Silicified Eocene molluscs from the Lower Murchison...

[<ecords o{ the Western A uslralian Museum 24: 217--246 (2008).

Silicified Eocene molluscs from the Lower Murchison district,Southern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia

Thomas A. Darragh1 and George W. Kendrick2.3

I Department of Invertebrate Palaeontology, Museum Victoria, 1'.0. Box 666, Melbourne,Victoria 3001, Australia. Email: tdarragh(il.Illuseum.vic.gov.au

:' Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Western Australian Museum, Locked Bag 49,Welshpool D.C., Western Australia 6986, Australia.

1 School of Earth and Ceographical Sciences, The University of Western Australia,35 Stirling Highway, Crawlev, Western Australia 6009, Australia.

Abstract - Silicified Middle to Late Eocene shallow water sandstonesoutcropping in the Lower Murchison District near Kalbarri township containa silicified fossil fauna including foraminifera, sponges, bryozoans, solitarycorals, brachiopods, echinoids and molluscs. The known molluscan faunaconsists of 51 species, comprising 2 cephalopods, 14 bivalves, 1 scaphopodand 34 gastropods. Of these taxa three are newly described, Cerithium lvilya,Zeacolpus bartol1i, and Lyria lamellatoplicata. 25 of these molluscs areidentical to or closely comparable with taxa from the southern AustralianEocene. The occurrence of this fauna extends the Southeast AustralianProvince during the Eocene from southwest Western Australia along the westcoast north to at least 27° present day south latitude; consequently theprovince is here renamed the Southern Australian Province.

Keywords: siliceous fossils, Eocene, Kalbarri, molluscs, new taxa, CarnarvonBasin, biogeography, Southern Australian Province.

INTRODUCTION

Eocene marine molluscan assemblages fromcoastal sedimentary basins in southern Australiahave been reviewed recently by Darragh andKendrick (2000, Table 1, Figure 1), with descriptionsof new species and other records from the Bass, PortPhillip, Otway, Murray, St Vincent and BremerBasins. In contrast, Eocene molluscs from theCarnarvon Basin (Giralia Calcarenite, MerlinleighSandstone) have received little attention and, to thetime of writing, remain largely unknown. Therecent discovery in the lower Murchison Districtnear Kalbarri township of silicified, marine Eocenesediments (I-big and Mory 2(03), containing adiversity of well-preserved molluscan material,presents an opportunity to extend the study of thesegroups, erstwhile essentiallv southern indistribution, westward and northward into theSouthern Carnarvon Basin.

The Kalbarri deposit, source of the present studymaterial, was discovered by Mr David Barton ofKalbarri (see Material, below). Situated within theKalbarri National Park, the locality lies some] 9.5km ESE from Kalbarri townsite, striking south andwest for about 2 km near Junga Dam, south of theAjana-Kalbarri road. A central map reference onthe Kalbarri 1:100,000 topographic sheet (1742) is397260, at an elevation close to 220m above ArID.

The source deposit, a pallid to ferruginous silicifiedsandstone, forms a weakly defined, low breakawaytrending N-S and sloping gently westward. Itslithology and stratigraphic relationships have beendescribed by Haig and Mory (2003).

Invertebrate marine fossils, predominantlysponges and invariably silicified, lie on theweathered surface of and downslope from thebreakaway. Eocene fossils collected to date fromthis source comprise foraminifers, sponges,bryozoans, solitary corals, brachiopods, echinoidsand mollusc shells, the latter comprising ascaphopod, bivalves, gastropods and nautiloids.Further down slope occur fragments of pale,silicified porcellanite and belemnite guards(Peratobolus sp.), derived from the unconformablyunderlying Aptian Wind alia Radiolarite (IIaig andMory 2003: 1(7).

MATERIAL

Three separate collections, all from the samesource area, constitute the study material.I. Collection of Mr David Barton, acquired over the

period 2000-2001 and presented to the WesternAustralian Museum in 2005. The BartonCollection is registered in the Museum's cataloguenumerical sequence 05.182 to 05.212 inclusive.

218

2. Collection of K.]., K.A. and ].P. McNamara andS.P. Radford, during April 2004 and bearingcatalogue numerical sequence 04.206 to 04.240inclusive.

3. Collection of T.A. Darragh and G.W. Kendrick,October 2005 and catalogue numerical sequence06.178-06.191,07.1-07.30; also Museum Victorianumbers NMV P313978-P313989, P314038314040.

4. Nautiloids collected by D.W. Haig, School ofEarth and Geographical Sciences, University ofWestern Australia, UWA 130880-1.

The specimens for this study are lodged in thefollowing institutions: Museum Victoria,Melbourne (NMV); University of WesternAustralia, Nedlands (UWA); Western AustralianMuseum, Perth (WAM).

AGE AND CORRELAnON

Planktonic foraminiferal determinations presentedby Haig and Mory (2003) have established an age forthe Kalbarri deposit within the interval P13-16 (Pzonation of Berggren and Miller 1988), BartonianPriabonian (= ]ohannian-Aldingan AustralianStages) of the Middle to Late Eocene. The absence oftropical and subtropical species of foraminiferssuggests a cooling trend over this interval,comparable with that noted for southern Australianwaters by McGowran et al. (2000).

Mollusc species from the Kalbarri Eocene showsubstantial direct affinities with those of the Bremerand other coastal basins of southern Australia, theassemblage overall being essentially temperate incharacter, though including some possible tropicalor subtropical elements. Thus, of the 51 molluscspecies recognised below in the study material, 25are identical to or closely comparable with taxafrom the southern Australian Eocene (Darragh andKendrick 2000, Table 1).

COMPARISON WITH THE MERLINLEIGHSANDSTONE

The Middle to Late Eocene Merlinleigh Sandstone(Cockbain 1981) comprises thin (to ISm) erosionalremnants of a transgressive, shallow water, nearshore deposit, located along the western flank ofthe Kennedy Range, eastern Central CarnarvonBasin and some 350-400 km NNE from the Kalbarrideposit. The MerIinleigh Sandstone comprisesmainly quartz sandstone with minor siltstone andconglomerate. Fossil material, invariably silicified,occurs as surface float below an erosion scarp andcomprises foraminifera, colonial corals, bryozoans,hydrozoans, molluscs, fossil wood (some teredinebored) and other terrestrial plant material (Condon1968, McNamara and Scott 1983, Haig and Mory2003).

T.A. Darragh and C.W. Kendrick

Other than the nautiloid Aturia cJarkei Teichert(Teichert 1944), molluscs from the MerlinleighSandstone have thus far remained unrecorded. Wehere list (Table 2) provisional determinations ofthese from the collections of Museum Victoria andthe Western Australian Museum, pending moredetailed consideration in a future paper. None ofthese taxa seems to have affinity with those of theEocene faunas of either southern Australia orKalbarri: Haig et al. (1993) considered theMerlinleigh Sandstone and Giralia Calcarenite to beprobably coeval and located within zones Pll - P13of the Middle Eocene and hence older than thepresent Kalbarri deposit. This, together withmarked facies contrasts and latitudinaldiscrepancies are consistent with the substantialdifferences here noted between the Kalbarri andMerlinleigh mollusc assemblages.

FAUNAL CONTRASTS AND DEPOSITIONALENVIRONMENTS

Mollusca from the MerIinleigh Sandstone,compared with those from the Kalbarri Eocene,differ mostly in generic identity and also in beingmuch larger and more robust. No species of thegenus Periglypta ]ukes-Brown, 1914 has beenrecorded from any Tertiary deposit in southernAustralia nor is it present at Kalbarri. Corals fromthe two sources contrast strongly; those fromMerlinleigh being colonial in character, commonand robust whereas in the Kalbarri Eocene, coralsare rare and to date are confined to specimens ofthe solitary, azooxanthellate genus FlabellumLesson. Modern records of this genus fromsouthern and Western Australia (Cairns and Parker1992, Cairns 1998) are associated with water depthsusually in excess of lOOm and indicate habitats ofthe middle to outer continental shelf and slope.Sponges, unknown from the Merlinleigh Sandstone,are common and conspicuous at Kalbarri, consistentwith a deeper water, perhaps middle shelfenvironment of deposition, although the rolled andbroken nature of all the fossils and the coarsesediment in which they are found may indicate thatthe material had been washed into shallower water.

Post-mortem transportation of the study materialis supported by the markedly disproportionatenumerical representation of the various species.Thus Zeacolpus bartoni sp. novo with 577 specimensand Cerithium wilya sp. novo (53 specimens)contrast with 35 other species in the assemblage,represented by only one or two specimens.

PALAEOGEOGRAPHY

The Southeastern Australian Province supports atemperate marine mollusc fauna, hithertorecognised in Eocene time as extending along the

Eocene molluscs, Kalbarri 219

Table 1 Mollusc determinations in the

CEl'l tAIOI'O[)AI. Eutrephocer.ls sp.2. A/uria cJarkei Teichert

B1VALVIA3. Sarep/.l planiuscula (Tate)4. Limopsis chapmani Singleton5. Tucetona lenticul.lris (late)6. Sol.lmen (Exosiperna) sI'. aff. globularis7. Vulsell.l sI'. cf. V. l.levig.lta TateH. d. 7~llochl.lrnvsevrei (rate)9. I'Iicacesta? sI'.10. Chama sI'11. Epicodakia sI'.12. Glyptoactis (FascicuIicardia) sI'. cl. C;'.(I.) lalissima Crate)13. Pratu/um hemimeris14. Dosina (Dosina) multilamellata (late)15. d. Fossacallista tatei (Cossmann)16. C.lryocorbula pixidata (late)

SCAPHOl'ODA17. Dentalium mawsom ludbrook

CASTROPODAIH. Emarginula sp.19. IVlicrelenchus (1'Iumbe1enchus) arnllllatus Da rragh & Kend rick20. Calliostoma sI'. aff. C. (Fautor) numapum Darragh & Kendrick21. Cerithium wilya sI'. novo22. Zeacolpus bartoni sI'. novo23. Tenagodus sI'.24. Xenophora sI'. aff. X. t.ltei Harris25. Naticid 51'.26. Euspirocrommium sI'.27. Galt'odca 51'.2H. Notoscila SI'.29. Ccrithiella sI'.30. Cirsotrema sI'. aff. C. pleiophylla Tate31. MargineuIima sI'.32. Turbinellid? 51'.33. l'vlurcxsul sI'.34. Brocchitas? 51'.35. Df1nnantia aldingensis Crate)36. Alcithoe (W.lihaoia) pagodoides Crate)37. N%voluta capitonica IJarragh3H. Notopeplum protorhvsum Clate)39. lamclla/opIicata sI'. novo40. CcmmoIiva 51'. d. G. ade1aidae (Tate)41. GraciIispira sI'. cf. Cl.42. Cochlespira 51'.43. l'arasyngcnochilus sI'. cf. l'. angus/ior44. Gt.'mmula? 51'.45. ;vlauidrilIia sI'. cf. M. Powcll46. sI'. A47. sI' B4H. Mitrid sI'. A49. Mitrid 51'. B

Conus? 51'.51. Conorbis 51'.

