New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics abstracts

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Middle to Late Jurassic bivalves of the subfamily Astartinae from New Zealand and New Caledonia

RONALD N. GARDNER

19B Cheam Street
Dallington
Christchurch, New Zealand

HAMISH J. CAMPBELL

Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences
P.O. Box 31 312
Lower Hutt, New Zealand

Abstract   Bivalves of the family Astartidae are described from the Middle–Late Jurassic of New Zealand and New Caledonia. The subfamily Astartinae is represented by five genera, namely, Notoastarte n. gen. (five new species), Nicaniella (one new species), Oxyloma n. gen. (six new species), and Hemimenia n. gen. (two new species). The genus Neocrassina is currently under review. An overview of local stratigraphy is provided for astartine type localities. Paleogeography is analysed in terms of paleocurrents, sea-level changes, faunal comparisons, and faunal distributions. These factors provide evidence for the temporary opening of an epicontinental seaway along the Gondic corridor, linking the Tethys Sea with the Bay of Antarctica, at least twice during the Middle Jurassic. Morphology of astartids is discussed in detail, and a revised hinge formula for the subfamily Astartinae is presented.

Keywords   Astarte; Astartidae; Astartinae; Hemimenia; Jurassic; Murihiku Supergroup; New Caledonia; New Zealand; Nicaniella; Notoastarte; Oxyloma; paleobiogeography; paleontology; sexual dimorphism; Tethyan; Torlesse Supergroup; new taxonomic names

G00059 Received 20 September 2000; accepted 5 September 2001
New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 2002, Vol. 45 : 1–51
0028–8306/02/0001 $7.00/0 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2002

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