A—Rhynchonella variabilis Schloth. sp. Jurassic. W. Australia
B—Terebratella davidsoni, Moore. L. Cretaceous. Queensland
C—Lingula subovalis, Davidson. L. Cretaceous. S. Australia
D—Rhynchonella croydonensis, Eth. fil. Up. Cretaceous. Queensland
The marine Jurassic beds of W. Australia, as at Shark Bay and Greenough River, contain certain Rhynchonellae allied to European species, as R. variabilis ([Fig. 88 A]), and R. cf. solitaria.
Lower Cretaceous Brachiopods.—
The Lower Cretaceous or Rolling Downs Formation of Queensland has yielded a fair number of Brachiopods, principally from Wollumbilla,—as Terebratella davidsoni ([Fig. 88 B]), (?) Argiope wollumbillensis, (?) A. punctata, Rhynchonella rustica, R. solitaria, Discina apicalis and Lingula subovalis. From beds of similar age in Central South Australia and the Lake Eyre Basin Lingula subovalis ([Fig. 88 C]), and Rhynchonella eyrei have been recorded; the latter has been compared with a species (R. walkeri) from the Middle Neocomian of Tealby in Yorkshire.
Upper Cretaceous Brachiopod.—
A solitary species of the Brachiopoda occurs in the Upper Cretaceous of Australia, namely, Rhynchonella croydonensis ([Fig. 88 D]) of the Desert Sandstone of the Croydon Gold-fields and Mount Angas, Queensland.
Cainozoic Brachiopods.—
The Brachiopoda of the Cainozoic or Tertiary strata of Australia and New Zealand are well represented by the genera Terebratula, Magellania, Terebratulina, Terebratella, Magasella and Acanthothyris. In the Balcombian or Oligocene of southern Australia occur the following:—Terebratula tateana, Magellania corioensis, M. garibaldiana and Magasella compta ([Figs. 89 A, D]); and most of these range into the next stage, the Janjukian, whilst some extend even to the Kalimnan. Terebratulina suessi, Hutton sp. (= T. scoulari, Tate) ranges through the Balcombian and Janjukian, but is most typical of the Janjukian beds in Victoria: it also occurs in the Oamaru Series of New Zealand (= Janjukian). Acanthothyris squamosa ([Fig. 89 F]) is typical of the Janjukian of southern Australia, and it occurs also in the Pareora beds of the Broken River, New Zealand. The latter are green, sandy, fossiliferous strata immediately succeeding the Oamaru stone of the Hutchinson Quarry beds. A. squamosa is said to be still living south of Kerguelen Island. Magellania insolita is a Victorian species which is also found in the Oamaru Series of New Zealand.
Fig. 89—CAINOZOIC BRACHIOPODS.
