorial Museum". Bulletin of the Auckland Museum. 22. doi:10.32912/BULLETIN/22. ISSN 1176-3213. OCLC 1550165130. Wikidata Q135397912.