220

Table 2 Molluscs from the Merlinleigh Sandstone inthe collections of Museum Victoria and theWestern Australian Museum.

Cephalopod1. Aturia clarkei Teichert

Bivalves2. Cucullaea sp.3. Glycymeris sp.4. Spondylus sp.5. Chama sp.6. Glans? sp.7. Periglypta sp.8. Dosina (Hina) sp.9. Dosinia (Austrodosinia) sp.

Gastropod10. Tugali? sp.11. Turbo sp.

T.A. Darragh and G.W. Kendrick

Nautiloid indet.: Haig and Mory, 2003: figures 3 S, T.

Material examinedAustralia: Western Australia: Kalbarri National

Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 18 specimens(WAM 05.202); 10 specimens (NMV P313985); 1specimen (UWA 130881). Total 29 specimens.

DescriptionShell broadly lenticular. Siphuncle small, situated

close to venter and slightly offset to the right.Hyponomic sinus broad and shallow. Smallumbilicus closed by callus, but visible on somespecimens. Sculpture of fine, close-set equal spiralIirae visible on early whorls and beaded wherecrossed by growth lines.

Dimensions

OccurrenceSouthern Carnarvon Basin: unnamed sandstone,

Middle-Late Eocene.

DiscussionAll specimens are juveniles consisting of one or

two whorls, with the possible exception of thelargest specimen (figured), which seems to consistof two or possibly three whorls. Though poorlyvisible, the suture line appears to be straight. Mostof the shells are infilled with silica and aretransparent, but there is no sign of a siphunclewithin the shell nor are there signs of chambers inthe better preserved specimens, so no suture linesare visible. The sculpture preserved on some of thesmaller specimens is very similar to that figured byLandman et al. (1983, figure 4a) on Eutrephocerasdekayi (Morton, 1834), Late Cretaceous, NorthAmerica.

Eutrephoceras species have been recorded fromthe Paleocene of Victoria by Teichert (1947) and byMcGowran (1959) from the Early and MiddleMiocene of South Australia and from the MiddleMiocene of Victoria. If the genus is correctlyidentified, this is the first record from the Eocene ofAustralia.

south coast of Australia from the Gippsland Basinin the east to the Bremer Basin in the west (Darragh1985, figure 3). The Austral Indo-Pacific Province,in essence an extension of the tropical Indo-PacificProvince, in Eocene time was thought to beconfined to the Carnarvon Basin on the west coastof Australia. The results of the current work showthis to be so, but in addition, that the SoutheasternAustralian Province extended at least to thesouthern part of the Southern Carnarvon Basin asfar north as approximately present day 27° southlatihlde. The Province may have extended furthernorth, but if so, any evidence for this has probablybeen removed by erosion.

Of the molluscs present in the Kalbarri fauna, allgenera are typically represented in the SoutheasternAustralian Province. All the bivalve and scaphopodgenera are represented in the Eocene. Most of thegastropod genera are also known from the Eocene,with the exception of Zeacolpus and Lyria, thetaxon here referred as Turbinellid? sp. and possiblyNotoseila and Cerithiella. Of the cephalopods,Aturia is represented in the Eocene, but inAustralia, Eutrephoceras has hitherto only beenrecorded from the Paleocene and the Miocene.

Inclusion of the Bremer and southern CarnarvonBasins in the Southeastern Australian Provincemakes the name of the province inappropriate.Consequently the province is renamed here theSouthern Australian Province.

WAM 05.202aWAM 05.202b

Height3311

Width197.5

SYSTEMATIC PALAEONTOLOGY

Class Cephalopoda

Family Nautilidae

Genus Eutrephoceras Hyatt, 1894

Eutrephoceras sp.Figures 1.14, 1.24, 1.25

Family Aturiidae

Genus Aturia Bronn, 1838

Aturia clarkei Teicherl, 1944Figures 1.18, 1.19

Aturia clarkei Teichert, 1944: 79, plate 15, figures 14; plate 16, figures 1, 2; text figure 2.

Aturia sp. Haig and Mory 2003: figures 3, Q, R.


and rounded posteriorly, umbo weakly inflated,beaks slightly projecting and anterior of centre.Sculpture (LV) of faint, commarginal growth striae,scarcely discernible on umbo. Internal characters andthose of dorsal nlargin concealed (described byLudbrook 1961 from the type material).


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 1 specimen(UWA 130880).

DescriptionShell slightly flattened, but flanks originally

slightly convex, of small size; no umbilicus; venterbroadly rounded; growth lines not visible.Siphuncle large, partly obscured by matrix.

DimensionsLength

WAM 06.179 (pair) 5.4Height

4.1Inflation

2.3

DiscussionThe saddle of the suture on the Kalbarri specimen

seems rounded, rather than slightly flattened, as inspecimens of Aturia c1arkei from the type localitynear the Merlinleigh homestead site in the KennedyRange. This slight difference could be a result ofdifficulty in tracing accurately the suture on thisparticular specimen, or perhaps because of someintra-specific or ontogenic variation, the KennedyRange specimens being much larger (40 - > 100mm).

Dimensions

UWA 130880Height

31.8Width

13.3

DiscussionThe present specimens compare well with others

from the Pallinup Formation and from the typelocality. The species combines a wide distributionwith rarity in collections.

OccurrenceOtway Basin: Glen Aire Clay, Oligocene. St

Vincent Basin: "Adelaide Bore", Kent Town (type),Blanche Point Formation, Late Eocene. BremerBasin: North Walpole, Pallinup Formation, LateEocene. Southern Carnarvon Basin: unnamedsandstone, Middle-Late Eocene.

OccurrenceOtway Basin: Clifton Formation, reworked

specimens. St Vincent Basin: TortachillaLimestone. Bremer Basin: Pallinup Formation.Southern Carnarvon Basin: Merlinleigh Sandstone(type); unnamed sandstone, Middle-Late Eocene.

Class Bivalvia

Family Sareptidae

Genus Sarepta A. Adams, 1860

Sarepta planiuscula (Tate, 1886)Figure 1.4

Leda planiuscula Tate, 1886: 130, plate 5, figure 2.

Ovaleda planiuscula (Tate): I.ud brook 1961: 61,plate 3, figures 3, 4.

Sarepta planiuscula (Tate): Darragh and Kendrick2000: 18, 22, figure 21.


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: conjoined valves(W AM 06.179); 1 fragment (NMV P313980).

Family Limopsidae

Genus Limopsis Sassi, 1827

Limopsis chapmani Singleton, 1932Figure 1.21

Limopsis chapmani Singleton, 1932: 296-299, plate24, figures 12-14, plate 25, figure 16.

Limopsis (Limopsis) chapmani (Singleton): Darraghand Kendrick, 1980: 13, figures 2 O-R; Darraghand Kendrick 2000: 24.


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: conjoined valves(WAM 06.181).

DescriptionConjoined valves, small for the species, RV

somewhat corroded dOl'sally, L.V substantiallyintact; obliquely sub-ovate, slightly producedposteriorly, umbones slightly prosogyrate, beaksslightly projecting, dorsal margin partly obscured,probably straight and less than half shell length.Sculpture of weak, spaced, commarginal striae.

Dimensions

RemarksThe Kalbarri specimen, probably a juvenile,

DescriptionThe better of the two Kalbarri specimens is a small,

roundly subquadrate, conjoined pair, of which theleft valve is substantially intact, right valvesomewhat corroded and pitted. Slightly produced

WAM06.181Length

4.6Height

5.0Inflation

2.7

222 T.A. Darragh and G.W. Kendrick

54

87

1

12

17


RemarksThe limited material to hand from Kalbarri, from

rib counts and other general characters, compareswell with specimens of similar size from bothBrowns Creek and Pallinup Formations (WAM05.29). Valve orientation of juveniles of this speciesrequires care and preferably from access to theadductor muscle scars (Ludbrook 1965: 93). Thespecimen figured herein appears to be a RV,assuming that the beak is located slightly posteriorof centre. Adult valves of this species may attain alength of up to 37mm.

compares closely with conspecific material fromBrowns Creek and also North Walpole, where itoccurs commonly and occasionally as a conjoinedpair (Darragh and Kendrick 1980). Its abundance atthe latter locality contrasts markedly with its rarityat Kalbarri.

OccurrencePort Phillip Basin: Jan Juc Formation (type), Late

Oligocene-Early Miocene. Otway Basin: Lower andupper Browns Creek Formation, Late Eocene. LowerGlen Aire Clay, Early Oligocene. St Vincent Basin:Blanche Point Formation, Late Eocene. BremerBasin: Werillup Formation, Middle Eocene. PallinupFormation, Late Eocene. Southern Carnarvon Basin:unnamed sandstone, Middle-Late Eocene.

Dimensions

WAM 04.206 (RV)Length

6.3Height

5.9Inflation

1.7

Family Glycymeridae

Genus Tucetona Iredale, 1931

Tucetona lenticularis (Tate, 1886)Figures 1.8, 1.12

Pectunculus lenticularis Tate, 1886: 138, plate 11,figure 1.

Tucetona lenticularis (Tate): Darragh and Kendrick2000: 24, figure 2J.


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 2 specimens(WAM 04.206); 1 specimen (WAM 06.180); 2specimens (NMV P313981). Total of four completevalves and one fragment.

DescriptionSingle valves, all juveniles, some fragmentary.

Orbicular, slightly longer than high, compressed,umbones low, orthogyrate, beaks small, locatedslightly posterior of centre, ligamental area narrow,costae numbering (present material) 21-26, aboutequal to interspaces, margins abraded, adductorscars not sighted.

OccurrenceOtway Basin: Browns Creek Formation, Late

Eocene. Lower Glen Aire Clay, Early Oligocene. StVincent Basin: South Maslin Sand, Middle Eocene.Blanche Point Formation (type), Late Eocene.Bremer Basin: Werrilup Formation, Middle Eocene.Pallinup Formation, Late Eocene. SouthernCarnarvon Basin: unnamed sandstone, Middle-LateEocene.

Family Mytilidae

Genus Solamen Iredale, 1924

Subgenus Exosiperna Iredale, 1929

Solamen (Exosiperna) sp. aff. globularis (Tate,1886)

Figures 1.1, 1.6

Crenella globularis Tate, 1886: 126, plate 10, figure3a, b.


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 1 right valve(WAM 06.182).

