Phenatoma decessor explained

Phenatoma decessor is an extinct species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Borsoniidae.^[1]

Description

The length of the shell is 17 mm, its width 6 mm. Marwick considered this species a direct ancestor of Phenatoma rosea to which it closely resembles in shape and ornamentation.

Distribution

This extinct marine species was endemic to New Zealand and fossils were found in fossiliferous beds of calcareous tuffs at Whenuaturu Peninsula.

References

• J. "The Tertiary Mollusca of the Chatham Islands including a generic revision of the New Zealand Pectinidae." Transactions of the New Zealand institute. Vol. 58. No. 4. 1928
• Maxwell, P.A. (2009). Cenozoic Mollusca. pp 232–254 in Gordon, D.P. (ed.) New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume one. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch.

Notes and References

1. Marshall, B. (2015). Phenatoma decessor Marwick, 1928 †. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=831651 on 2016-03-21