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Home , Amphibola crenata, Austrofusus glans, Buccinulum, Chiton glaucus, Haliotis iris, Latia neritoides

KAWERUA

by Bruce W. Hayward Geological Survey, PO Box 30368, Lower Hutt

SUMMARY

One hundred and twenty-three of Mollusca (6 Polyplacophora, 84 , 30 , 3 Cephalopoda) are recorded from marine and freshwater habitats around Kawerua, west coast Northland, New Zealand. Most are widespread New Zealand taxa but 10% are restricted to the northern North Island. These Kawerua records provide west coast exten• sions of range for four species previously known only from the east coast of northern North Island, and northern range extensions for three species previously recorded from further south on the west coast. The common molluscan associations in the various habitats are briefly outlined.

INTRODUCTION

Auckland University Field Club's Kawerua Research Station is situated on the west coast of Northland, approximately 200 km northwest of Auckland. This coastline, stretching from Auckland to Cape Maria van Diemen, consists largely of long stretches of exposed sandy beach broken in only a few places by rocky reefs. One such place is Kawerua, where there is a wide variety of intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats available for a diverse molluscan fauna. In contrast to the more accessible east coast of Northland, the distribution of molluscs along the west coast has been little studied, with effort concentrated (mainly by Powell) around Cape Maria van Diemen and Motutara (southern Muriwai). Thus a species list from Kawerua, half-way between these two areas, provides valuable biogeographic data. It should also prove useful to those studying more general marine ecology in the vicinity of the station. Short lists of marine molluscs from Kawerua have previously been included in papers dealing with other aspects of rocky shore life (Hayward 1971, 1979, Dickson 1986). Molluscan specimens upon which this study is primarily based are deposited in the New Zealand Geological Survey, Lower Hutt, and were collected over a calm period with exceptionally low tides at New Year 1986-1987. Further intense study should greatly add to the species list, especially after storm wash-ups and from SCUBA study of subtidal rocky habitats. The species list covers records along 8 km of coast, from Waipoua River estuary in the south, to Wairau River mouth in the north. It includes several freshwater molluscan records, but excludes the land fauna.

1 SPECIES LIST Habitat: E = Waipoua River estuary P = pelagic S = exposed sandy beach, at or below low tide level B = intertidal boulder beach F = freshwater stream R = on or around coastal rocks Double letter = abundant

Nomenclature follows Powell (1979) except in a few instances, where updating is required.

PHYLUM MOLLUSCA Class Polyplacophora ()

Acanthochitona zelandica R glaucus RR Chiton pelliserpentis RR Eudoxochiton nobilis R Plaxiphora (Vaferichiton) murdochi R Rhyssoplax aerea aerea R

Class Gastropoda (, slugs)

Superfamily (Sulculus) australis R Haliotis () iris R Superfamily Fissurellacea Emarginula striatula breviculus R Tugali suteri suteri R Superfamily Patellacea () Cellana ornata R Cellana radians RR Notoacmea (Parvacmea) helmsi scapha R Notoacmea pileopsis pileopsis RR cortical a RR Radiacmea inconspicua R Superfamily Trochacea Cantharidella tesselata R Cookia sulcata R Diloma (Fractarmilla) hicanaliculata bicanaliculata R Diloma (Cavodiloma) coracina BR Diloma nigcrrima BR Diloma (Fractarmilla) subrostrata subrostrata BR Maurea pcllucida S Maurca punctulata R Maurea select a S Maurea tigris tigris R Melagraphia acthiops R Micrelenchus sanguineus sanguineus R Thoristella oppressa R Turbo smaragdus RR Zethalia zclandicum S

2 Superfamily Neritacea (Melanerita) atramcntosa melanotragus BB RR Superfamily Littorinacea Eatoniella (Dardanula) olivacea R Eatoniella (Pellax) huttoni R Littorina (Austrolittorina) cincta RR Littorina (Austrolittorina) unifasciata antipodum BB RR Superfamily Rissoacea Pisinna zostcrophila R Rissoina anguina R Rissoina chathamensis R Potamopyrgus antipodarum FF Superfamily Cerithiacea Mclanopsis trifasciata F Zeacolpus (Stiracolpus) ahiparaensis lutulentus R RR Superfamily Strombacea Struthiolaria papulosa S Superfamily Calyptraeacea monoxyla R Sigapatella novaezclandiac R Superfamily Naticacea Tanca zelandica Superfamily Tonnacea australasia australasia R Ranclla olearium S Semicassis pyrum pyrum S Tonna cercvisina S Superfamily Muricacea Haustrum haustorium RR Lepsiella scobina scobina R Paratrophon cheesemani cheesemani R Thais orbita RR Xymene plebcius R Xymene traversi R Superfamily Buccinacea Austrofusus glans S linea linea R Buccinulum vittatum littorinoides R Cominclla adspersa R Cominclla maculosa R Cominella (Josepba) quoyana acuminata R Cominclla (Josepha) virgata virgata RR Paxula paxillus sulcatus Taron dubius R Superfamily Volutacea Amalda (Baryspira) australis R Amalda (Baryspira) deprcssa R Amalda (Gracilispira) novaezclandiac R Alcithoc jaculoidcs S Alcithoe swainsoni S Austromitra rubiginosa R

