Ag. Cook, FLETCHERVIEWIA-SEPTATA - A NEW HIGH-SPIRED, SEPTATE GASTROPOD FROM THE DEVONIAN OF NORTH QUEENSLAND, Journal of paleontology, 67(5), 1993, pp. 816-821
A high-spired septate gastropod, Fletcherviewia septata n. gen. and sp
., occurs in a distinctive faunule at the base of the Middle Devonian
Fanning River Group, within the Burdekin Subprovince, near Townsville,
North Queensland, Australia. This species is one of four large, thick
-shelled gastropods associated with sandstone and sandstone-limestone
facies; the sediments are interpreted as shallow marine, nearshore, mo
bile sand bars on a moderate-energy carbonate-clastic shelf. Strategie
s for the algal-grazing snails on the turbulent substrate are rolling
for compact robust forms and anchoring, using the wide carina, for for
ms such as Fletcherviewia. Septation in Fletcherviewia is rationalized
in terms of the ability to vacate early whorls, thus reducing body vo
lume and avoiding any detrimental effect as a result of loss of early-
formed whorls.