..... Figure 1 Solamen (Exosipema) sp. aff. S. (E.) globularis (Tate), I, 6 WAM 06.182, RV x 8. Chama sp., 2, 3 WAM 06.187,RV external, internal x 3.7. Sarepta planiuscula (Tate), 4 WAM 06.179, LV x 5.0. Glyptoactis (Fasciculicardia)sp. cf. G. (F.) latissima (Tate), 5 WAM 06.188, LV x 4.4. cf. Fossacallista tatei (Cossmann), 7 WAM 06.189, LVx 3.0. Tucetona lenticularis (Tate), 8, 12 WAM 04.206, RV x 4.8. Caryocorbula pixidata (Tate), 9 WAM 06.190,LV internal x 3.9; 13 WAM 06.190, LV external x 3.9; 17 WAM 05.183 RV external x 3.9. Plicacesta? sp., 10WAM 05.202, LV x 3.8. Vulsella sp. cf. V. laevigata Tate, 11 WAM 06.183, LV x 3.7. Eutrephoceras sp., 14WAM 05.202b x 4.2; 24, 25 WAM 05.202a x 1.5. Pratulum hemimeris (Tate), 15 WAM 04.208, LV x 3.0. Dosina(Dosina) multilamellata (Tate), 16 WAM 04.209, LV x 5.7. Aturia c1arkei Teichert, 18, 19 UWA 130880 x 1.7(18), x 1.6 (19). Epicodakia sp., 20 WAM 05.182, RV x 4.0. Limopsis chapmani Singleton, 21 WAM 06.181, LVx 6.6. cf. Taloch1amys eyrei (Tate), 22 WAM 06.184, RV x 2.8; 23 WAM 06.185, RV? x 2.6; 26 WAM 06.185,RV? x 9.6.


DescriptionSmall, higher than long, inflated, beak incurved,

slightly anterior of centre. Sculpture mostlyobscured by secondary silica but some very faintcommarginal and finer, radial sculpture discernablein part.

North Walpole and has a thicker shell than anyknown specimen from there. These apparentdifferences and ~heir significance, if any, need to beclarified by the collection of further material fromthe present locality.

OccurrenceSt Vincent Basin: Blanche Point Formation, Late

Eocene (type). Southern Carnarvon Basin:unnamed sandstone, Middle-Late Eocene.

RemarksThe discovery of what may prove to be Tate's

rather uncommon species at Kalbarri, hithertoknown only from the Late Eocene of the St VincentBasin, suggests a possible substantial extension ofrange for the species. The Kalbarri specimen isabout half the size of Tate's type and is in partdecorticated and also overlain by secondary silica;however traces of light, cancellate SCUlpture arediscernible.

DimensionsLength

WAM 06.182 . 2.9Height

3.7Inflation

2.7

OccurrenceSt Vincent Basin: Glauconitic limestone at the

base of Witton Bluff, near mouth of the RiverOnkaparinga, South Australia. TortachillaLimestone, Late. Eocene (type). Bremer Basin:Pallinup Formation, Late Eocene. SouthernCamarvon Basin: unnamed sandstone, Middle-LateEocene.

Family Pectinidae

Genus Talochlamys Iredale, 1929

cf. Talochlamys eyrei (Tate, 1886)Figures 1.22, 1.23, 1.26

Pecten eyrei Tate, 1886: 107, plate 8, figures 3a, b, 6.

Talochlamys eyrei (Tate): Beu and Darragh 2001:101-106, figures 31B, C, E, G, I; 32G; 33A-E;34A-G.


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 1 left valve(WAM 06.183).

RemarksThe single valve to hand from Kalbarri appears to

be of greater length relative to height than examplesof Tate's species from the Pallinup Formation of

DescriptionHigher than long, moderately inflated, umbo

elevated, beak projecting, opisthogyrate, marginposteriorly excavate below beak, slightly convexanteriorly. Sculpture part-corroded, part-obscuredbut some weak, spaced, commarginal costae visible.Internal characters obscured.

Family Malleidae

Genus Vulsella Roding, 1798

Vulsella sp. cf. V.Iaevigata Tate, 1886Figure 1.11

Vulsella laevigata Tate, 1886: 122, plate 3, figure 3a,b; Darragh and Kendrick 1980: 15, figures 3D-H.

Height InflationLengthca 14

Dimensions


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 1 right valve,fragment (WAM 06.184); 1 right valve?, fragment(WAM 06.185). Total of two specimens.

WAM06.184

DescriptionTwo fragmentary, immature specimens are

consistent with and probably referable to Tate'sspecies. The better of the two retains portion of theanterior auricle and byssal notch. Shagreensculpture is well developed on each but neithershows any trace of commarginal sculpture on thecostae or elsewhere. So far as can be observed, thesculpture of these specimens corresponds to that ofthe peroni form of T.eyrei (Beu and Darragh 2001).

RemarksThe genus and its fossil component from the

Tertiary of southern Australia have been reviewedby Beu and Darragh (2001), with most occurrencesfrom Victorian and South Australian sources.Additional to these are a few records from the Eucla(Eocene-Miocene) and Bremer (Eocene) Basins.

Talochlamys eyrei is a common and widelydistributed species from the Aldingan toLongfordian variously in the St Vincent, Murray

InflationHeight9.5

Length8.0 (est.)

Dimensions

WAM 06.183, LV

Eocene molluscs, Kalbarri

and Otway Basins. Confirmed records for thespecies from Western Australia are few and to dateare confined to the Wilson Bluff and AbrakurrieLimestones of the Eucla Basin.

Two species of Talochlamys, approximatelycoeval with but distinct from the study material, arerecorded from the Pallinup Formation of theBremer Basin (Beu and Darragh 2001). Specimensare few and of inferior preservation. Clarification oftheir identities is subject to the collection of further,well-preserved material.

225

Family Chamidae

Genus Chama Linnaeus, 1758

Chamasp.Figures 1.2, 1.3


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 1 right valve(WAM 06.1E?7).

DescriptionA small, probably immature and transposed

tumid RV, umbo strongly prosocline, beakincurved. Sculpture of about 14 thin, irregular,spaced commarginal lamellae with faint traces ofradial sculpture forming a frill on the edge of thelamellae. Hinge corroded, with traces of poorlypreserved cardinals and possible laterals. No lunuleor escutcheon apparent. Groove present on umbo,extending onto disc - a possible attachment area.Exterior partly corroded, interior obscured bymatrix.


Middle-Late Eocene.

Family Limidae

Genus Plicacesta V okes, 1963

Plicacesta? sp.Figure 1.10



Dimensions

WAM 06.187Length

7.9Height

8.2Inflation

5.5


Middle-Late Eocene.

RemarksUnlike any known fossil taxon from southern

and south eastern Australia, the specimen isassigned provisionally to Plicacesta with regard tothe broader ribs on the median area of each valve.Compared with Plicacesta smithi (G.B. Sowerby,1888), type species of Plicacesta, from the Recentof Japan, the present species has fewer, morespaced ribs, smaller posterior auricles and lessersize.

DescriptionConjoined equal valves, obliquely sub-orbicular,

slightly inflated, extended anteriorly. Posteriorauricles very small, antero-dorsal area somewhatcorroded, anterior gape obscured. Sculpture of 20radial costae, about as wide as interspaces, theanterior seven and posterior eight narrower thanmedian five and with weakly angulate divergentcrests. Costae and interspaces bear low, crowded,commarginal lamellae. Ventral margin crenulate.Internal characters not seen.

Dimensions

WAM 06.186Length

8.9Height

8.5Inflation

4.7

RemarksChama shells are markedly inequivalve and

usually attach to firm substrates by cementation ofpart of the cup-shaped LV. In this "normal" form,the RV is more-or-Iess flattened and discoidal.Sculpture of the valves is irregularly discrepant,with commarginal elements predominant.

Recent studies (e.g., Matsukuma 1996,Matsukuma et al. 1997) have reported instances ofboth "normal" and transposed or "inverse" formsof shell within a single species of the genus. In thelatter case, valve transposition affecting shell and/orhinge occurs with attachment by the RV. Thoughpoorly preserved, the present specimen fromKalbarri retains probable remnants of a juvenile,pre-settlement form of dentition, such as that notedby Matsukuma (1996: 24). However, in a discussionon the synonymy of the genus Chama and thesignificance of valve transposition, Beu (2006: 215221) concluded that valve cementation was of little,if any taxonomic significance.

Chama lamellifera Tenison Woods, 1877 representsthe genus from the Late Eocene to Middle Mioceneof south-eastern Australia (Harris 1897, Darragh1985). Examination of all specimens of that spec;ies inthe collections of Museum Victoria and WesternAustralian Museum has found no example of valvetransposition. Clarification of the relationship of thatspecies to the Kalbarri specimen is deferred untilfurther, better preserved material eventuates.

226

A species of Chama, clearly distinct from C.lamellifera, is represented m collections (Table 2)from the Middle-Late Eocene MerlinleighSandstone of the eastern Central Carnarvon Basm.These large, robust shells, unlike the smgle KalbarriChama, all have "normal" hinge and valveattachment orientation. The relationship of the twopopulations remams to be clarified, subject to thecollection of further material from Kalbarri.


Middle-Late Eocene.

Family Lucinidae

Genus Epicodakia Iredale, 1930

Epicodakia sp.Figure 1.20


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: fragmentaryright valve (WAM 04.207); conjoined valves (WAM05.182); conjoined valves (NMV P313982). Total oftwo pairs of valves and one fragmentary rightvalve.



Middle-Late Eocene.

Family Carditidae

Genus Glyptoactis Stewart, 1930

Subge:tlus Fasciculicardia Maxwell, 1969

Glyptoactis (Fasciculicardia) sp. cf. G.(F.)latissima (Tate, 1886)

Figure 1.5

Cardita latissima Tate, 1886: 153, plate 2, figure 5.

Cardium arcaeformis Chapman and Crespin, 1934:121, plate 11, figures 25-27.

Venericardia (Fasciculicardia) latissima (Tate):Maxwell1969: 173-4.

Glans latissima (Tate): Ludbrook 1973: 247, plate 24,figures 11, 12.

Glans (Fasciculicardia) latissima (Tate): Darraghand Kendrick 1980: 17, figures 4G-L.


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 1 fragmentaryleft valve (WAM 06.188).

RemarksThe Kalbarri specimens are not unlike the Recent

type species of the genus, Epicodakia tatei (Angas,1879), differing in its slightly greater anteriorextension and fmer, more dense sculpture, bothradial and commarginal. Comparison with acongenor from the Pallinup Formation at NorthWalpole (Darragh and Kendrick 1980) shows theKalbarri specimen to have greater anteriorextension and more crowded, persistent sculpture.

DescriptionThe bivalve is transversely sub-elliptical,

extended anteriorly, a little inflated, umbonesorthogyrate, beaks proximate and located posteriorof centre. Antero-dorsal area excavate, ligamentexternally visible. Sculpture of radial andcommargmal elements, absent from the beaks. Fme,close radials cover the disc, stronger and slightlyantimarg:inal on flanks, fadmg dorsally. Very fine,close commarginals extend across the disc.Fragmentary RV 04.207 retams hmge, comprismg asmall, th:in, anterior cardinal (3a), a strong, groovedposterior cardinal (3b) and prominent, singlelaterals (AlII and PIlI), both remote from cardinals.

