The late Early Ordovician gastropod Teiichispira at Port au Port, Newfoundland

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences
• Main Author: Yochelson, Ellis L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1992
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e92-107; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/e92-107

The operculum of Teiichispira odenvillensis has been mentioned in literature as occurring at Port au Port, western New foundland, but has not heretofore been documented. It is present in the lower part of the Aguathuna Formation along with opercula of Ceratopea unguis, another indicator of late Early Ordovician age. The rodlike construction, and subsequent fibrous appearance of this operculum when silicified, appears to be unique, making it readily identifiable in the field. Although Teiichispira has been closely allied with Maclurites, in part because each genus has a calcified operculum, the forms of opercula are sufficiently different that one may be dealing with a convergent adaptation, the heavy operculum adding weight to the animal and allowing it to live in more agitated waters.