Helminthia taurobrocchii (Sacco, 1895) new comb.

Figs 13K, 13L, 13M 1 –M 2

* [ Turritella] H [austator] vermicularis var. taurobrocchii Sacc. — Sacco, 1895: 24, pl. 2, fig. 20.

Turritella (Haustator) vermicularis var. tricincta Schff. — Schaffer, 1912: 161, pl. 52, fig. 25 [non Turritella tricincta Borson, 1821].

Turritella (Archimediella) Archimedis Brong. — Schaffer, 1912: 163, pl. 53, figs 11–12 [non Turritella archimedis Brongniart, 1823].

Turritella (Haustator) triplicata Brocc. var. — Schaffer, 1912: 163, pl. 53, figs 13–14 [non Turritella triplicata (Brocchi, 1814)].

Turritella (Haustator) subtriplicata Orb. — Sieber, 1960: 246 [non Turritella subtriplicata d’Orbigny, 1852].

Turritella (Haustator) vermicularis tricincta Schaffer, 1912 — Steininger et al., 1971: 372.

Turritella (Haustator) vermicularis (Brocchi, 1814) — Ondrejickova, 1972: 104, pl. 17, figs 1–3.

Turritella (Haustator) vermicularis tricincta Schaffer, 1912 — Ondrejickova, 1972: 105 [non Turritella tricincta Borson, 1821].

[ Haustator vermicularis (Brocchi, 1814)] var. taurobrocchii Sacco, 1895 — Ferrero-Mortara et al., 1984: 233.

Type material. The holotype (or syntype) is stored in the Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Torino (BS.061.04.038) (Ferrero Mortara et al. 1984). Burdigalian (early Miocene), Torino Hills, Italy. No locality was indicated by Sacco (1895).

Studied material. 4 spec. NHMW 2012/0017/0328–2012/0017/0331, Mörtersdorf (Austria) ; 2 spec. NHMW 1934/0001/0120, Loibersdorf (Austria) ; 2 spec. NHMW 2018/0301/0001, Gauderndorf (Austria) , including specimen illustrated in Schaffer (1912, pl. 53, fig. 12) as Turritella (Archimediella) archimedis Brongniart; 1 spec. NHMW 2018/0301/0002, Gauderndorf (Austria) , illustrated in Schaffer (1912, pl. 53, fig. 11) as Turritella (Archimediella) archimedis Brongniart; 1 spec. NHMW 1963/0558/0000a, Maigen (Austria) , illustrated in Schaffer (1912, pl. 53, fig. 13) as Turritella (Haustator) triplicata Brocchi var.

Illustrated material. Fig. 13K: NHMW 2012/0017/0328, SL: 106.0 mm, MD: 26.1 mm, Mörtersdorf (Austria); Fig. 13L: NHMW 2012/0017/0329, SL: 65.5, MD: 18.7 mm, Mörtersdorf (Austria); Figs 13M 1 –M 2: BS.061.04.038, SL: 74.0 mm, MD: 20.5 mm, holotype illustrated in Sacco (1895: pl. 2, fig. 20), Torino Hills (Italy) .

Revised description. Shell large, robust, moderately slender, consisting of about 16 teleoconch whorls. Protoconch and early teleoconch whorls unknown. First preserved teleoconch whorls with prominent, broad B and C spiral cords separated by narrow interspace. Low angled, weakly concave sutural ramp with faint A spiral cord. Suture distinctly incised. A spiral soon rivaling B and C spiral cords in strength on post-neanic whorls adjoined by broad Intercalations of broad secondary spiral cords increase number of spiral cords to eight on last teleoconch whorls. Entire shell including spiral cords, covered by delicate spiral threads. Whorl profile changing from low, angulated convex to high, flat sided on post-neanic whorls and to weakly convex on last three teleoconch whorls. Base weakly convex covered by broad spiral cords. Inner lip narrowly reflected passing into broad parietal callus. Aperture largely destroyed, probably subquadratic. Lateral and basal sinuses not visible on available material.

Shell measurements and ratios. Largest incomplete specimen: SL: 106.0 mm, MD: 26.1 mm. AA°: ~22°, PA°: ~14°; no data on lateral sinus available.

Discussion. Turritella (Haustator) vermicularis var. taurobrocchii Sacco, 1895 is based on a moderately preserved specimen from the Burdigalian of the Torino Hills. Its size, profile, and spiral sculpture are highly reminiscent of the Paratethyan specimens. Nevertheless, some doubts remain as to whether both occurrences are conspecific due to the poor preservation of all specimens. Herein, we treat Helminthia taurobrocchii as distinct species. It is distinguished from Helminthia vermicularis by its much larger size, higher number of spiral cords on late teleoconch whorls, and the broader interspaces between the primaries.

Schaffer (1912) had only spire fragments and internal casts at hand, which he identified as three distinct taxa (varieties of Turritella triplicata (Brocchi, 1814), Turritella archimedis Brongniart, 1823, and Turritella vermicularis var. tricincta Schaffer, 1912). Nearly complete specimens became available during 2017, which clearly show that the specimens are not conspecific with either Turritella triplicata (Brocchi, 1814) or Archimediella archimedis [= Archimediella cochlias (Bayan, 1873)]. Turritella vermicularis var. tricincta Schaffer, 1912 is not available as a name for the Eggenburgian species. On the one hand, Turritella tricincta is preoccupied by Turritella tricincta Borson, 1821, and on the other hand, Schaffer (1912) based his description on middle Miocene specimens from the Vienna Basin and not on the poorly preserved Eggenburgian specimens. Moreover, Turritella vermicularis var. tricincta Schaffer, 1912 is generally considered to be a junior synonym of Helminthia vermicularis (Brocchi, 1814) (e.g. Caprotti 1975; Landau et al. 2004, 2013, herein).

Paleoenvironment. All occurrences derive from coastal to inner neritic, sandy environments.

Distribution. Central Paratethys. Eggenburgian (early Miocene): North Alpine Foreland Basin: Kaltenbachgraben (Germany) (Hölzl 1958), Fels am Wagram, Mörtersdorf, Gauderndorf, Kleinmeiseldorf, Zogelsdorf (Austria) (Steininger et al. 1971; herein), Vaďovce Basin: Vaďovce, Podkylava (Slovak Republic) (Steininger et al. 1971); Nógrád–Filakovo Basin: Lipovany, Rapovce (Slovak Republic) (Steininger et al. 1971; Ondrejickova 1972); Petroşani Basin Coruş şi P. Sălătruc: (Romania) (Răileanu & Negulescu 1964).