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Dorsal valve
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Maoristrophia neozelanica
Phylum: Brachiopod
Genus: Maoristrophia Species: Maoristrophia neozelanica Location found: Reefton |
On one memorable and exceptionally productive day, I collected several specimens of Maoristrophia neozelanica from the Devonian rocks in KLankey's Creek near Reefton. So far, the distribution of the species seems to be limited to this one locality, but it is possible that finds can be made in similar strata elsewhere.
The species was originally included within Leptostrophia reeftonensis by Allan, following finds in Lankey's Creek near Reefton, but in 1947 he separated out Maorostrophia neozelanica as the first (and at that point, only) member of a new genus. Since then, other species (M. banksi, M. careyi and M. keblei) have been identified within the same genus in Australia. All appear to be closely related, and all are shallow water species, so the existence of the genus on both sides of the Tasman Sea is significant; it suggests the existence of a shallow water connection between the areas at some time in the early Devonian. More recently, two further species have been identified in Japan. Key features of the taxa are the flattish profile, the semi-circular outline with a straight hingeline marking the diameter of the circle, the fine, splayed ribbing, and the evenly spaced growth lines. There are similarities with Brachyprion, though in that genus the shells seem to extend further beyond the diameter. |
Further Reading: Allan, R.S. 1947 A revision of the Brachiopoda of the Lower Devonian strata of Reefton, New Zealand. Journal of Palanteology 21 (5), 436-452. Gill, E.D. 1952 Palaeogeography of the Australian-New Zealand region in Lower Devonian time. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 80(2), 171-185. |