3 Superfamily Conacea Duplicaria (Pervicacia) tristis Neoguraleus sinclairi Phenotoma rosea Superfamily Epitoniacea Epitonium jukesianum Janthina janthina Superfamily Bullacea Bulla quoyi Superfamily Doridacea Okadaia cinnabareus Family Flabellinidae Coryphella albomarginata Superfamily Onchidiacea Onchidella nigricans Superfamily Siphonariacea Gadinalea conica Siphonaria sp. Superfamily Chiliniacea neritoides Superfamily Ancylacea Planorbis corinna Superfamily Amphibolacea Superfamily Ellobiacea Marinula filholi Class Bivalvia (bivalves)

Superfamily Nuculacea Nucula nitidula Superfamily Arcacea Barbatia novaezealandiae Superfamily Mytilacea Xenostrobus pulex Superfamily Ostreacea Superfamily Pectinacea Chlamys zelandiae Superfamily Unionacea Hyridella (Echyridella) mcnzicsi Superfamily Lucinacea Divaricella (Divalucina) buttoniana Superfamily Galeommatacea Myllita (Zemyllita) stowei Superfamily Cyamiacea Neolepton antipodum Superfamily Mactracea Mactra murchisoni australis Paphies subtriangulata subtriangula, Spisula (Crassula) aequilateralis Superfamily Tellinacea Gari lineolata s Lcptomya retiaria retiaria Tellina (Peronidia) gairmardi S Tellina (Macomona) liliana R Zearcopagia disculus R Superfamily Corbiculacea Pisidium (Rivulina) casertanum 1 Superfamily Veneracea SS Bassina yatei s Dosinia (Austrodosinia) anus S Irus (Notirus) reflexus Protothaca (Tuangia) crassicosta R Superfamily Pholadacea Anchomasa similis R Pholadidea suteri R Superfamily Pandoracea Myadora striata R Class Cephalopoda (, , etc.)

Argonauta nodosa P Sepia (Amplisepia) apama P Spirula spirula PP

BIOGEOGRAPHY

Eighty-five percent of the listed fauna is wide-ranging, occurring in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. A further five percent occurs widely around the North Island and ten percent is restricted to northern North Island. The following are these northern-restricted species and their geographic ranges recorded by Powell (1979). For many the Kawerua records are extensions of their recorded ranges*:

Diloma (Fractarmilla bicanaliculata bicanaliculata — northern North Thoristella oppressa — Northland and Bay of Plenty. *Rissoina anguina — previously recorded from eastern Northland between Tom Bowling Bay and Leigh. Zeacolpus (Stiracolpus)ahiparaensis — a locally common species restricted to the west coast of Northland between Ahipara and Whatipu. *Paratrophon cheesemani cheesemani — restricted to west coast of North Island, previously recorded between Motutara and Kawhia. *Cominella (Josepha) virgata virgata — recorded by Powell only from eastern North Island between Whangarei and East Cape; but also on known from scattered areas further south, e.g. Wellington, Picton (A.G. Beu, pers. comm.)

5 *Cominella (Josepha) quoyana acuminata — restricted to west coast of North Island, recorded by Powell between Motutara and Port Waikato, but also found further north at Matapia Island (F.J. Brook, pers. comm.). *Taron dubius — previously recorded only from eastern North Island as far south as East Cape. *Alcithoe jaculoides — recorded by Powell only from eastern North Island as far south as East Cape, but known to have much broader distribution (A.G. Beu, pers. comm.). Saccostrea glomerata — northern North Island.

The Kawerua records of two further species provide valuable biogeographic data: *Plaxiphora (Vaferichiton) murdochi — a new record for a rare chiton, known only from a few west coast North Island (Kawhia to Motutara) and Otago Peninsula localities. *Buccinulum vittatum littorinoides — recorded as being restricted to the Cook Strait area and south. Despite the wide variation in colour pattern of the northern nominate subspecies, these Kawerua specimens' more elongate shape and bluish-grey ground with narrow brown spirals place them in B. vittatum littorinoides.

FAUNAL ASSOCIATIONS (Fig. 1)

Pelagic The dominant pelagic molluscan remains washed up along the Kawerua coast are the internal shells of the Spirula spirula. Sometimes also found in moderate numbers are the violet shell, Janthina janthina and more rarely the calcified shell of the cuttlefish Sepia apama and brood chamber of the octopod Argonauta nodosa.

