THE PALEOUSTRAL GENUS PROTODOLIUM WILCKENS, 1922 (MOLLUSCA, GASTROPODA), AND A NEW SPECIES FROM THE LATE CRETACEOUS OF CHATHAM-ISLANDS, NEW-ZEALAND

The paleoaustral genus Protodolium Wilckens, 1922, was an important el ement in the gastropod fauna of the western sector of the Gondwana Rea lm during Campanian to Maastrichtian time (Late Cretaceous). Previousl y thought to be endemic to New Zealand, Protodolium is now recognised in inferred Campanian rocks of New Caledonia for the first time, and a lso in uppermost Cretaceous rocks of Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacifi c. As a result of renewed interest in Protodolium which has not been s tudied in any detail for 70 years, a new species has come to light, Pr otodolium pittensis, described here from the Kahuitara Tuff, Pitt Isla nd, Chatham Islands. Long believed to be a member of Tonnidae (Tonnace a), Protodolium is now reallocated to Neritopsidae (Neritacea). Protod olium species, previously thought to be carnivores, were probably epif aunal herbivores in the littoral to sublittoral zone shallower than mi d shelf.