ABSTRACT
The region contains a true paratropical molluscan fauna, having large radiations of tropically-derived gastropod groups such as the Cypraeidae, Conidae, and Volutidae, but completely lacking the classic tropical index families Potamididae, Strombidae, and Modulidae and index genera such as Turbinella and Harpa. The Peronian Province marine climate is moderated by the southward-flowing East Australian Current, which brings in a large amount of warm temperate water from the Tasman Sea. The oceanic temperatures of the Maugean and Flindersian Provinces are also moderated by warm temperate currents, in this case by a complex of eastward-flowing currents that start along Western Australia and then flow across the Great Australian Bight and around Tasmania. Named for the Eucla area of the Nullarbor desert coast of Western Australia, the Euclean Subprovince extends from Fowlers Bay, South Australia to Cape Esperance, Western Australia and encompasses most of the area of the Great Australian Bight.