Exposed sandy beach Few molluscs (perhaps juvenile Paphies subtriangulata and rare toheroa, Paphies ventricosa) appear to live intertidally in the exposed sandy beach that extends for 10 km south of Kawerua. Judging from the beach wash-up at very low tide even on moderately calm days, there appear to be clumped molluscan associations living in the shallow subtidal zone just offshore. These (in decreasing abundance) include the bivalves Spisula aequilateralis, Paphies subtriangulata (tuatua), Mactra murchisoni and gastropods Austrofusus glans, Semicassis pyrum and Struthiolaria papulosa. One of the most abundant molluscan shells washed up is the Austrovenus stutchburyi. While many of these are considerably abraded, a significant proportion have quite crisp, unabraded ornament. It has always been assumed that cockles are confined to sheltered habitats and that the

6 Fig. 1. Common molluscs of the various intertidal, shallow subtidal and freshwater habitats around Kawerua, west coast of Northland (inset). 1 = , 2 = Chiton glaucus, 3 = Cominella maculosa, 4 = Cellana radians, 5 = Perna canaliculus, 6 = Haustrum haustorium, 7 = melanotragus, 8 = Turbo smaragdus, 9 = Spirula spirula, 10 = Janthina janthina, 11 = Paphies subtriangulata, 12 = Semicassis pyrum, 13 - Spisula aequilateralis, 14 = Austrovenus stutchburyi, 15 = Austrofusus glans, 16 = Mactra murchisoni, 17 = Struthiolaria papulosa, 18 = Potamopyrgus antipodarum, 19 = Pisidium casertanum.

7 abundant west coast washup is derived by transport out of the Kaipara or Hokianga Harbours with subsequent alongshore movement. The abundance of these cockles at Kawerua, at least 20 km from Hokianga Harbour beds, and the freshness of some shells, suggests that they may live in the shallow subtidal zone offshore and warrants further study.

Boulder beach A mid to high tide beach of basalt boulders and cobbles, sheltered by seaward rocky reefs, stretches for 1 km on either side of Ohae Stream mouth, north of Kawerua. The dominant molluscs living on and between these boulders are the herbivorous grazing gastropods Turbo smaragdus, Nerita melanotragus, Diloma nigerrima, Diloma coracina, Diloma rostrata, Marinula filholi and Littorina unifasciata antipodum.

Rocky shore The majority of molluscs recorded, live on or in the wide variety of Intertidal and subtidal habitats associated with the rocky shoreline at Kawerua. Common on the exposed reefs are the gastropods Littorina unifasciata antipodum, L. cincta, large cats eye Turbo smaragdus, Melagraphia aethiops, -borer Lepsiella scobina, Haustrum haustorium, Thais orbita, limpets Cellana radians, Notoacmea pileopsis, Patelloida corticata, chitons Chiton glaucus, Chiton pelliserpentis, and small Xenostrobus pulex. The large mussel Perna canaliculus occurs on the most exposed reefs and paua Haliotis iris are frequent subtidally in boulder fields between reefs. The Saccostrea glomerata occurs in small numbers in sheltered locations. Numerous small gastropods abound in the more sheltered tidal pools and lagoons between reefs and include common Eatoniella spp., Rissoina spp., Zeacumantus subcarinatus, Xymene spp., Cominella spp., Amalda spp., Phenotoma rosea, Bulla quoyi and Thoristella oppressa. A number of bivalves such as Chlamys zelandiae, Barbatia novaezealan- diae and Myllita stowei, are byssally attached in rock crevices or beneath boulders. Other bivalves live in low numbers in the sediments associated with and protected by the rocky reefs. These include Nucula nitidula, Tellina liliana, Myadora striata, Protothaca crassicosta and Zearcopagia disculus. The rock borers Anchomasa similis and Pholadidea spathulata attack the softer tuffaceous layers between the basalt flows in reef flats north of Kawerua.

Estuary Small pipi live in the small tidal estuary at the mouth of Waipoua River and together with the mudsnail Amphibola crenata in the estuary at the mouth of Waimamaku River.

8 Freshwater The small gastropod Potamopyrgus antipodarum is abundant in all streams, rivers and freshwater lakes and ponds in the area. Less abundant in the streams are the gastropods Melanopsis trifasciata, Latia neritoides (a ) and mussel Hyridella menziesi Also common in ponds are the small gastropod Planorbis corinna and small bivalve Pisidium casertanum.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I thank Cathy Prickett and Glenys Hayward for field assistance; Fred Brook and Alan Beu for assistance with identifications and for suggesting improvement to the manuscript. Fred Brook also provided records of several additional species.

REFERENCES

Dickson, P.K. 1986: A survey of marine habitats at Kawerua. Tanc 31: 19-30. Hayward, B.W. 1971: Some factors affecting zonation of rocky shore organisms at Kawerua. Tanc 17: 137-148. Hayward, B.W. 1979: An intertidal Zostcra pool community at Kawerua, Northland and its foraminiferal microfauna. Tanc 25: 173-186. Powell, A.W.B. 1979: "New Zealand Mollusca". Collins, 500 p.

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