Cenozoic and recent rhynchonellide brachiopods of New Zealand: Systematics and variation in the genusNotosaria

Abstract

Two species of the rhynchonellide brachiopod genus Notosaria are redescribed: Notosaria antipoda (Thomson), formerly placed in Tegulorhynchia, ranges from Early Oligocene to Early Miocene (Whaingaroan - Otaian) and Notosaria nigricans (Sowerby) from early Middle Miocene (Altonian) to Recent. A living new subspecies, Notosaria nigricans reinga, from near the Three Kings Islands north of New Zealand is described. Growth stages and morphological variation in living populations are described, and comparisons are made with fossil specimens of the same and other species.