Dimensions

WAM05.182Length

lOAHeight

8.7Inflation

5.0

DescriptionAbout 24 radial costellae, about as wide as or

narrower than the interspaces, are visible on thisincomplete LV. Ribs bear transverse scales oncrests, more prominent on anterior and posteriorareas.

DimensionsThe size of the specimen cannot be measured but

the estimated length is 6.5mm.

RemarksAs far as can be seen, the sculpture of this

specimen compares well with others of Tate'sspecies from Brown's Creek, Aldinga and NorthWalpole.

Ranking Fasciculicardia as a subgenus ofGlyptoactis follows the conclusions of Maxwell (inBeu and Maxwell 1990: 102) and Beu (2006: 224),recognising a close relationship between the two.

OccurrenceOtway Basin: Lower and Upper Browns Creek

Formation, Late Eocene. St Vincent Basin: BlanchePoint Formation, Late Eocene (type). Bremer Basin:Pallinup Formation, Late Eocene. SouthernCarnarvon Basin: unnamed sandstone, Middle-LateEocene.



Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 1 conjoined pair(WAM 04.208).

Family Cardiidae

Genus Pratulum Iredale, 1924

Pratulum hemimeris (Tate, 1887)Figure 1.15

Cardium hemimeris Tate, 1887: 153, platel4, figures2a-c.

DescriptionSmall, conjoined valves, inflated, about as high as

long, with prominent, raised median umbones andincurved beaks. Sculpture of very fine, close,simple, radial costellae extending over about theanterior 60% of shell. Posteriorly, costellae andinterspaces widen, with weak transverse scalesextending anteriorly from each radial across theadjacent (anterior) interspace. Sculpture appears tobe worn, with or without some imperfection in thesilica replication of the original aragonitic shell.


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: conjoined valves(WAM 04.209); 1 fragment (NMV P313983).

,

Inflation3.8

Height5.3

LengthWAM 04.209 (pair) 6.2

Dimensions

Dosina (Dosina) multitaeniata (Tate): Ludbrook,1973: plate 24, figures 18, 19 (invalidreplacement name for multilamellata).

Dosina (Dosina) multilamellata (Tate): Darragh andKendrick 1980: 19.

RemarksThe confused taxonomy of Tate's species has been

discussed by Darragh and Kendrick (1980). Thepresent single, well-preserved specimen fromKalbarri closely resembles others of similar sizefrom the Blanche Point Formation at Aldinga.

DescriptionSmalt transversely ovate, inflated, with low

umbones and prosogyrate beaks. Lunule shallow,broad, bordered by incised line, escutcheonelongate, weakly defined. Sculpture of thin, spaced,commarginal costellae, ca 17 in height of 5.3mm,beaks smooth.

Inflation9.9

Height12.7

Length12.4

Dimensions

WAM04.208

RemarksThe single specimen to hand from Kalbarri, of this

uncommon species, compares well in size andmorphology with others from the Blanche PointFormation at Aldinga, South Australia. Three smallsilicified shell fragments (WAM 83.2605) from thePallinup Formation at North Walpole, bear cardiidtype sculpture not unlike that of the present species,suggesting a possible presence at that muchcollected locality.

OccurrenceBass Basin: Freestone Cove Sandstone, Early

Miocene. Port Phillip Basin: Jan Juc Formation,Late Oligocene-Early Miocene. Otway Basin:Upper Browns Creek Formation, Late Eocene. StVincent Basin: Blanche Point Formation, LateEocene (type). Bremer Basin: Pallinup Formation,Late Eocene. Southern Carnarvon Basin: unnamedsandstone, Middle-Late Eocene.


Eocene. St Vincent Basin: Blanche Point Formation,Late Eocene (type). Bremer Basin: PallinupFormation,?, Late Eocene, Southern CarnarvonBasin: unnamed sandstone, Middle-Late Eocene.

Family Veneridae

Genus Dosina Gray, 1835

Subgenus Dosina s.str.

Dosina (Dosina) multilamellata (Tate, 1887)Figure 1.16

Chione multilamellata Tate, 1887: 154, 155, plate 15,figures 6a, b.

Genus Fossacallista Marwick, 1938

cf. Fossacallista tatei (Cossmann, 1920)Figure 1.7

Cytherea tenuis Tate, 1886: 159, plate 14, figure 16Gunior homonym). non Hall and Meek, 1854.

Cytherea tatei Cossmann, 1920: 37. nom. novo for C.tenuis Tate, non Hall and Meek, 1854.

Notocallista (Fossacallista) tatei (Cossman):Marwick 1938: 77, plate 14, figures 1-3;Ludbrook, 1973: plate 24, figure 13.



228

DescriptionConjoined valves, of which RV is deformed by

compaction and somewhat corroded, LV corrodedanteriorly and dorsally, otherwise intact. Lengthexceeds height, anteriorly short, posteriorlyextended, umbo (LV) low, beaks prosogyrate.Sculpture of fine, close-set, incised commarginallines, lunule excavate, small.

Dimensions

WAM06.189(deformed pair)

Length11.3

Height9.1

,Inflation4.3


topotypes of Tate's species from the Blanche PointFormation at Aldinga, South Australia.

OccurrenceOtway Basin: Lower and upper Browns Creek

Formation, Late Eocene. Lower Glen Aire Clay,Early Oligocene. St Vincent Basin: Blanche PointFormation (type), Late Eocene. Bremer Basin:Pallinup Formation, Late Eocene. SouthernCarnarvon Basin: unnamed sandstone, Middle-LateEocene.

RemarksThe present specimen is very close to others from

the Blanche Point Formation in the Kent Town(Adelaide) bore, South Australia, the type locality.


Eocene, Glen Aire Clay, Early Oligocene. Jan-JucFormation, Late Oligocene-Early Miocene. StVincent Basin: Blanche Point Formation, LateEocene (type). Southern Carnarvon Basin:unnamed sandstone, Middle-Late Eocene.

Family Corbulidae

Genus Caryocorbula Gardner, 1926

Caryocorbula pixidata (Tate, 1887)Figures 1.9, 1.13, 1.17

Corbula pixidata Tate, 1887: 177, plate 17, figures12a, b.

Corbula (Caryocorbula) pixidata (Tate): Darraghand Kendrick 1980: 19, figures 5D-H.


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: conjoined pair(WAM 05.183); 1 left valve (WAM 06.190);conjoined pair (NMV P313984).

Class Scaphopoda

Family Dentaliidae

Genus Dentalium Linnaeus, 1758

Subgenus Fissidentalium Fischer, 1885

Dentalium (Fissidentalium) mawsoni Ludbrook,1956

Figures 2.1, 2.2

Dentalium (Fissidentalium) mawsoni Ludbrook,1956: 2, 3, plate I, figures 5, 6.


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 3 specimens(WAM 04.227); 2 specimens (WAM 05.201); 15specimens (WAM 06.178); 13 specimens (NMVP313978); 3 specimens (WAM P313979). Total of 36specimens.

DescriptionMedium sized, robust, circular to slightly oval in

cross-section, almost straight, curvature slight,where visible, tending toward apex. Ribs fine tovery fine, of irregular size and spacing, numberingca 30 (apex) to ca 50 (aperture), increasing byintercalation. No specimen in the study material isintact, none retaining either apical slit or aperture.

Dimensions

RemarksKalbarri specimens compare closely with

DescriptionSmall, longer than high, inequivalve, LV the more

inflated, umbones and beaks prosogyrate, beaks atanterior third, anteriorly rounded, short, posteriorlyextended, truncate, posterior area offset by welldefined angulation. Chondrophore (LV) large.

RemarksThis is one of the more common, widely

distributed and long-ranging dentaliid species fromthe Tertiary of southern Australia, here extendedinto the later Eocene of the southern CarnarvonBasin. Kalbarri specimens have been compared withtopotypes from the Middle Miocene Cadell Marl(Murray Basin) and with Late Eocene material fromthe Browns Creek Formation (Otway Basin) and areclosely comparable.

Dimensions

WAM 05.183 (pair)WAM 06.190 (LV)

Length9.48.4

Height6.46.0

Inflation4.42.4

WAM05.201aWAM05.20lb

Length2718

Max. diameter5.03.5



Eocene. Glen Aire Clay, Oligocene. Jan JucFormation, Oligo-Miocene. Puebla Formation, EarlyMiocene. Muddy Creek Formation, Middle Miocene.Fyansford Formation, Early-Middle Miocene. BassBasin: Freestone Cove Sandstone, Early Miocene.Murray Basin: Cadell Marl Member, Morganlimestone, Middle Miocene (type). St VincentBasin: Blanche Point Formation, Late Eocene. DryCreek Sands, Late Miocene. Bremer Basin: Pallinu~)Formation, Late Eocene. Southern Carnarvon Basin:unnamed sandstone, Middle-Late Eocene.

Class Gastropoda

Family Fissurellidae

Genus Emarginula Lamarck, 1801

Emarginula sp.Figures 2.1, 2.2, 2.6

229

Family Trochidae

Genus Micrelenchus Finlay, 1926

Subgenus Plumbelenchus Finlay, ]926

Micrelenchus (Plumbelenchus) armulatusDarragh and Kendrick, 2000

Figure 2.3

Micrelenchus (Plumbelenchus) armulatus Darraghand Kendrick 2000: 46, figures 6], K


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 1 specimen(WAM 04.212).

DescriptionSmall, turbiniform, height and diameter about

equal, whorls shouldered with distinct subsuturalshelf, sculpture of light spiral striae.



DimensionsHeight

WAM 04.212 4.2Max. diameter

4.5No. whorls

ca 4.5

DescriptionSmall, probably immature, longer than wide,

width and height about equal, margin mostlyabraded, in particular on right posterior flank. Apexacute, strongly incurved, close to posterior extremity.Selenizone infilled by raised, tuberculate, median rib,slit absent due to abrasion. Radial ribs ten or eleven,alternating in width and prominence, some very fine,the larger generating tubercles at intersections withfine, near-lamellate concentric ribs. Interior obscured.

RemarksMinor variation in the whorl profile and in the

strength and persistence of the sculpture was notedin the type material (Darragh and Kendrick 2000)and the Kalbarri specimen generally compares wellwith topotypes. In the latter, shell heightconsistently exceeds maximum diameter, possiblydue to the greater size of the North Walpolespecimens. Crab damage is evident on the apertureof the present specimen.

Dimensions

WAM 04.210Length

5.0Width

2.8Height

2.7

OccurrenceSt Vincent Basin: Blanche Point Formation.

