Doctor Mud Posted October 28, 2022 Share Posted October 28, 2022 (edited) Hi all. I haven’t posted on here for a while. But thought I’d share this beautiful Mauithoe insignis gastropod I found and prepped recently in New Zealand. It’s about mid Miocene age (12 million). There are only 2 sites in New Zealand where you can find this species. You usually find Mauithoe specimens around 4 cm in length, 7.5 cm is listed as the largest in the Bible on NZ fossil molluscs. Well this beast is bigger than that. As found After prep: Edited October 28, 2022 by Doctor Mud 1 21 Link to post Share on other sites
Ludwigia Posted October 28, 2022 Share Posted October 28, 2022 Lucky duck!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites
Doctor Mud Posted October 28, 2022 Author Share Posted October 28, 2022 Well It turned out that this one had a story to tell as well. This mighty snail had been in the wars. Check out this deformity of the shell. I think this snail has a run in with a crab and survived being crushed. This site has common Tumidocarcinus giganteus crab fossils. Some with monster claws the size of your hand! It looks like there was some remodeling (healing) of the crushed shell. 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Doctor Mud Posted October 28, 2022 Author Share Posted October 28, 2022 After surviving an attack from a giant of the deep, was something smaller it’s undoing? This drill hole is on the second whorl up on the spire at the top. I think it’s from a predatory mollusc. This area would be a good place to attack these giants - from behind. Their shell slowly pierced unawares. The only predatory gastropod from the local fauna is quite small in comparison less than 15mm across. So would hitch a ride on the back I think. This seems to be a strategy for whoever drilled this hole as I’ve gone back to my other specimens and many have drill holes in this region of the shell. Thanks for looking! 4 6 Link to post Share on other sites
Doctor Mud Posted October 28, 2022 Author Share Posted October 28, 2022 10 minutes ago, Ludwigia said: Lucky duck!!!!! I was excited to find it! Turns out it had a few bonus surprises for me too. I love evidence of species interactions in the fossil record. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
RJB Posted October 28, 2022 Share Posted October 28, 2022 Glad to see your still around. Thats one cool gastropod! RB 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Tidgy's Dad Posted October 28, 2022 Share Posted October 28, 2022 Gorgeous. Lovely prep work too. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Doctor Mud Posted December 4, 2022 Author Share Posted December 4, 2022 There’s a new king of the Mauithoe Gastropods! biggest by about 10mm. Doesn’t look like much, but there’s a nice shell under that Siltstone. These shells are a bit of an obsession for me. I have to collect the big ones when I see them. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Doctor Mud Posted December 4, 2022 Author Share Posted December 4, 2022 As found, peeking out the rock face. Lucky to get it as this area gets hammered by the ocean and covered in every high tide. 3 Link to post Share on other sites
Coco Posted December 4, 2022 Share Posted December 4, 2022 Can’t wait to see it prepared ! Coco 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Doctor Mud Posted December 4, 2022 Author Share Posted December 4, 2022 3 hours ago, Coco said: Can’t wait to see it prepared ! Coco These are fun to prep. No air tools required. Just have to let it dry so the shell hardens a bit. I’ll post an update when I prep it. Link to post Share on other sites
Doctor Mud Posted Wednesday at 09:41 AM Author Share Posted Wednesday at 09:41 AM Having finished the Barnacle. Onto the new king of the Mauithoe Gastropods. 7.5cm was the previous biggest record in the book of NZ fossil molluscs. Then the one on the right showed up. Then my eyes popped out when I saw the living chamber of the new one peeking out from the silt. Amazing that they are the same species! I wonder if it will have a predatory drill hole in the spire? I wonder what the upper size limit is?? 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Coco Posted Thursday at 12:36 PM Share Posted Thursday at 12:36 PM Fantastic ! Coco Link to post Share on other sites
Doctor Mud Posted Friday at 10:23 AM Author Share Posted Friday at 10:23 AM 21 hours ago, Coco said: Fantastic ! Coco Thanks Coco, I always love your enthusiasm! Such a positive presence on the Forum. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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