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Taxonomy
Family: Subfamily:
CASSIDAE: PHALIINAE
Full Classification:
Mollusca (Phylum)
> Gastropoda (Class)
> Caenogastropoda (Subclass)
> Littorinimorpha (Order)
> Tonnoidea (Superfamily)
> Cassidae (Family)
> Phaliinae (Subfamily)
> Semicassis (Genus)
> pyrum (Species)
Genus Synonyms:
=Cassis (Semicassis) Mörch, 1852
=Phalium (Semicassis) Mörch, 1852
=Phalium (Xenogalea) Iredale, 1927
=Semicassis (Xenophalium) Iredale, 1927
=Xenogalea Iredale, 1927
=Xenophalium Iredale, 1927
Synonymised Names:
=Cassidea multisecta Finlay, 1924
=Cassidea stadialis Hedley, 1914
=Cassis nivea Brazier, 1872
=Cassis pyrum Lamarck, 1822
=Cassis striatus Hutton, 1873
=Cassis tumida Petterd, 1886
=Phalium pyrum (Lamarck, 1822)
=Phalium stadiale (Hedley, 1914)
=Semicassis (Semicassis) pyrum (Lamarck, 1822)
=Xenogalea denda Cotton, 1945
=Xenogalea finlayi Iredale, 1927
=Xenogalea halli Cotton, 1954
=Xenogalea mawsoni Cotton, 1945
=Xenogalea powelli Finlay, 1928
=Xenogalea pyrum (Lamarck, 1822)
=Xenogalea spectabilis Iredale, 1929
=Xenogalea stadialis (Hedley, 1914)
=Xenogalea wilsoni Cotton, 1954
=Xenophalium (Xenogalea) abernethyi Dell, 1956
=Xenophalium (Xenogalea) matai Powell, 1952
=Xenophalium abernethyi Dell, 1956
=Xenophalium finlayi (Iredale, 1927)
=Xenophalium hamiltoni Powell, 1928
=Xenophalium harrisonae Powell, 1928
=Xenophalium matai Powell, 1952
=Xenophalium pyrum (Lamarck, 1822)
=Xenophalium pyrum pyrum (Lamarck, 1822)
=Xenophalium wanganuiense Powell, 1928
Images: Semicassis pyrum (Lamarck, 1822)
Uretiti Beach, Whangarei, Northland, NZ. 68mm. © rights reserved
Deep water of Cape Kidnappers, NZ. 64mm. © rights reserved
Washed up on Bream Bay, Northland, NZ. 56mm. © rights reserved
Holotype of Xenogalea finlay, Iredale, collected 36 metes, between Taiaroa Head and Waikouaiti, Otago, NZ (MA70852). © Auckland Museum (CC-BY)
Holotype of Xenogalea powelli, Finlay, collected 73-90 metes, off Whakatane, Bay of Plenty, NZ (MA70853). © Auckland Museum (CC-BY)
Holotype of Xenogalea matai, Powell, collected Beach Harbour, Breaksea Sound, Fiordland, NZ (MA71187). © Auckland Museum (CC-BY)
Holotype of Xenophalium harrisonae Powell, collected 1926, Mason Bay, Stewart Island, NZ (MA72169). © Auckland Museum (CC-BY)
Taxonomy
Family: Subfamily:
CASSIDAE: PHALIINAE
Full Classification:
Mollusca (Phylum)
> Gastropoda (Class)
> Caenogastropoda (Subclass)
> Littorinimorpha (Order)
> Tonnoidea (Superfamily)
> Cassidae (Family)
> Phaliinae (Subfamily)
> Semicassis (Genus)
> pyrum (Species)
Genus Synonyms:
=Cassis (Semicassis) Mörch, 1852
=Phalium (Semicassis) Mörch, 1852
=Phalium (Xenogalea) Iredale, 1927
=Semicassis (Xenophalium) Iredale, 1927
=Xenogalea Iredale, 1927
=Xenophalium Iredale, 1927
Synonymised Names:
=Cassidea multisecta Finlay, 1924
=Cassidea stadialis Hedley, 1914
=Cassis nivea Brazier, 1872
=Cassis pyrum Lamarck, 1822
=Cassis striatus Hutton, 1873
=Cassis tumida Petterd, 1886
=Phalium pyrum (Lamarck, 1822)
=Phalium stadiale (Hedley, 1914)
=Semicassis (Semicassis) pyrum (Lamarck, 1822)
=Xenogalea denda Cotton, 1945
=Xenogalea finlayi Iredale, 1927
=Xenogalea halli Cotton, 1954
=Xenogalea mawsoni Cotton, 1945
=Xenogalea powelli Finlay, 1928
=Xenogalea pyrum (Lamarck, 1822)
=Xenogalea spectabilis Iredale, 1929
=Xenogalea stadialis (Hedley, 1914)
=Xenogalea wilsoni Cotton, 1954
=Xenophalium (Xenogalea) abernethyi Dell, 1956
=Xenophalium (Xenogalea) matai Powell, 1952
=Xenophalium abernethyi Dell, 1956
=Xenophalium finlayi (Iredale, 1927)
=Xenophalium hamiltoni Powell, 1928
=Xenophalium harrisonae Powell, 1928
=Xenophalium matai Powell, 1952
=Xenophalium pyrum (Lamarck, 1822)
=Xenophalium pyrum pyrum (Lamarck, 1822)
=Xenophalium wanganuiense Powell, 1928
Details: Semicassis pyrum (Lamarck, 1822)
Size/Grows to:
Height 118mm, Width 77mm
Distribution:
Three Kings, North, South, Stewart, Snares and Auckland Islands, and Chatham Rise, from 0-640m
Type Data:
  • 185 metres, Green Cape, New South Wales, Australia, (type of Phalium stadiale (Hedley, 1914))
  • 70-90 metres, off Whakatane, Bay of Plenty, NZ, (holotype of Xenogalea powelli Finlay, 1928)
  • Off Castlepoint, Wairarapa, NZ, (type of Xenophalium (Xenogalea) abernethyi Dell, 1956)
  • Off Cape Campbell, SE of Blenheim, NZ, (type of Xenophalium hamiltoni Powell, 1928)
  • Tasmania region, Australia, (holotype)
  • Beach Harbour, Breaksea Sound, Fiordland, NZ, (type of Xenophalium (Xenogalea) matai Powell, 1952)
  • 35 metres, between Taiaroa Head and Waikouaiti, NZ, (holotype of Xenogalea finlayi Iredale, 1927)
  • Mason Bay, Stewart Island, NZ, (holotype of Xenophalium harrisonae Powell, 1928)
Notes:
Helmet Shell, Marine, Native - Non-endemic
View Distribution Map
References and Publications
  • Smith, N. Oct/1995 Helmet Shells from Waihi Beach, Poirieria, 17(4)
  • Beu, A.G., Maxwell, P.A. 1990 Cenozoic Mollusca of New Zealand, New Zealand Geological Survey, 58 (p.353)
  • Powell, A.W.B. 1979 New Zealand Mollusca: Marine, Land and Freshwater Shells, Collins, Auckland (p.159)
  • Beu, A.G. 1976 Arrival of Semicassis pyrum (Lamarch) and other Tonnacean Gastropods in the Southern Ocean during Pleistocene Time, Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 6(4) (p.417)

NZ Geographical Regions
Key to symbols used in Checklist.
Fw =
Freshwater
L =
Land
N =
North Island
S =
South Island
R =
Recent
Sf =
Subfossil
Fo =
Fossil
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