Bremer Basin: Pallinup Formation (type). SouthernCarnarvon Basin: unnamed sandstone, Middle-lateEocene.

RemarksThe genus appears to be widespread but sparsely

represented in the later Eocene of southernAustralia. A species of Emarginula, very similar tothat from Kalbarri, is known from a single specimen(NMV 1'302258) from the Browns Creek Formation.Fragments attributed to Emarginula from thePlantagenet Group of the Bremer Basin (Darraghand Kendrick 2000: 30, 31, figures 4, K, M) appearto be specifically distinct from the present species.The margins of the Kalbarri specimen appear tohave sustained crab damage.


Middle-Late Eocene.

Genus Calliostoma Swainson, 1840

Subgenus Fautor Iredale, 1924

Calliostoma (Fautor) sp. aff. numapum Darraghand Kendrick, 2000

Figure 2.14

CaJIiostoma (Fautor) nurnapurn Darragh andKendrick, 2000: 48, figure 7A


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 1 specimen(W AM 04.211).

230

12


14


DescriptionSmall, juvenile, trochiform, higher than wide,

spire angle 46°, lacking apical extremity, part ofaperture and columella; whorls six, the lastincomplete, initially slightly convex, becomingflattened with growth; sutures slightly channelled;sculpture of six narrow spiral threads per whorl,the basal two (i.e. above suture) rather moregranose than others; two apical whorls show moreradially aligned granulation than subsequently;basal sculpture of fine, close spiral threads.

Park, 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri; ca. I km W of lungaDarn, surface float downslope and west of lowridge, map reference Kalbarri (I: 100,000 series)397260,14-17 October 2005, T.A. Darragh and C.W.Kend rick (WAM 07.1).

ParatypcsAustralia: Western Australia: 2 specimens,

collected with holotype (WAM 04.218a, 07.2); 1specimen, collected with holotype (NMV 1'313970).

Material examined

H%typcAustralia: Western Australia: Kalbarri National

Cerithium wilya sp. novoFigures 3.28, 3.29, 3.30, 3.31


Middle-Late Eocene.

No. whorls9

5.0 8.3

5.3 ca 11

6.6 9

Max. diameter6.2

Height15.7

14.2

Dimensions

WAM 07.1holotype

WAM 07.2

Other material examinedAustralia: Western Australia: all collected with

holotype: 14 specimens (WAM 04.218); 5 specimens(W AM 05.189); 34 specimens (W AM 07.3); 36specimens (NMV P31397l). Total of 89 specimens.

DescriptionSmall for genus, possibly immature; spire

narrowly acuminate, subtending angle of 22°-25°;whorls of moderate convexitv with well-definedsutures; whorls bear persistent varices, ten visiblein about eight whorls. Sculpture of narrow,intervariceal radials, numbering seven to twelvebetween varices and overlain by up to 13 (on lastwhorl) narrow spirals of uneven spacing andprominence, of which the adapical seven are nodoseat the rib intersections; spirals continuous overvarices. Aperture invariably broken (crabpredation), lacking anal canal; columella rounded,the margin (where retained) forming callusbordering parietal area; remnants of anteriorsiphonal canal occasionally retained (paratype04.218a).

paratypeWAM 04.218a 17.8

paratypeNMV P313970 16.9

para typeThese are actual shell measurements and counts.

All are diminished due to loss of apices anddan1age to apertures (refer figures).

Max. diameter No. whorls3.3 ca 6

HeightW AM 04.211 4.5

Dimensions

Family Cerithiidae

Genus Cerithium Bruguiere, 1789

Type speciesCerithium adansonii Bruguiere, 1792, by

subsequent designation of Melville (1978, ICZNOpinion 11(9) Cerithium erythraeonenseLamarck, 1822 = Cerithium nodulosum. Bruguiere,1792 (= senior synonym, Houbrick, 1992).

RemarksThe single juvenile specimen to hand, lacking the

full range of adult characters, nevertheless recallsCalliostoma (Fautor) numapum Darragh andKendrick from the Pallinup Formation (Darraghand Kendrick 2(00), to which it is clearly related. Incomparison, the present species has a more acutespire and, as far as can be observed, a moregranulate micro-sculpture.

..... Figure 2 Emarginula sp., I, 2, 6 WAM 04.210 all x 9.0. ;\Iicrclcnchus (l'lwnbclcnchus) armulatus IJarragh andKcndrick, 3 WAM 04.212 x 7.7. Naticid sp., 4,5 WAM 04.219 x 7.0. ;vlurcxsul sp, 8 WAM 07.13 x 3.8.Dcnnantia aldingcnsis 9 WAM 04.223 x 3.0; ]0 WAM 05.]92 x 2.8. Tcnagodus sp., ] I WAtv1 05.191a x2.4; 15 WAM 07.9 x 4.3. Xcnophora sp. cf. X. tatci llarris, ]2, ]3 WAM 05.200a x 2.5. Calliostoma (Fautor) sp.aff. C.(F.) numapum Darragh and Kcndrick, ]4 WAM 004.2] ] x 8.0. Euspirocrommium sp., 16 W AM 05.185 x3.0. Turbinclliej? sp., 17, ]8 WAM 07.133 x 1.0. Lvria lamcllatopficata sp. nov., 19, 20 WAt'v! 07. J8 x 2.8,holotypc. Alcithoc (Waihaoia) pagodoidcs Crate), 2 J WAM 07. J6 x 2.0. Conus? sp., 22 WAM OS. J99 x 3.0.(,'alcodea sp., 23 W AM 07.1] x 1.8.


DescriptionShell of average size for genus; whorls slightly

rounded, tending to flatten anteriorly on largerspecimens. Sutures linear, slightly impressed, inparticular on early whorls, becoming shallowlyrecessed with growth; spire angle of 20°. Sculptureof 9-13 fine spiral lirae, becoming strongeranteriorly, about as wide as interspaces, someweakly granose where crossed by sinuate, colabralgrowth striae and increasing by intercalation;second spiral adapical to suture usually the mostprominent. Larger specimens develop up to 18spiral lirae per whorl.

15.8

Height20.8

retains either apex or intact

9

10

6.9

5.5

Max. diameter No. whorls7.1 7

Dimensions

WAM 07.4holotype

WAM 07.5aparatype

NMV P313972 24.6paratypeNone of the above

aperture.

RemarksIn form and sculpture, though not size, the

present species somewhat recalls Cerithium torresiE.A. Smith, 1884, an extant species, without knownfossil record, from the Indo-SW Pacific (Houbrick1992: 185-189, figures 135-137). Species somewhatresembling this taxon, are recorded under thegeneric name Ptyc1lOcerithium Sacco,1895, in theTertiary of Europe (Cossmann 1906). We followHoubrick (1992), who synonymisedPtychocerithium with Cerithium. C. wilya sp. novois one of the more common and characteristicspecies of the Kalbarri assemblage, inferior innumerical abundance only to a species of Zeacolpus(see below). Most specimens of both species arefragmentary and the apertures on most specimenshave been peeled away, possibly by crabs. Thisappears to be the first record of this tropicalsubtropical genus from the Eocene of Australia.

EtymologyThe specific name is from the indigenous Nhanda

vocabulary of the Lower Murchison district: wilya,a shell (Blevins 2001).


Middle-Late Eocene.

Family TurritelIidae

Genus Zeacolpus Finlay, 1926

Zeacolpus bartoni sp. novoFigures 3.8,3.9,3.10,3.32

Material examined

HalotypeAustralia: Western Australia: Kalbarri National

Park, 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri; ca. 1 km W of JungaDam, surface float downslope and west of lowridge, map reference Kalbarri (1:100,000 series)397260, 14-17 October 2005, T.A. Darragh and C.W.Kendrick (WAM 07.4).

ParatypesAustralia: Western Australia: 2 specimens,

collected with holotype (WAM 07.5); 1 specimen(NMV P313972).


holotype: 30 specimens (WAM 04.213); 1 specimen(WAM 04.214); 198 specimens (WAM 04.215); 17specimens (WAM 05.186); 173 specimens (WAM07.6); 158 specimens (NMV P313973). Total of 577specimens.

RemarksZeacolpus bartoni is by far the most common

mollusc species recovered from the Kalbarri Eocenebut, despite this, no intact, undamaged specimen isknown. Apices have been retained on severalspecimens but no aperture has survived, probablyas a consequence of crab predation. Abrasion is afeature of early whorls where present.

Spiracolpus aldingae (Tate, 1882), the only otherlarge turritellid known from the Australian Eocene(Darragh 1985), has fewer lirae than the presentspecies, including a prominent, beaded lira at midwhorl. The genus Zeacolpus is well represented(Eocene-Recent) in New Zealand (Marwick 1971).Of the congenor species from there, Z. bartoni mostresembles the Late Eocene Z. lornensis (Marwick)but has more and finer lirae.

Eleven specimens (WAM 04.217, 05.188, 07.8,NMV P314040) in the study material are, for thepresent, distinguished from Zeacolpus bartonibecause of their flattened whorls and reduced spireangle (14°) (Figure 3.10). Though rather worn, thesculpture is similar to that of Z. bartoni, of whichthey may prove to be an extreme variant.

EtymologyThis species is named for Mr David Barton of

Kalbarri in recognition of his discovery of the fossilsand his generosity in presenting his collection tothe Western Australian Museum.


Middle-Late Eocene.


Family Siliquariidae

Genus Tenagodus Guettard, 1770

Tenagodus sp.Figures 2.11, 2.15


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 3 specimens(WAM 04.220); 5 specimen (WAM 05.191); 1specimen (WAM 07.9); 9 specimens (WAM 07.10); 9specimens (NMV P313974). Total of 27 specimens.

DescriptionShell tubular, loosely dextrally coiled, early

whorls somewhat planispiral, becoming irregularlytwisted; sculptured with irregular, close-set,longitudinal, weakly beaded ribs, crossed in placesby very fine commarginal growth striae.Longitudinal slit present with series of holes alonglength, often infilled with secondary silica.

Xenophora sp. cf. tatei Barris, 1897Figures 2.12, 2.13

Xellop]l(na (Tugurium) tatei Harris, 1897, p. 254,plate 7, figures 721, b.


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 2 specimens(WAM 05.2(0).

DescriptionShell small, possibly juvenile, trochiform, wider

than high, whorls convex, few, enlarging rapidly,stepped and scalloped where not overlain byattached and other detritus; spire angle ca 90°;periphery extended, abraded; base concave,shallowly perforate, umbilical depression finelyradially striate within incised circumbilicalgroove.

Dimensions

Family Naticidae

Naticid, genus and species undeterminedFigures 2.4, 2.5


Middle-Late Eocene. Bremer Basin?: PallinupFormation, Late Eocene.


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 1 specimen(W AM 04.219).

