Synonymy:

Coluzea Allan, 1926 (Type species: Fusus dentatus Hutton, 1877): Finlay, 1930a: 249; 1930b: 267; Dell, 1956: 47; 1963: 211; Harasewych, 1986: 156; 1991: 245; 2004:93. Harasewych and Fraussen, 2001: 171.

Coluzea Finlay, 1926: (Type species: Fusus spiralis A. Adams, 1856). Marwick, 1942: 278.

Coluzea Allan, 1927: Finlay, 1930a: 249; Dell, 1956: 47; Beu et al. 1969: 45

Coluzea Finlay, 1927: Powell, 1971: 220; Cernohorsky, 1977: 99: Maxwell, 1978: 38.

Coluzea Finlay in Allan, 1926: Beu et al., 1990: 196.

Coluzea Finlay in Allan, 1927: Darragh, 1969: 104.

Type species. Fusus dentatus Hutton, 1877, by subsequent designation, Finlay, 1930a: 249.

Diagnosis. Shell large (to 127.3 mm), fusiform, with tall conical spire, convex whorls, prominent peripheral keel that may be flange-like, bearing tubercles or open spines, weak to very weak anterior carina, long to very long, axial siphonal canal with spiral cords along its stouter, proximal portion and smooth, spirally twisted distal end. Protoconch variable among species, ranging from strongly angular with larger first whorl to cylindrical or evenly conical, consisting of 1⅓ to 2¾ whorls. Suture adpressed onto or slightly below anterior carina of prior whorl. Spiral sculpture generally dominant. Outer lip often furrowed beneath peripheral keel and prominent cords. Inner lip smooth, with outer surface of previous whorl resorbed prior to deposition of thin glaze. Shell color usually white. Pigmentation, when present, brown to tan, generally confined to regions between adjacent spines or tubercles. Rachidian teeth of radula with 3 cusps along U-shaped basal plate with broad, lateral expansions (e.g. Harasewych 1986: pl. 3, figs. 1–6).

Remarks. As is evident from the complex synonymy, the authorship, date, and type species of Coluzea have been variously interpreted in the literature due to the appearance of the name Coluzea in species lists included in a paper by Allan [1926 (7 December)] that, despite specific instructions to the contrary, was published prior to the to the intended introduction of the genus by Finlay [1926 (23 December)]. Beu et al. (1969) clearly and succinctly summarized the complex history of Coluzea and other genus level taxa that appeared in both these publications, and requested rulings on these works by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. There has not been a ruling on this matter by the Commission.

As Allan’s paper clearly states “issued separately 7th December, 1926” this must be considered the date of publication of Coluzea [Article 21.5 (ICZN, 1999: 22)].

The name Coluzea had been introduced into Allan’s paper by Finlay, who changed the nomenclature at the proof stage (Beu et al. 1969: 44). In a footnote to a list of taxa that includes Coluzea, Allan (1926: 291) acknowledged “For this and many other name changes and generic placings in this list, refer to Finlay … antea this volume.” Thus, the authorship of Coluzea is Finlay in Allan, 1926 [Article 50.1.1 (ICZN, 1999: 52)].

Two species were included in Coluzea in separate lists in Allan’s publication: Coluzea climacota (Suter, 1917) (Allan 1926: 291) and Coluzea dentata (Hutton, 1877) (Allan 1926: 304). In an effort to resolve the nomenclatural confusion, Finlay (1930a: 249) reported Fusus dentatus to be “the monotype of the genus” Coluzea. This fixed Fusus dentatus as the type species of Coluzea by subsequent designation of Finlay (1930a) [Article 69.1.1 (ICZN, 1999: 72)].

The genus Coluzea has an extensive fossil record in New Zealand, ranging from the Early Eocene [Mangaorapan (Ypresian)] to the Recent (Beu et al. 1990: 39). Middle to Upper Eocene records are known from the Paris Basin and southern England (Darragh 1969). In the Recent fauna, the genus ranges from southern Africa (Darragh 1969; Harasewych, 2004) to the eastern Indian Ocean (Harasewych 1986), eastern Australia (Darragh 1987), New Caledonia (Harasewych 1991) and New Zealand (Powell 1971).

Although Coluzea is readily distinguished from Columbarium on the basis of several conchological and anatomical characters (e.g., protoconch morphology, strength of anterior carina, shape of the basal plate of the rachidian), it is far more similar to Fulgurofusus Grabau, 1904, a genus with a broader geological (Paleocene to Recent), geographical (western Atlantic, eastern and western Pacific) and bathymetric (bathyal to abyssal) ranges. Several authors (Finlay 1930b: 267–268; Darragh 1969: 99; Harasewych 1983b: 5; 1986: 158; 1991: 245) have noted the similarities between these taxa, yet retained them as separate genera based primarily on minor differences in protoconch morphology and the absence of a columellar lamina in Fulgurofusus.