Penion proavitus

Penion proavitus is an extinct species of marine snail or whelk, belonging to the true whelk family Buccinidae.
Description.
"Penion proavitus" fossils are the earliest known specimens of "Penion" siphon whelks. The species was medium-to-large in size.
It is possible that fossils of "Penion proavitus" represent a stem lineage that was the common ancestor of "Penion", "Kelletia" and "Antarctoneptunea", instead of a species of "Penion" itself.
Distribution.
Fossils of "Penion proavitus" are found in New Zealand's South Island. The species lived in the seas surrounding Zealandia between 56 and 66 million million years ago (Teurian stage).