Max. diameter No. whorls16.7 5+

DescriptionShell small, probably juvenile, with aperture and

base obscured by IT\atrix. Low spired, globose,wider than high, with convexly rounded whorls,smooth apart from short, colabral, axial costellaebelow the suture.

RemarksOccurrences of species of Xenophora from the

Australian Eocene are very rare, none havingbeen recorded from the long-studiedassemblages of that age in Victoria and SouthAustralia. However the present species is verysimilar to a single specimen from the PallinupFormation at North Walpole, which bears a closeresemblance to the common Middle MioceneXellophora tatei. This material is to be thesubject of a future study.

11eightWAM 05.20021 10.0


Middle-Late Eocene. Bremer Basin?: PallinupFormation, Late Eocene.

DimensionsWAM 05.19121.

Maximum diameter is 3.5-4.4 mm.WAM 07.9.

Maximum diameter is 10.4 mm. Height 11 mm.Whorls 3.5.

Family Xenophoridae

Genus Xenophora Fischer, 1807

RemarksAll specimens in the study material are

fragmentary and some remain enclosed withinsponges, as all probably were in life. Very similar, ifnot identical, specimens of Tenagodus, oftenpreserved within sponges, are common in thePallinup Formation of North Walpole (Darragh andKendrick 1980, 20(0) and await detailed study. Thismaterial from Western Australia is very similar tospecimens of Tenagodus from the Early MioceneFreestone Cove Sandstone at Wynyard, Tasmania.T. OCC!tlSUS (Tenison Woods, 1877) from the latterlocality was stated not to have a punctured slit andit is unclear as to whether this was because of thepoor preservation of the type specimen or becauseof a valid difference from specimens commonlyoccurring there, which do have a series of holesalong the slit. Because the status of TenagodusoccJusus remains in need of clarification, we preferto utilise open nomenclature for the present species.


RemarksWhat can be seen of this small specimen bears a

close resemblance to Friginatica aldingensis (Tate,1893) from the Late Eocene Blanche PointFormation (Ludbrook 1973, plate 25, figures 57, 58)and also common in the Pallinup Formation ofNorth Walpole (WAM collection).

DimensionsHeight

WAM04.219 3.3Max. diameter

4.1No. whorls

3.3

mor~ gradate spire, slightly stronger sculpture andmore widely channelled suture when comparedwith its only known Australian congenorEuspirocrommium effusa (Tate, 1893)-from theLate Eocene Blanche Point and Browns CreekFormations of the St Vincent and Otway Basinsrespectively. It somewhat resembles E. levesquei(d'Orbigny) from the Eocene of the Paris Basin.

Occurrence. Southern Camarvon Basin: unnamed sandstone,Middle-Late Eocene..


Middle-Late Eocene.

Genus Euspirocrommium Sacco, 1890

Euspirocrommium sp.Figure 2.16



Family Cassidae

Genus Galeodea Link, 1807

Galeodea sp.Figure 2.23


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 1 specimen(poorly preserved) (WAM 07.11).

DescriptionSpire moderately elevated with convex, sub

gradate whorls; sculpture of numerous, mostlynarrow, spiral threads of variable width andspacing, with prominent axial plicae at a weak midwhorl shoulder; subordinate sculpture of very fine,close, axial striae between and overlying the spirals.Apex and aperture missing.

DescriptionSmall for genus, with elevated, gradate spire,

evenly and convexly rounded whorls and incised,channelled sutures; apex missing, spire angle of 60°.Base narrowly perforate with shallow umbilicus;aperture higher than wide, outer lip broken, as isnarrow extension of columella over part ofumbilicus. Whorls appear to be smooth but undermagnification, seen to bear very fine, crowdedcolabral and spiral micro-striae, extending to theumbilical area.

DimensionsHeight

WAM07.11 25Width

16No. whorls

4+

RemarksThis unique specimen from Kalbarri presents a

DimensionsHeight

WAM 05.185 16.3Max. diameter

11.5No. whorls

4.6+

RemarksFrom what remains, the specimen bears a close

resemblance to those of an undescribed speciesfrom the Late Eocene Browns Creek Formation andEarly Oligocene Glen Aire Clay of the Otway Basin(Museum Victoria collection).

..... Figure 3 Dentalium (Fissidentalium) mawsoni Ludbrook, 1 WAM 05.201a, fragment x 2.0; 2 WAM 05.201b, fragmentx 2.0. Gemmoliva adelaidae (Tate), 3 WAM 07.135 x 4. Mauidrillia sp. cf. M. aldingensis Powell, 4 WAM07.30 x 5.0. Notoseila sp., 5 WAM 04.216 x 1.8; 27 WAM 05.187 x 4.1. Marginella sp. A, 6 WAM 04.224 x 4.7.Marginella sp. B, 7 WAM 05.195 x 5.0. Zeacolpus bartoni sp. nov., 8 WAM 07.5 x 3.0, paratype; 9 WAM04.215 x 7.7, paratype; 32 WAM 07.4 x 3.0, holotype, Zeacolpus sp. 10 WAM 07.8 x 3.0. Brocchitas? sp., 11WAM 07.15 x 5.5. Gracilispira sp. cf. G.ligata (Tate), 12 WAM 07.22 x 4.0. Notovoluta capitonica Darragh, 13WAM 05.198 x 2.6. Cochlespira sp., 14 WAM 07.23 x 5.0. Cerithiella sp., 15 WAM 05.190 x 4.8. Notopeplumprotorhysum (Tate), WAM 05.193 x 3.0; 16 x 3.0, 17 x 2.0. Gemmula? sp., 18, 19 WAM 06.191 x 3.0.Parasyngenochilus sp. cf. P. angustior Long, 20 WAM 07.24 x 5.0. Conorbis sp., 21, 22 WAM 07.29 x 3.0.Cirsotrema sp. aff. C. pleiophylla (Tate), 23 WAM 04.221 x 4.0. Mitrid sp. A, 24 WAM 05.194 x 5.7.Margineulima? sp., 25 WAM 07.134 x 7.0. Mitrid sp. B, 26 WAM 07.28 x 1.5. Cerithium wilya sp. nov., 28WAM 04.218a x 4.0, paratype; 29, 30 WAM 07.1 x 4.5, holotype; 31 WAM 07.2 x 3.9, paratype.



Middle-Late Eocene.

Family Cerithiopsidae

Genus Notoseila Finlay, 1926

Notoseila sp.Figures 3.5, 3.27

small tubercles at the intersection with the spirals.Base with one thin spiral below plane of suturalattachment, within which are about eight, faint,close radial costellae. Siphonal canal twisted. Apexand most of aperture missing.

DimensionsHeight Max.diameter

WAM 05.190 10.2 3.2This, the figured specimen, retains five whorls.


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 1 specimen(WAM 04.216); 2 specimens (WAM 05.187). Total ofthree specimens, all fragmentary.

RemarksNo specimen known from the Pallinup

Formation, Bremer Basin, resembles this species,which may be new.



Cirsotrema sp. aft. pleiophylla (Tate, 1890)

Scalaria (Cirsotrema) pleiophylla Tate, 1890: 231;Tate, 1892, plate 12, figure 1.

Figure 3.23

Family Epitoniidae

Genus Cirsotrema Morch, 1852


Middle-Late Eocene.

Max. diameter3.37.2

DimensionsHeight

WAM 04.216 8.8WAM 05.187 16.2

All specimens are fragmentary.

DescriptionSpire whorls flat. Sculpture of spirallirae, number

increasing by intercalation with growth; earlywhorls with four broad lirae, some crenulated; atdiameter of three mm, two lirae adjacent to suturesare widest, others (two) narrower, ribbon-like; atdiameter six mm, lirae adjacent sutures are widest,others (four) narrower. Aperture with one strongcolumellar plait, otherwise not retained; apexmissing.

RemarksMeaningful comparison with other taxa awaits

the collection of better preserved specimens fromKalbarri.


Middle-Late Eocene.

Genus Cerithiella Verrill, 1882

DescriptionShell of normal size for genus with 17 lamellate,

frilled, axial costae on last whorl and about ninevery fine, intercostal spirals on the spire whorls andabout 12+ on the last whorl. Base with a spiral rib atthe plane of sutural attachment; aperture subcircular, slightly higher than wide; columellaexpanded, merging with a low, weak, spiral rib.Apical whorls missing.

Cerithiella sp.Figure 3.15

DimensionsHeight

WAM 04.221 14.1Max. diameter No. whorls

5.5 8+Material examined

Australia: Western Australia: Kalbarri NationalPark, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 2 specimens(WAM 04.219); 1 specimen (WAM 05.190); 1specimen (NMV P313975). Total of four specimens.

DescriptionAll specimens are fragmentary. Sculpture

comprises three prominent, well spaced spirallirae,crossed by about 27 thin axial costae, which form

RemarksIntercostal sculpture on the single specimen to

hand is partly obscured so that counts of the spirallirae are approximate only. It is similar to specimensof Cirsotrema pleiophylla from the Late EoceneBlanche Point Formation (St Vincent Basin) andBrowns Creek Clay (Otway Basin) but seems tohave more numerous and finer lirae and slightlyfewer costae per whorl. At the time of writing, no


congenor species is known from the PallinupFormation (Bremer Basin).

OccurenceSouthern C'l-rnarvon Basin: unnamed sandstone,

Middle-Late Eocene.

237

indicates a shell of possible turbinellid form withlow, flattened spire, angulate shoulder andextended, tapering last whorl; aperture narrow, thecolumella bearing (from moulds) two strong plaitson anterior half; base possibly narrowlyimperforate.

Dimensions

RemarksDespite its conoid shape, a location for this

unique specimen in the family Conidae seems mostunlikely, due to the apparent presence of twocolumellar plaits. A tudicline or vasinine affinityfor the species seems likely, subject to the collectionof further specimens. Neither of these subfamilies ispresently known from the Australian Eocene.

Family Eulimidae

Genus Margineulima Cossmann, 1888

Margineulima?sp.Figure 3.25



HeightWAM 07.133 39.5

Max. diameter No. whorls43.6 4.5+

DescriptionThe specimen retains less than three whorls,

which are flat and probably smooth; baseimperforate; aperture poorly preserved, columellaslightly curved with a small reflexed callus.


Middle-Late Eocene.

Family Turbinellidae


Middle-Late Eocene.

RemarksThis poorly preserved, single specimen does little

more than establish the presence of the family inthe study material.

Confirmation of its generic identity awaits thecollection of better preserved specimens. It differsfrom the widely distributed (geographical andstratigraphical) Margineulima danae (TenisonWoods, 1879) from southern Australia in itsnarrower spire angle and imperforate base.

DimensionsHeight


3.0 <3

Family Muricidae

Genus Murexsul Iredale, 1915

Murexsul sp.Figures 2.7, 2.8


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: One completespecimen and one fragment (WAM 07.13); 1specimen (NMV P313976). Total of three specimens.

