A revision of the Australian fossil species of Zoila (Gastropoda: Cypraeidae) 
5 
Zoila friendi (Wilson and Clarkson, 2004, pp. 79-80). Fossil 
species of the western group all have prominent columellar 
dentition. In Z.fodinata, the columellar teeth are elongated to 
form short ridges. In the eastern group, columellar dentition is 
more highly variable. In Z.platypyga, the columellar dentition 
is in the form of strong, elongate ridges, whereas in Z. mulderi 
(Tate) (almost certainly ancestral to the former), the columellar 
dentition is more like that of the living species, as is the 
dentition of Z. glomerabilis sp. nov. and Z. dolichorhyncha sp. 
nov. In Z. gigas, there is no columellar dentition. I do not 
consider that columellar dentition can be used to provide a 
consistent taxonomic character to separate the eastern and 
western group of species of Zoila as implied by Wilson and 
Clarkson (2004, p. 49). 
Fossular morphology also varies somewhat, though the 
basic pattern throughout all the species is the same — that is, 
broad, concave and bounded by the terminal ridge. Even 
within a species, fossular morphology can vary. Compare, for 
example, the fossulae of specimens of Z. venusta figured on 
plates 265-276 of Wilson and Clarkson (2004). 
Zoila chathamensis (Cernohorsky, 1971) 
Figures 1H, 5A, D-G, I-K 
Bernaya chathamensis Cernohorsky, 1971, p. 117, fig. 13. 
Description. Shell of small size for genus (36 mm), solid, 
somewhat globose to subpyriform, dorsal surface uniformly 
convex, ventral surface weakly convex, almost flat. Posterior 
canal narrow, barely projecting, deeply incised; anterior canal 
very short, deeply incised. Spire not visible. Outer lip with 14- 
lb teeth, columella lip with 12-18 teeth. Fossula well developed, 
smooth, broad, very slightly concave, slightly projecting, 
bounded by very weak terminal ridge. 
Dimensions. 
L 
W 
H 
LT 
CT 
Holotype AMNZ TM-1325 
35.8 
27.3 
21.1 
18.0 
14.0 
Figured specimen GNS TM8792 
36.5 
21.0 
21.0 
12.0 
16.0 
Type locality. Flowerpot Harbour, Pitt Island, Chatham Islands, 
New Zealand, Red Bluff Tuff, late Paleocene/early Eocene. 
Occurrence and material. Pitt Island, New Zealand: Red Bluff 
Tuff, Flowerpot Harbour (holotype AMNZ TM-1325), (GNS 
GS12159, one specimen); Red Bluff Tuff, GS12173 Rocky side, 
Tarawhenua Peninsula (GNS TM8792, one specimen). 
Remarks. Cernohorsky (1971) assigned his new species to the 
genus Bernaya, apparently not realising that the fossula of 
species assigned to that genus has a deep groove at the anterior 
end. His description of the fossula is quite accurate, but his figure 
does not show the morphology of the fossula very well, as it was 
not fully prepared. The holotype is refigured here, but the fossula 
is not very clear in the illustration (fig. 51). Another specimen 
kindly provided by Dr Alan Beu has been more fully prepared 
and although the aperture is narrow, making photography, 
difficult the simple nature of the fossula can be seen (fig. 5J). The 
fossula is somewhat similar to that in Z. viathomsoni n. sp. and Z. 
decipiens (EA. Smith, 1880), but is not as concave. 
Although much smaller, the overall morphology of this 
species is somewhat similar to that of Zoila friendii thersites 
(Gaskoin, 1849). The fossula is relatively shorter and is not as 
deeply concave as that of the latter species, but is otherwise 
similar. 
Zoila viathomsoni sp. nov. 
Figures ID, 2C, 5B-C, H, L 
Description. Shell of small size for genus (19-28 mm in length), 
pyriform. Spire not visible on most specimens, projecting on 
one specimen. Posterior canal very short, slightly bent to left. 
Anterior canal very short, slightly deflected to right. Aperture 
slightly sinuous; outer lip with about 23-25 teeth present along 
entire lip; columella with about 23-26 teeth present along 
entire lip. Fossula well-developed, deep, elongate, projecting, 
bounded anteriorly by thickened ridge; very weak notch present 
in inner edge just posterior to anterior ridge; weak terminal 
ridge joining edge of fossula. First columellar tooth adjacent to 
terminal ridge, almost blocking shallow sulcus that extends 
into fossula parallel to terminal ridge. 
Dimensions. 
L 
W 
H 
LT 
CT 
Holotype 
WAM 
72.296 
24.0 
16.0 
12.5 
25.0 
26.0 
undistorted 
Paratype 
WAM 
72.253 
27.0 
15.0 est. 
14.0 
est. 
c24.0 
24.0 
distorted 
Paratype 
P310193 
28.0 
15.0 
13.0 
est. 
24.0 
23.0 
crushed 
laterally 
Paratype 
P310194 
17.0 
11.7 fragment showing fossula 
est. = estimated 
Type locality. PL3171 gravel scrape beside Thomson Highway, 
23.5 km north of Highway 1, north of Walpole, Western 
Australia. Grid ref. Deep River (1:100 000 series) 743487. 
Pallinup Siltstone, Aldingan, Late Eocene. 
Type material. Western Australian Museum: Holotype WAM 
72.296, collected T.A. Darragh and G.W. Kendrick, 12-14 
March 1969; paratype WAM 72.253, collected G.W. and W.E. 
Kendrick, 25 January 1969. Museum Victoria: Paratype 
P310193, collected T.A. Darragh & G.W. Kendrick, 12-14 
March 1969. 
Time range. Aldingan, Late Eocene. 
Occurrence and material. Type locality only (one undistorted 
specimen, four complete distorted specimens, nine fragments). 
Remarks. This is one of the two oldest true cowries recorded 
from Australia and occurs only in southwest Australia, 
associated with Willungia ovulatella (Tate) and Semitrivia 
pompholugota (Tate). Specimens from the type locality are 
preserved as silica replacements weathered out of the Pallinup 
