Recent occurrence of Murexsul espinosus (Hutton, 1885) (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Muricidae) off the south-eastern North Island, New Zealand with some notes on other neogastropods endemic to the south-eastern North Island

Abstract

Murexsul espinosus (Hutton, 1885), based on Pliocene fossils from Hawkes Bay and Palliser Bay, is recorded for the first time in Recent faunas off East Cape and Mahia Peninsula. Other taxa with similar distribution patterns off the south-eastern North Island are briefly discussed: Cominella excoriata Finlay, 1926, C. tolagaensis Ponder, 1968, Buccinulum fuscozonatum (Suter, 1908) and B. colensoi (Suter, 1908).

Keywords:

• biogeography
• Cominella excoriata
• Cominella tolagaensis
• Buccinulum fuscozonatum
• Buccinulum colensoi

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Alan Beu (GNS Science, Lower Hutt) for loan of fossil specimens and comments on the manuscript, Kareen Schnabel and Sadie Mills (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Wellington) for living material of M. espinosus, Norton Hiller (Canterbury Museum, Christchurch) for loan of type material of Murex espinosus, Raymond Coory (Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington) for photography, and Wilma Blom (Auckland Museum) for information on an erroneous published record. The Recent specimens from off Mahia Peninsula were collected as part of the Biogenic Habitats on the Continental Shelf project (voyages TAN1105 and TAN1108), funded by New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industry (Fisheries) (Biogenic Habitats: ZBD200801), New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (CCM: CO1X0907), NIWA Capability Fund (CF111358) and Oceans Survey 20/20 RV Tangaroa days funded by Land Information New Zealand.