Early and Middle Jurassic belemnites of New Zealand

Abstract

The first belemnites to appear in New Zealand are Eobelemnopsis robustus n. gen et. sp. and E. mackayi (Stevens 1965a); by definition they mark the base of the Temaikan Stage (Late Toarcian) in New Zealand. A sparse fauna of passaloteuthid belemnites appears with Eobelemnopsis and extends through the early part of the Early Temaikan (Late Toarcian-?Early Aalenian). Two genera present (cf. Dactyloteuthis and Brevibelus) are known from Europe, one (Hastateuthis) is new and apparently endemic to New Zealand; one possible passaloteuthidine (? Early Toarcian) and two megateuthidine forms (Late Toarcian) are also present. Hibolithes catlinensis (Hector 1878) appears in the latest Early Temaikan (?latest Aalenian) and extends through the Middle and Late Temaikan, disappearing in the later Late Temaikan (Late Bathonian). Cylindroteuthis appears briefly in the Late Temaikan (Late Bathonian). Three short-ranging taxa (Hibolithes herangiensis n. sp., H. opuatiaensis n. sp., and Pachybelemnopsis gribbonensis n. sp.) are present in the latest Temaikan (Late Bathonian and Early Callovian). Pachybelemnopsis annae (Challinor 1979a) appears in the latest Temaikan (Middle Callovian) and extends into the overlying Early Heterian (Oxfordian) Stage. Dicoelitids (Conodicoelites flemingi Stevens 1965a, C. orakaensis Stevens 1965a) appear in the middle Late Temaikan (late Middle Bathonian) and range up into the Early Heterian (Callovian-Oxfordian). Two new species of Dicoelites are present in the latest Temaikan (Early and Middle Callovian). The Early and Middle Jurassic succession of belemnites in New Zealand is similar to that of Europe where passaloteuthids appear first, followed by mesohibolitids and then dicoelitids. However the appearance of mesohibolitids with the earliest passaloteuthids in New Zealand does not occur in Europe. While some of the same genera appear in both regions no species is common to both.