DescriptionSmall for genus, fusiform, spire equal to half

height. Protoconch large, rounded, smooth, of about1.5 whorls. Spire whorls convex, gradate, bearingbroad axial costae, six on last whorl, seven onpenultimate whorl; costae overlain with scaledspiral lirae, 12 on last whorl and five onpenultimate whorl; scales present where liraecrossed by prominent growth lines. Outer lipbroken; canal short, strongly twisted.

RemarksThe species bears some resemblance to Murexsul

prionotus (Tate, 1888) from the Late Eocene BlanchePoint Formation (St Vincent Basin) but lacks thefoliaceus costae of that species. A congenor,somewhat similar but possibly of a distinct species,

Turbinellid, genus and species undeterminedFigures 2.17, 2.18



DescriptionThe single specimen to hand is a much weathered,

internal mould, retaining a few shell remnants. It

DimensionsHeight

WAM 07.13a 13.3Max. diameter No. whorls

7.6 5.5


occurs in the Pallinup Formation at North Walpole(WAM collection).


Middle-Late Eocene.


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 3 specimens(WAM 04.222); 1 specimen (WAM 04.223); 1specimen (WAM 05.192); 4 specimens (WAM07.14); 3 specimens (NMV P313977). Total of 12specimens.

Genus Brocchitas Finlay, 1927

Brocchitas? sp.Figure 3.11



Description. Size average for genus, fusiform with strongly

convex whorls. Protoconch of two smooth whorls,the first deviated from shell axis. Axial sculpture ofprominent, broad costae, six to eight on last whorl,crossed by 18-20 fine, spirallirae (last whorl). Innerlip finely lirate.

OccurrenceLate Eocene of Otway Basin, St Vincent Basin

(type), Bremer Basin: Pallinup Formation.Southern Carnarvon Basin: unnamed sandstone,Middle-Late Eocene.


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 1 specimen(WAM 04.225); 3 specimens (WAM 05.197); 1specimen (WAM 07.16); 8 specimens (WAM 07.17);8 specimens (NMV P313986). Total of 21 specimens,mostly fragmentary.

RemarksAll specimens in the study material are broken,

either apically or at the aperture or both but takentogether they agree in morphology with topotypesof Dennantia aldingensis. The species is notuncommon in the Pallinup Formation at NorthWalpole and elsewhere (WAM Collection).Specimen WAM 05.192 has what appears to be acircular, naticiform?, borehole on the last whorl(Figure 2.10).

Family Volutidae

Genus Alcithoe H. and A. Adams, 1853

Subgenus Waihaoia Marwick, 1926

Alcithoe (Waihaoia) pagodoides (Tate, 1888)Figure 2.21

Voluta pagodoides Tate, 1888: 176, plate 13, figure7; Tate, 1889: 132.

Alcithoe (Waihaoia) pagodoides (Tate): Darragh1989: 239, plate 12, figures 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 17.

Max. diameter No. whorls9.4 6+13.3 5+

Height16.014.1

Dimensions

WAM04.222WAM05.192

Dennantia aldingensis (Tate, 1888)Figures 2.9, 2.10

Peristernia aldingensis Tate, 1888: 156, plate 8,figure 8a-b.

Family Fasciolariidae

Genus Dennantia Tate, 1888

DimensionsHeight Max. diameter No. whorls

WAM 07.15 7.4 2.7* ca 5*probably larger on intact aperture

DescriptionShell small, probably less than fully mature,

fusiform. Protoconch acute, smooth, of about 1.5whorls. Teleoconch of three whorls with prominentaxial costae, about ten per whorl and 20 spiralliraeon last whorl; canal long, slightly twisted. Aperturebroken.

RemarksThe genus Brocchitas has been recorded hitherto

only from the Middle Miocene of South Australiaand Victoria (Tate, 1888, and Museum VictoriaCollection) and the specimen from Kalbarri, whichis less than well-preserved is referred to that genuswith some reservations. Compared with B. exilis(Tate, 1888), type species of Brocchitas, the presentspecies has a smaller, more acute protoconch, moreaxial costae and more spirallirae on the last whorl.An ancestral relationship to B. exilis seems possible,to be clarified from the collection of furthermaterial.

No comparable specimen is known from thePallinup Formation, Bremer Basin.


Middle-Late Eocene.


RemarksThough compnsmg only the protoconch and

several early whorls of the teleoconch, sufficientcharacters remain on this specimen to makecomparison with topotypes of Notovolutacapitonic::a, which it matches very closely.

DescriptionShell of less than mature size, fusiform, with

turreted, gradate spire; anterior fifth missing.Protoconch smooth, of two whorls, aligned withshell axis; first teleoconch whorl with ca 12 axialcostellae and thin, spiral lirae; axials subsequentlyform sharp tubercles on angulate shoulders ofwhorls; tubercles number eight on last whorl;spirals weaken with growth, absent after ca 6.5whorls. Columella with four strong plaits and oneweaker, posterior plait.

DimensionsHeight


6.5 5 %

DimensionsHeight

WAM 07.16 28.0* aperture broken

Max. diameter No. whorls15.5* 7

OccurrenceOtway Basin: Browns Creek Formation (type). St

Vincent Basin: Blanche Point Formation. LateEocene. Southern Carnarvon Basin: unnamedsandstone, Middle-Late Eocene.

RemarksAlcithoe (Waihaoia) pagodoides is extremely

variable in morphology, both geographically andstratigraphically (Darragh 1989), the presentspecimens from Kalbarri being of comparativelysquat form, compared with those from the easternextremity of its range, i.e., Victoria.

OccurrenceOtway Basin: Browns Creek Formation. St

Vincent Basin: Blanche Point Formation (type).Bremer Basin: Pallinup Formation. SouthCamarvon Basin: unnamed sandstone, Middle-LateEocene. Late Eocene - Late Oligocene.

Genus Notovoluta Cotton, 1946

Notovoluta capitonica Darragh, 1989Figure 3.13

Notovoluta capitonica Darragh, 1989: 218, plate 3,figures 8, 11, 12, 15; plate 27, figures 1, 4.



DescriptionSpecimen comprises the adapical part of a

probable juvenile or immature shell. Protoconchturbinate, of about three convex whorls, slightlywider than first teleoconch whorl. About 2%slender teleoconch whorls, gradually forming lowaxial costae, on which weak plicae develop at alittle above mid-whorl; spire profile almoststraight; by fourth whorl, fine, close, spiral liraeextend between sutures, passing over axial costaeand plicae. Four columella plaits present. Aperturemissing.

Genus Notopeplum Finlay, 1927

Notopeplum protorhysum (Tate, 1889)Figures 3.16, 3.17

Voluta protorhysa Tate, 1889: 126, plate 2, figures6a, b.

Notopeplum protorhysum (Tate): Darragh 1989:256, 257, plate 25, figures 7, 10, 11, figure 31.



DescriptionShell small, immature, without last whorl and

anterior extremity as if from crab peeling.Protoconch worn; first teleoconch whorl bearsnumerous, fine, close, axial costellae, persisting andbecoming spaced on subsequent three whorls, thenfading. Columella with four strong and one thinplaits, with several faint spirals, fading adapically.


WAM 05.193 25.4 8.3 ca 6All dimensions are less than the original

RemarksThe single specimen is very close in morphology

to Tate's figured specimen from the Kent TownBore, Adelaide.

OccurrenceOtway Basin: Browns Creek Formation. St

Vincent Basin: Blanche Point Formation (type).Bremer Basin: Pallinup Formation. SouthernCamarvon Basin: unnamed sandstone. Middle-LateEocene.

240

Genus Lyria Gray, 1847

Lyria lamellatoplicata sp. novoFigures 2.19, 2.20


known from the Eocene strata of southeasternAustralia but an undescribed congenor is presentin the Pallinup Formation of the Bremer Basin(WAM Collection).

Material examined

HolotypeAustralia: Western Australia: Kalbarri National

Park, 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri; ca. 1 km W of JungaDam, surface float downslope and west of lowridge, map reference Kalbarri (1:100,000 series)397260,14-17 October 2005, T.A. Darragh and G.W.Kendrick (WAM 07.18).

EtymologyThe specific name is from the Latin lamellata, and

plica, a fold, referring to the lamella-like costae.


Middle-Late Eocene.



Family Olividae

Genus Gemmoliva Iredale, 1924

Gemmoliva sp. cf. G. adelaidae (Tate, 1889)Figure 3.3

Oliva adelaidae Tate, 1889: 145, plate 8, figure 6.

DescriptionShell small, of average size for species, spire and

aperture partly obscured by matrix. Spire whorlsflattened, sutures narrowly channelled, spire halftotal height, spire angle 30°, narrowly elongate;columella with three strong plaits set on callus; lastwhorl with anteriorly located spiral band borderedby narrow, incised lines, which extend onto parietalarea as two narrow, spaced threads. Apex rounded,smooth.

ParatypesAustralia: Western Australia: 1 specimen, col

lected with holotype (WAM 07.19); 1 specimen, collected with holotype (NMV P313987).


holotype: 1 specimen (WAM 05.196); 3 specimens(WAM 07.20); 4 specimens (NMV P313988). Totalof 11 specimens.

DescriptionShell small for the genus, possibly immature.

Protoconch of 1.5 whorls, the first deviated about45° from shell axis. Teleoconch of about fivegradate whorls with high, narrow whorl shoulder.Axial sculpture of thin, sharp, almost plate-likecostae extending from suture to suture, 14 onpenultimate whorl, 11 on last whorl, interspacesmuch wider than costae. Spiral sculpture ofnumerous, weak threads extending over allteleoconch whorls. Aperture narrow, elongate,outer lip thickened; columella with two to fivestrong plaits with occasionally one or two weakerplaits present.

Dimensions

DimensionsHeight


3.6 6

RemarksThe species bears no close resemblance to any

other known congenor from Australia. It bears asuperficial similarity to Lyria branderi (Deshayes,1835) from the Eocene of the Paris Basin butdiffers in that the costae of the last whorl aremuch more widely spaced and much narrowerthan on the latter. No species of Lyria is as yet


18.8

Height19.9


Middle-Late Eocene.

Genus Gracilispira Olson, 1956

Gracilispira sp. cf. G. ligata (Tate, 1889)Figure 3.12

Andllaria ligata Tate, 1889: 147, plate 7, figure 6.

RemarksThe single specimen from Kalbarri is more

elongate and has a more narrowly channelledsuture than those of Gemmoliva adelaidae from theBrowns Creek and Blanche Point Formations.

5

3.5+9.4

8.2

WAM07.18holotype

WAM07.19paratype

NMV P313987 18.2paratypeAll specimens are broken





Middle-Late Eocene.

DescriptionShell small for species, immature. Spire flattened,

equal to half total height, sutures weakly apparent;apex bluntly rounded. Columella with four closeplaits; broad spiral band at anterior extremity entersaperture adapical to plaits.

