Elliptotellina protensa
Elliptotellina protensa is an extinct species of bivalve, a marine mollusc, in the family Tellinidae. Fossils of the species date to early Miocene strata of the west coast of the Auckland Region, New Zealand.Description
In the original description, Powell described the species as follows:
The holotype of the species measures in length and has a height of and a single valve thickness of. The species can be differentiated from E. urinatoria due to having a more elongate-oval outline, a more narrowly contracted posterior end, and a more irregular sculpture.Taxonomy
The species was first described by A. W. B. Powell in 1935, using the name Ascitellina protensa. By 1990, Elliptotellina protensa had become the accepted name for the species. The holotype was collected at an unknown date prior to 1935 from north end of Pillow Lava Bay, south of Muriwai, Auckland Region, and is held in the collections of Auckland [War Memorial Museum].Distribution
This extinct marine species occurs in early Miocene strata of the Nihotupu Formation of New Zealand, on the west coast of the Waitākere Ranges of the Auckland Region, New Zealand. Additionally, a fossil found at Pakaurangi Point on the Kaipara Harbour may also be a member of the same species.