Chris Newman

Three species of Hippochrenes are found within Great Britain, according to Wrigley’s paper ‘English Eocene and Oligocene Strombidae and Aporrhaidae’ published in 1938. [Proceedings of the Malacological Society, London].

Hippochrenes amplus being found in lower and middle Barton Beds at Barton-on-sea, Hampshire and at the middle Bartons at Alum Bay, Isle of Wight, The Lower Lutetian at Brackelsham bay and Selsey West Sussex. Hippochrenes oligocenicus from the middle Headons at Brokenkenhurst, Hampshire and at Whitecliff Bay Isle of Wight. Hippochrenes incertus from the London Clay at several localities within London. Known from less than twenty imperfect specimens. He also refers to an unknown species of Hippochrenes from the upper Auversian Bracklesham beds of Huntingbridge [New Forest], known only from fragments.

Our collecting has established the presence of two further species from the English Eocene: Hippochrenes baylei and Hippochrenes fissura both appear restricted to the lower Earnley formation of Bracklesham Bay. Wrigley postulates in his paper that the specimens from this locality may be H. baylei, as opposed to H. amplus, but discounts this largely due to the poor state of preservation. H. fissura, has, as far as I am aware, not been recorded previously. Due to the very poor preservation and extremely limited collecting opportunities afforded this is not unsurprising. Currently both species are only known from bed E3.

In addition we have collected fragments of a Hippochrenes sp. from the lower Bartonian of Studley Wood, Elmore member and the tip of a spire of a Hippochrenes sp from Stubbington [Hill Head], Lutetian.

from his collection:

Hippochrenes amplus; Eocene, Bartonian, Bed B; Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire, Great Britain; 147 mm; Photo & Coll. Chris Newman BA019

Hippochrenes amplus; Eocene, Bartonian, Bed B; Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire, Great Britain; 155 mm; Photo & Coll. Chris Newman BA1195

Hippochrenes amplus; Eocene, Bartonian, Bed E; Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire, Great Britain; 133 mm; Photo & Coll. Chris Newman BA016

Hippochrenes amplus; Eocene, Bartonian, Bed E; Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire, Great Britain; 149 mm; Photo & Coll. Chris Newman BA1193

Hippochrenes amplus juvenile; Eocene, Bartonian, Bed E; Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire, Great Britain; 55 mm; Photo & Coll. Chris Newman BA434

Hippochrenes amplus; Bracklesham Beds, Eocene; Lutetian / Cuisian, Middle Eocene; Bracklesham Bay, Great Britain; 110 mm; coll. Chris Newman, Photo & Copyright Alan Morton

Hippochrenes baylei, Eocene, Bartonian, Bed E3; Bracklesham Bay, Great Britain; 110 mm; Photo & Coll. Chris Newman BR033

Hippochrenes baylei, Eocene, Bartonian, Bed E3; Bracklesham Bay, Great Britain; 118 mm; Photo & Coll. Chris Newman

Hippochrenes baylei, Eocene, Bartonian, Bed E3; Bracklesham Bay, Great Britain; 82 mm; Photo & Coll. Chris Newman BR259

Hippochrenes fissura; Bracklesham Beds, Eocene; Bracklesham Bay, Great Britain; 54 mm; photo & coll. Chris Newman BR419

Hippochrenes fissura; Bracklesham Beds, Eocene; Bracklesham Bay, Great Britain; 53 mm; photo & coll. Chris Newman BR859

Hippochrenes fissura (Coquebert & Brongniart, 1793); Bracklesham Beds, Eocene; Lutetian / Cuisian, Middle Eocene; Bracklesham Bay, Great Britain; 56 mm; coll. Chris Newman, Photo & Copyright Alan Morton

Hippochrenes sp.; Barton Beds, Eocene; Alum Bay, Isle of wight, Great Britain; 194mm; photo & coll. Chris Newman BR1194

Hippochrenes sp.; Barton Beds, Eocene; Studley Wood, New Forest, Great Britain; 604mm; photo & coll. Chris Newman BR185