Genus Parasyngenochilus Long, 1981

Parasyngenochilus sp. cf. P. angustior Long, 1981Figure 3.20

Parasyngenochilus angustior Long, 1981: 50, plate7, figure.17.


Middle-Late Eocene.



RemarksThe single specimen is close to Tate's species but

is more tumid than others of similar size from theBlanche Point (type) and Browns Creek Formations.

Family Turridae

Genus Cochlespira Conrad, 1865

Cochlespira sp.Figure 3.14

RemarksThe figured specimen is well-preserved apart

from a broken anterior canal and infilledaperture; the second specimen to hand, though ofinferior preservation, attains a height of 12.5 mm.Of the species of Parasyngenochilus recordedfrom the Late Eocene-Early Oligocene of theOtway and St Vincent Basins, the present species,most resembles. P. angustior, differing in its moreill-defined shoulder and fewer, more regular andmore evenly spaced lirae. The genus also occursin the Late Eocene to Late Oligocene of NewZealand (Long, 1981: 50). No congenor is as yetknown from the Pallinup Formation, BremerBasin.

Height Max. diameter No. whorlsWAM 07.24 9.3 3.4 5


Middle-Late Eocene.

Dimensions


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 1 specimen(WAM 07.24); 1 specimen (NMV P313989). Total oftwo specimens.

DescriptionShell elongate-fusiform with blunt apex.

Protoconch smooth, paucispiral, of about 1.5whorls. First teleoconch whorl with fine, close,axial costellae, subsequently becoming morespaced and overlain by fine, close spiral lirae,extending from suture to suture and continuousover axials; one stronger, composite spiralformed anterior of suture and is bordered by ashallow spiral depression; last whorl with 18low axial costae of unequal strength andspacing, some composite; spirallirae continuousover last whorl and extending onto anteriorcanal, tip of which is broken. Columella slightlycallused with several faint, ascending spirallirae.

Max. diameter No. whorls5.5 ca 7


Height10.3

Height9.5

Dimensions

WAM07.23

Dimensions

WAM07.22

DescriptionShell fusiform with strongly gradate spire, whorls

channelled below sutures and with a strongperipheral rim, bearing low, subspinose plicae,numbering ca 20 on last whorl. Aperture concealed bymatrix, anterior canal broken, remnant with six close,spiral lirae; several weak spirals on parietal area oflast whorl. Protoconch smooth, worn, of 1+ whorls,first teleoconch whorl with fine, close axial costellae.

RemarksThe single Kalbarri specimen is slightly larger

than those of Cochlespira semiplana (Powell, 1944)from the Browns Creek and Blanche Point (type)Formations. It is also more gradate and lacks theprominent lira present on the last whorl of the latterspecies.

242

Genus Gemmula Weinkauff, 1876

Gemmula? sp.Figures 3.18, 3.19


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 1 specimen(WAM 06.191); 1 fragmentary specimen (NMVP314038). Total of two specimens.

Description .Shell somewhat worn, acuminate-fusiform, spire

ca two thirds total height. Protoconch of ca 1.5whorls, slighly deviated; teleoconch whorls spirallylirate throughout with a weakly gemmulateperipheral keel at about mid-whorl; between keeland adapical suture are one relatively prominentand three or four very fine spiral lirae; anterior ofkeel are two relatively prominent lirae on spirewhorls and three on last whorl, with additionalvery fine lirae between them; fine spirals continueacross base and onto anterior canal, the extremity ofwhich is missing. Outer lip of aperture broken, withremnant of posterior canal present.


WAM 06.191 16.5* 6.1 ca 8*anterior canal broken

RemarksNo congenor similar to this specimen from

Kalbarri is known from the Eocene of southernAustralia. The species has some resemblance tosome Recent Indo-Southwest Pacific species ofGemmula such as G. speciosa (Reeve, 1833) and G.kieneri (Doumet, 1840).


Middle-Late Eocene.

Genus Mauidrillia Powell, 1942

Mauidrillia sp. cf. M. aldingensis Powell, 1944Figure 3.4

Mauidrillia aldingensis Powell, 1944: 36, plate 4,figure 6.




1.5 whorls, slightly deviated; first teleoconch whorlwith close, axial costellae, gradually becomingspaced to form low, rounded, axial costae ofunequal prominence and confined to abapicalportion of whorl; aperture with stronger varix;axials overlain by fine spiral lirae, ca 10 onpenultimate whorl and extending (last whorl) ontoanterior canal; a weak, subsutural spiral presentbetween costae and adapical suture; aperturebroken, columella smooth with weak parietalcallosity; tip of anterior canal broken.


WAM 07.30 7.4 3.1 6.3

RemarksThe single specimen in the study material has

somewhat more tumid whorls and a more elongatecanal, compared with topotypes of Mauidrilliaaldingensis from the Blanche Point Formation of theSt Vincent Basin. No congenor is as yet known fromthe Pallinup Formation of the Bremer Basin.


Middle-Late Eocene.

Family Marginellidae

Genus Marginella Lamarck, 1799

RemarksThe few specimens of this family and genus and

their inferior preservation inhibit detailedcomparison with taxa from other Australian Eocenesources, except to observe that somewhat similarspecimens, all awaiting study, have been collectedfrom the Pallinup Formation, Bremer Basin.

Marginella sp. AFigure 3.6


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 1 specimen(WAM 04.224); 1 specimen (WAM 07.136); 1specimen (NMV P314039). Total of three specimens.

DescriptionShell biconic, spire elevated, tapered anteriorly;

four strong, oblique, columellar plaits. Apertureand much of last whorl missing.

DescriptionShell small, fusiform with convex, weakly

shouldered whorls; protoconch domed, smooth, of

Dimensions

WAM04.224Height

6.6Max. diameter

2.7


RemarksSpecimen WAM 07.136 has four oblique,

columellar plaits and a small, fifth horizontal plait.This species is rather more ventricose thanMarginella sp. B.

243

First teleoconch whorl convex, smooth, developingweak, low; axial costellae and subsequently fine,close, spiral threads extending from suture tosuture; axials remain low, weak, of irregularstrength and spacing; columella with four strongspiral plaits, ascending within.


Middle-Late Eocene.

RemarksWhat remains of this otherwise well-preserved

specimen suggests a superficial resemblance tospecies of the genus Eumitra Tate, 1889. There areno known taxa elsewhere in the Australian Eocenesimilar to the present species. Differs from theassociated Mitrid sp. B in its narrower spire,sculptured whorls and stronger plaits.

OccurrenceSouthern Carnarvon Basin: unnamed silicified

sandstone, Middle-Late Eocene.

Marginella sp. BFigure 3.7



DescriptionShell subcylindrical with short spire and bluntly

rounded apex; two strong, anteriorly located,oblique columellar plaits; inner lip (aperture) finelydenticulate.

Dimensions

DimensionsHeight Max. diameter

WAM 05.194 9.8 6.1. Specimen fragmentary

No. whorls6

WAM05.195Height

5.7Max. diameter

2.3Mitrid, sp. BFigure 3.26

RemarksThis species is relatively elongate and

subcylindrical compared with Marginella sp. A.



RemarksDiffers from the associated Mitrid sp. A in its

greater diameter relative to height, absence ofsculpture and weak, spaced columellar plaits. Thereis no taxon at present known similar to this fromthe Australian Eocene.

DescriptionShell missing apical portion and apertural part of

last whorl, including anterior canal; partiallyencrusted with secondary silica. Spire about equalto half height, whorls slightly convex and slightlystepped at suture, without evident axial or spiralsculpture; columella with four weak, spaced, low,rounded plaits, callosity low, weak.


Middle-Late Eocene.

Family Mitridae

RemarksNo generic assignment is attempted for two

species of this family represented in the studymaterial, pending the collection of furtherspecimens.

Mitrid, sp. AFigure 3.24


Park, ca. 19.5 km ESE. of Kalbarri: 1 fragmentaryspecimen (WAM 05.194).

DimensionsHeight

WAM 07.28 36.3Specimen broken

Max. diameter13.3

DescriptionA fragmentary shell of mitrid form, retaining the

apical five whorls and part of the sixth. Protoconchlarge, paucispiral, of 1.1 whorls, the tip immersed.


Middle-Late Eocene.


OccurrenceSouthern Camarvon Basin: unnamed sandstone,

Middle-Late Eocene.

RemarksSpecies of Conorbis are known from the Late

Eocene of Victoria and South Australia (Long,1981). The present specimen, though poorlypreserved, is unlike .these, having a slightlyattenuated canal and a slight shoulder to thewhorls. No congener is as yet known from thePallinup Formation.

Family Conidae

Genus Conus Linnaeus, 1758

Conus? sp.Figure 2.22



DescriptionInternal mould of a low-spired, biconic shell

retaining a few shell remnants of last whorl, partlyoverlain by secondary silica; columella smooth;apparent low spiral sculpture visible on last whorlthrough silica overlay.

DimensionsHeight

WAM 07.29 18.5Specimen broken

Max. diameter No. whorls8.1 3+


Middle-Late Eocene.

RemarksGeneric identity of this specimen derives from the

biconic shape of the internal mould and the absenceof any trace of columellar plaits. An unidentifiedspecies of Conus, currently awaiting study, hasbeen collected from the Pallinup Formation (BremerBasin). Its relationship to the present species isunclear. No species of Conus is known from theEocene of southeastern Australia.

Dimensions

WAM05.199Height

16.4Max. diameter

12.0

ACKNO~EDGEMENTS

We are grateful to Mr David Barton of Kalbarrifor presentation of his fossil collection to theWestern Australian Museum. Mrs J. Bevan, Curatorof the Geological Museum, School of Earth andGeographical Sciences, The University of WesternAustralia, kindly loaned specimens. Mrs L.M.Marsh, Western Australian Museum, providedadvice regarding coral identifications and ecology.Mr David Holloway and Mr Rolf Schmidt, MuseumVictoria, provided advice on preparing theillustrations. Dr Alan Beu and Associate ProfessorDavid Haig suggested useful emendations to theoriginal manuscript. Dr John Long facilitated TAD'svisit to Western Australia. Support from theWestern Australian Department of Environmentand Conservation is acknowledged withappreciation. Ms G. Harsa prepared the typescript.

Genus Conorbis Swainson, 1840

Conorbis sp.Figures 3.21, 3.22



DescriptionShell of medium size for genus, lacking apical

and anterior extremities and apertural outer lip.Biconic, whorls slightly convex, weaklyshouldered at mid-whorl and slightly recessedsutures; anterior canal (broken) probably a littleattenuated. Sculpture fine, spiral only,concentrated below sutures; on last whorl, mostlyon anterior half, continuous onto canal and acrosscolumella and parietal area. Aperture elongate,outer lip broken.

REFERENCES

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Manuscript accepted 5 October 2007.


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