Gemmocolus
Genus of gastropods
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gemmocolus is an extinct genus of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Fasciolariidae.[2] The genus includes two species, G. ectypa and G. gemmata, both known from the Miocene of New Zealand.
| Gemmocolus Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| |
| Gemmocolus gemmata | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Neogastropoda |
| Family: | Fasciolariidae |
| Subfamily: | Fusininae |
| Genus: | †Gemmocolus P. A. Maxwell, 1992 |
| Type species | |
| † Falsicolus gemmatus A. W. B. Powell, 1935 | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Description
The genus has a differing gemmate sculpture compared to other closely related genera such as Falsicolus.[3]
Taxonomy
Gemmocolus was first described by Phillip A. Maxwell in 1992 as a subgenus of Falsicolus.[1] By 2009, it was raised to genus level.[4]
Distribution
Fossils of the genus date to the early Miocene and middle Miocene of New Zealand.[5][1] Fossils found in the Westland District may represent a third, undescribed species.[1]
Species
Species within the genus Gemmocolus include:[2]
- † Gemmocolus ectypa (Marwick, 1931)
- † Gemmocolus gemmata (A. W. B. Powell, 1935)