Coluzea spectabilis is an extinct species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Columbariidae. Fossils of the species date to the Waipipian stage (3.70 million years ago) of the late Pliocene in New Zealand, and have been found at Waihi Beach near Hāwera, South Taranaki, and in the Carterton District.
Description
In the original description, Powell described the species as follows:
The holotype of the species has an estimated height of and a diameter of . It can be identified due to its more numerous peripheral spines (weak and closely spaced), and by its carina having only slight nodulation.
Taxonomy
The species was first described by A. W. B. Powell in 1931. The holotype was collected in January 1931 by Powell from near the mouth of Waihi Stream, Hāwera, South Taranaki. It is held in the collections of Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Distribution
This extinct marine species occurs in late Pliocene Waipipian stage fossils in New Zealand, including the Tangahoe Formation. Fossils have been found in South Taranaki near Hāwera, and in the Wairarapa near Carrington, Carterton District.
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