First record of Late Cretaceous Gastropoda (Mollusca) from the Takatika Grit, Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacific

Abstract

Cretaceous gastropod molluscs are recorded from Chatham Island for the first time, represented by rare silicified species from the Takatika Grit, which has been dated from mollusc, vertebrate, and dinoflagellate evidence as Campanian (Late Cretaceous) in age. Species identified comprise Protodolium sp. cf. P. pittensis Stilwell, 1994 (Neritopsidae); Euspira selwyniana (Wilckens, 1922) (Naticidae); and Eriptycha punamutica Wilckens, 1922 (Ringiculidae), all shallow‐water shelf taxa. Coeval, conspecific taxa are known from the Kahuitara Tuff from Pitt Island, and from the New Zealand mainland, in comparable shallow shelf habitats.

Keywords:

• fossils
• Gastropoda
• Protodolium
• Euspira
• Er‐iptycha
• Late Cretaceous
• Campanian
• Takatika Grit
• Chatham Islands
• New Zealand