Mackinnon, D. I.; Hiller, N.; Long, S. L.; Marshall, B. A. (2008). Neoaemula, a new genus of platidiid brachiopod, with observations on species referred to the Recent platidiid brachiopod genus Amphithyris Thomson. Fossils and Strata. 54: 321-331.

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Mackinnon, D. I.; Hiller, N.; Long, S. L.; Marshall, B. A.

2008

54: 321-331

Publication

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In 1918 Thomson erected the genus Amphithyris (type species, Amphithyris buckmani), based on a single specimen from Cook Strait, New Zealand. In addition to the type species, Thomson also referred to his new genus the obscure Mediterranean species Terebratula seminulum Philippi, 1836. Subsequently, two further species were referred to the genus, namely Amphithyris hallettensis Foster, 1974 from the Ross Sea, Antarctica and Amphithyris richardsonae Campbell & Fleming, 1981 from Fiordland, New Zealand. When the latter two species were described, the holotype of Am. buckmani was misplaced and morphological comparisons with the type species were made using ‘topotypic material’ that had been collected and referred to Am. buckmani at some later date. Although the various authors made reference in their written descriptions to internal dorsal valve morphology, no illustrations were presented for either Am. hallettensis or Am. richardsonae, and the dorsal valve of Am. buckmani (embedded in Canada balsam) was obscured by mantle and lophophore tissue. Attempts to separate the valves of the holotype of Am. richardsonae proved unsuccessful, but new SEM illustrations of the dorsal valve interiors of the holotype of Am. buckmani, topotypic ‘Am. buckmani’ and a previously unfigured paratype of Am. hallettensis have prompted a revision of their taxonomic relationships with each other and with several previously undescribed collections of platidiids from New Zealand and elsewhere. Topotypic ‘Am. buckmani’ is referred to a new species, Amphithyris parva, and a new amphithyrid platidiid from Doubtful Sound, Fiordland, New Zealand, Neoaemula vector n. gen. and n. sp. is described. Terebratula seminulum is now confirmed as a species of Amphithyris.

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