Middle Cambrian molluscs from the southern New England Fold Belt, New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

Middle Cambrian (Floran-Undillan) allochthonous limestone clasts from the Murrawong Creek Formation, southern New England Fold Belt, northeastern N.S.W., Australia, yield a well preserved silicified molluscan fauna consisting of the helcionelloids Latouchella accordionata Runnegar & Jell,, Latouchella aliciae nov. sp., Yochelcionella daleki Runnegar & Jell,, Anabarella simesi MacKinnon,, and the paragastropod Pelagiella sp. cf. P. deltoides Runnegar & Jell.. On the basis of a single bellerophontiform-like muscle scar fortuitously preserved in one specimen, Protowenella is tentatively re-interpreted as an archaeogastropod, though a tergomyan affinity cannot be ruled out. The fauna displays strong regional affinities with the “first discovery limestone” member of the Coonigan Formation, western N.S.W., sequences in the Georgina Basin, northern Australia, and northwest Nelson in New Zealand.