New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics abstracts

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Review of the fossil Stylasteridae (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) from the New Zealand region

STEPHEN D. CAIRNS

Department of Invertebrate Zoology
NHB-163, W-329
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, D. C. 20560, U.S.A.

JACK A. GRANT-MACKIE

Geology Department
The University of Auckland
Private Bag 92 019
Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract The five previously reported fossil calcified hydroids from the New Zealand region are discussed, resulting in: a change of generic placement of two species (Stylaster sensu Jones, 1970 to Calyptopora; and Paraerrina sensu Squires, 1962 to Lepidopora), and a query of the identification of Sporadopora mortenseni sensu Squires, 1962. Several records of bryozoans reported as stylasterids are also rectified. Four additional fossil stylasterids are reported from the region: indeterminate species of Inferiolabiata and Conopora from the early Miocene (Otaian) of Pakaurangi Point; a species of Errina from the early to middle Eocene (Waipawan-Bortonian) of Chatham Island; and a new species, Stylaster gigas, from the early Pliocene (Opoitian) of Kaawa Beach, North Island. S. gigas has one of the most massive coralla of any known stylasterid. The nine fossil stylasterids now known from the New Zealand region range from the early Eocene to the late Pliocene and are found from both North and South Islands as well as Chatham and Pitt Islands.

Keywords Cnidaria; Hydrozoa; Stylasteridae; new taxon; Stylaster gigas; new records; Cenozoic; New Zealand; Chatham Islands

Received 24 September 1992; published 13 April 1993
New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 1991, Vol. 36: 1—8
0028Ð8306/06/3601—0001 ©The Royal Society of New Zealand 1991

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (2224K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process). Digitisation of this article from the printed journal was kindly facilitated by the Geological Society of New Zealand

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