Ceraunocochlis australis n.sp.

PI. l7 figs 6-10

Description. Shell very small, subulate, high spired, thin, axis of shell slightly curved, anomphalous. Protoconch of about 1Y2 smooth whorls, flattened top slightly tilted with strongly arched whorl profile; transition from protoconch to teleoconch sharp and gently sinuated. Teleoconch of about 7 smooth whorls, whorl profile flat to arched, suture shallow but distinct; length of whorl increases with growth. Aperture sharp triangular in shape; columellar lip merging with the parietal lip, thin, straight; distinct anterior siphonal notch; columellar fold obscured; outer lip straight, slightly prosocline; base pointed and extended.

Types. Holotype (F78490) and 3 figured paratypes (F78491). There are 46 unfigured additional specimens (F78492) from the type locality.

Type locality. 150 m west of 'Marohn' homestead, 4 km south-west of Gundy, NSW (Locality 28).

Stratigraphic position. Bioclastic limestone, upper part of the Dangarfield Formation.

Geographic distribution. Type locality only.

Geological age. Late Tournaisian.

Etymology. Derived from the Latin australis meaning southern.

Remarks. This species differs from Ceraunocochlis tenuis n.sp. in having more subulate shell, higher whorls and a sharp-angled aperture. The type species, Ceraunocochlis fulminula Knight, differs from australis in having the final whorl occupying more than half of the shell length.