New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics abstracts
Middle–Late Jurassic bivalves of the superfamily Veneroidea from
New Zealand and New Caledonia
Ronald N. Gardner
19B Cheam Street
Dallington
Christchurch, New Zealand
Abstract Bivalves of the families Arcticidae,
Isocyprinidae n. fam., and Veneridae are described from the Middle–Late
Jurassic of New Zealand and New Caledonia. Morphology of shells from
several genera in Arcticidae, Isocyprinidae, Veniellidae n. fam., and
Veneridae is analysed in detail. These families are shown to be closely
related in terms of morphological shell characters, especially
ontogenetic and evolutionary hinge development. This is highlighted by
identical ranges in commissural outline and shell form together with
similar strength and form of ornamentation, and the fact that hinge
plate development is an uninterrupted evolutionary process between
Arcticidae and Isocyprinidae to Veneridae. These converging lineages
show that Veneridae is at least diphyletic. This same evolutionary
process is also shown to be an ontogenetic function of shells, with the
final state of hinge development limited by maximum shell size. The
family Corbiculidae is considered to be a major offshoot from one of
the two lineages defined by Arcticidae-Veneridae or
Isocyprinidae-Veneridae. These factors justify the superfamilies
Arcticoidea and Corbiculoidea being synonymised with Veneroidea. In New
Zealand, Isocyprinidae is represented by Austrocyprina n. gen.
(one species). Veneridae is present in the form of Eocallista
(one new species), and Austrocardilanx n. gen. (two new
species). Arcticidae has been recorded from New Zealand and New
Caledonia, and is represented by Antarctica n. gen. (one
species).
Keywords Antarctica n. gen.; Arcticoidea;
Arcticidae; Austrocyprina n. gen.; Austrocardilanx n.
gen.; Corbiculoidea; Corbiculidae; Eocallista; Heterian;
Isocyprinidae n. fam.; Jurassic; Murihiku Supergroup; New Caledonia;
new taxa; New Zealand; paleontology; Temaikan; Veneroidea; Veneridae;
Veniellidae n. fam.
G03068; Received 17 November 2003; accepted 16 July 2004; Online
publication date 3 June 2005
New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 2005, Vol. 48:
325–376
0028–8306/05/4802–0325© The Royal Society of New Zealand 2005
PDF file of entire paper: Print-quality
(24827K) | screen-quality (2365K)
This year's abstracts |
Journal home page |
All abstracts |
Publishing home page
