A revision of the Australian fossil species of Zoila (Gastropoda: Cypraeidae) 
17 
Zoila platypyga (McCoy, 1876) 
Figures 2A, 11A-H, 12A-G, 13A-C 
Cypraea (Aricia)platypyga McCoy, 1876, p. 39, fig. 1-lc. 
Cypraea (Aricia) consobrina McCoy, 1877, p. 36, pi. 49, fig. 2. 
Cypraea toxorhyncha Tate, 1890, p. 210.— Tate, 1892, p. 5, fig. 6; pi. 
6, fig. 5. 
Cypraea platypyga McCoy.— Tate, 1890, p. 211. 
Cypraea (Erosaria)platypyga McCoy.— Harris, 1897, p. 209. 
Gisortiaplatypyga (McCoy).— Vredenburg, 1927, p. 43. 
Gisortia consobrina (McCoy).— Vredenburg, 1927, p. 43. 
Zoila (Zoila) platypyga platypyga (McCoy). — Schilder, 1935, p. 
338. 
Zoila (Zoila) platypyga simplicior Schilder, 1935, p. 338. 
Zoila (Zoila) consobrina (McCoy).— Schilder, 1935, p. 338. 
Zoila (Zoila) toxorhyncha (Tate).— Schilder, 1935, p. 338. 
Zoilaplatygyra [,v/c] (McCoy). — Wilson and Clarkson, 2004:51, pi. 
52, pi 53 ( toxorhyncha ) form. 
Zoila consobrina (McCoy). — Wilson and Clarkson, 2004:51, pi. 54. 
Description. Shell of five to six whorls, solid, of medium size for 
genus, globose to subpyriform, last whorl covered with glaze, 
enveloping the previous whorls, somewhat humped posteriorly 
with posterior dorsal slope steeper than anterior; smooth dorsal 
surface. Spire slightly projecting, of 4—5 whorls, covered with 
thick callus on most specimens. Protoconch smooth, of one whorl 
merging imperceptibly with teleoconch whorls; beginning of 
protoconch slightly immersed. Posterior canal with rounded sides, 
wide, notched, projecting posteriorly on most specimens with 
prominent solid lateral projections, longer on columellar side. 
Anterior canal subcylindrical, narrow, deeply incised, reflexed 
dorsally and supported by thick lateral flanges on most specimens; 
on large specimens canal considerably extended. Aperture narrow, 
very slightly curved, slightly wider and steeply sloping inwards at 
anterior end before anterior canal; outer lip with 24—33 well- 
developed teeth extending along entire lip. Columella with 24-33 
strongly developed ridges, extending along entire columella, 
bifurcating on some specimens, not extending onto fossula. 
Fossula well developed, concave, broad and spoon-shaped, 
bounded anteriorly by well-developed single terminal ridge. 
Dimensions. 
L 
W 
H 
LT 
CT 
Holotype P12137 
77 
49 
42 
24 
27 
P12134 
67 
43 
37 
30 
28 holotype of 
consobrina 
T823 
94 
47 
42 
28 
26 holotype of 
toxorhyncha 
Figured specimen 
P304414 
100 
54 
51 
33 
33 
Figured specimen 
P304415 
82 
50 
41 
30 
30 
Figured specimen 
PI4594 
100 
53 
51 
33 
26 
Type locality. ‘Tertiary clays of shore near foot of Mount Eliza’. 
Type material. Holotype PI2137, collected Geological Survey of 
Victoria. Holotype of Cypraea (Aricia) consobrina PI2134, 
Moorabool River. Holotype of Cypraea toxorhyncha Tate, 1890, 
SAM T832, Muddy Creek, Ralph Tate collection. Holotype of 
Zoila (Z.) platypyga simplicior Schilder, 1935, BM(NH), Muddy 
Creek, E.O. Teale collection (specimen missing). Figured 
specimen P304414, FA. Cudmore collection, collected 1941. 
Figured specimen P304415, presented Mr J. T. Cunningham, 22 
February 1966. Figured specimen P14954, collected FA. 
Cudmore, February 1932. 
Time range. Balcombian-Baimsdalian, Middle Miocene. 
Occurrence and material. Balcombian. Muddy Creek Formation: 
Muddy Creek (P14639, P61587, P304426, P308692-4, P308696, 
P308748, P308798, P308796, 21 specimens); PL3082 Clifton 
Bank (P58641, P304419, P304434, P304446, P308691, P308695, 
P308697, 16 specimens). 
Gellibrand Formation: Gellibrand River (P304424, P304448, 
P308734, four specimens); northwest of Princetown (P304441, 
one specimen); Princetown (P5347, one specimen); PL3060 dam 
on lot 393 (P304429, one specimen); 4 km north of Port Campbell 
(P304439, one specimen); between Pt. Ronald and Gibsons Beach 
(P304444, one specimen); Cowley Creek (P304438, one 
specimen); dam at Clyne’s house (P308698, one specimen); north 
of Port Campbell (P308699, one specimen); Curdies (P59228, 
one specimen); PL3068 southwest end of Gibson Beach 
(P304443, one specimen). 
Fyansford Formation: PL3078 Fossil Beach (P304427-8, 
P304437, P304415, ten specimens); Balcombe Bay (P308751-3, 
three specimens); Schnapper Point (P308755, two specimens); 
Braeside Tunnel (P30445, one specimen); Campbells Point 
(P304436, one specimen); PL3069 Red Bluff, Shelford (P304435, 
one specimen); Shelford (P304420, one specimen); Overburden, 
Batesford Limestone Quarry (P308811, P309021-3, P310316, 
P310313, six specimens). 
Cadell Marl: PL3084 south of Morgan, South Australia 
(P304430, one specimen). 
Baimsdalian 
Fyansford Formation: Grices Creek (P14594, P304425, five 
specimens); PL3103 downstream Grices Creek (P308754, one 
specimen); Grices Creek, middle beds (P304414, one specimen); 
PL3100 Murgheboluc 4A (P308735, one specimen). 
Remarks. The holotype of Cypraea consobrina McCoy is a 
slightly immature, water-worn specimen found in the Moorabool 
River near Geelong, washed out of the Fyansford Formation. The 
posterior and anterior canals are not so highly callused, even when 
allowing for wear, as typical specimens of Z. platypyga. However, 
these forms intergrade and it is synonymised with the latter. 
The holotype of Cypreaea toxorhyncha Tate is a large 
specimen, with the extensions of the posterior canal very well 
developed. The anterior canal is very long and reflexed dorsally. 
Similar specimens are associated with and intergrade with typical 
Z. platypyga specimens in the Muddy Creek Formation and the 
Fyansford Formation. This name is also synonymised with Zoila 
platypyga. The holotype of Zoila (Zoila) platypyga simplicior 
Schilder, 1935, said to be in the Teale collection, Natural History 
Museum, London, cannot be located. Schilder indicated that it 
came from Muddy Creek and that it differed from Z. platypyga 
sensu stricto by having less produced and less rounded extremities, 
