Shell of moderate to large size, 25 - 85 mm., of buccinoid shape, with a moderately tall spire but a capacious body-whorl, slowly tapered to a very short, deeply notched anterior canal, with a ridge-margined fasciole. Protoconch of 4-5 whorls, with a minute globular tip, the first three whorls smooth and the remainder bearing strong flat-topped spiral cords, a few thin axials towards the close. Sinus broad and shallow, occupying most of the shoulder slope. There is usually a well marked to heavy subsutural margining fold, followed by a moderate shoulder sulcus. Adult sculpture varying from almost smooth, predominantly spiral, to axials overridden by spirals, and sometimes granulose to nodulose at the points of intersection. The genus resembles Belophos but differs in details of the protoconch, the presence of a subsutural fold, a more deeply notched anterior and a ridge margined fasciole. There is also probable alliance with the North Pacific. Megasurcula, which has a Miocene to Recent range in California and occurs also in the Miocene of Ecuador, Japan and Korea. Range: Probably Paleocene and certainly lower Oligocene to lower Pliocene of New Zealand and Oligocene of Tasmania and Victoria. New Zealand