Cataegis

Kaim, Andrzej, Jenkins, Robert G., Tanabe, Kazushige & Kiel, Steffen, 2014, Mollusks from late Mesozoic seep deposits, chiefly in California, Zootaxa 3861 (5), pp. 401-440 : 410-411

Cataegis ? sp.

( Fig. 4A–B )

Description. Relatively large low-spired turbiniform gastropod (> 20 mm in diameter). Protoconch not preserved. Shell consists of two layers, a thick inner layer that is often dissolved, and a brownish outer layer ornamented by six spiral ribs and numerous enhanced prosocyrtic growth lines. Two median spiral ribs are the strongest and the most widely spaced with slightly concave area in between. Base ornamented by six spiral lines and several enhanced growth lines with scaly appearance on internal shell surface. Umbilicus absent. Aperture not preserved.

Material and occurrence. A single large specimen (22.2 mm in diameter) is preserved as an inner mould (GZG.INV.84972) and additional specimens are preserved as pieces of the shell adhering to the inner or outer moulds. All specimens are from Bear Creek (Valanginian, Early Cretaceous).

Remarks. Cataegis ? sp. is a distinctive species in the Bear Creek seep deposit due to the scaly appearance of the shell base ornamentation and its relatively large size, though it never is completely preserved. The species resembles some cataegins in having a concave area in the median part of the shell flank. However, it is much narrower than in the other species attributed herein to Cataegis as well as in the alleged neomphalid Lithomphalus enderlini described by Kiel & Campbell (2005).

Stratigraphic range. Valanginian (Early Cretaceous) to Recent.

Figures

FIGURE 4. A – B. Cataegis? sp. from Valanginian (Early Cretaceous) seep carbonates at Rocky Creek, Colusa County, California, USA; GZG. INV. 84972. A. Rubber cast of the juvenile whorls. B. Scaly pattern of the adult whorl base. C. Vetigastropoda / Neomphalina indet.? Valanginian (Early Cretaceous) seep carbonates at Rocky Creek, Lake County, California, USA; GZG. INV. 84980. D – J. Lithomphalus enderlini Kiel & Campbell, 2005 from Valanginian (Early Cretaceous) seep carbonates at Bear Creek, Colusa County, California, USA. D – F. Juvenile (GZG. INV. 84977) displaying ornamentation of the early ontogenetic stage of the shell. G – H. Adolescent specimen GZG. INV. 84978. I – J. Adolescent specimen GZG. INV. 84979.