Helminthia doublierii (Matheron, 1842) new comb.

Figs 6M, 13 G–I

* Turritella Doublierii Matheron, 1842: 242, pl. 39, fig. 18.

[ Turritella] Doublieri Math. — Mayer, 1872: 25.

Turritella triplicata— Kissling, 1890: 34, pl. 6, fig. 42 [non Turritella triplicata Brocchi, 1814].

[ Turritella] H [austator]. vermicularis var. Doublieri (Math.) — Sacco, 1895: 24, pl. 2, fig. 22.

Turritella Doublieri Math. — Schaffer, 1912: 161, pl. 52, figs 29–30.

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

Turritella (Haustator) doublieri Matheron — Rutsch, 1929: 39, pl. 2, figs 8–11.

Turritella (Haustator) doublieri Math. — Blumrich, 1931: 104.

Turritella doublieri Matheron — Mongin, 1952: 45, pl. 1, figs 9a–b.

Turritella (Haustator) cf. vermicularis Brocc. tricincta Schff. — Bernhauser, 1955: 178 [non Turritella tricincta Borson, 1821].

Turritella (Haustator) doublieri Math. — Sieber, 1960: 243, pl. 2, fig. 2, pl. 3, figs 6, 8/10.

Turritella doublieri Math. — Kókay, 1972: 49.

[ Turritella vermicularis (Brocchi)] var. doublieri Matheron, 1842 — Mars, 1973: 243, pl. 1, fig. 13.

Turritella (Haustator) doublieri Matheron, 1842 — Steininger et al., 1973: 399, pl. 3, fig. 9.

Archimediella Archimediella [sic] doublieri Matheron — Stürmer, 1989: 142, pl. 7, figs 5–6, pl. 8, figs 10–11, pl. 9, figs 6, 8–9.

Archimediella doublierii (Matheron, 1842) — Pfister & Wegmüller, 2007: 95, pl. 11, figs 6–11.

Type material. The collection of Philippe Matheron (1807–1899) is stored in the Musée d’Histoire Naturelle de Marseille (Palais Longchamp). Matheron (1842) based his description on at least seven syntypes from Plan d’Aren and St. Mitre (France) (Rutsch 1929). Rutsch (1929) published pictures of two of these syntypes, but erroneously treated them as holotype and paratype. We have only seen pictures of two syntypes: MHNM.6034.9817, Plan d’Aren (France) , MHNM.6034.9818, Saint Mitre les Remparts (France) .

Studied material. 2 spec. NHMW 2018/0191/0001, NHMW 2018/0191/0001, Maigen (Austria) (illustrat- ed in Schaffer 1912, pl. 52, figs 29–30) ; 9 spec. NHMW 2018/0191/0003, Maigen (Austria) ; 1 spec. NHMW 2018/0190/0002, Obermarkersdorf (Austria) , 3 silicone casts, NHMW 2018/0190/0001, Obermarkersdorf (Austria); 1 spec. NHMW 1963/0539/0000, Wirtatobel (Austria) .

Illustrated material. Fig. 13G: NHMW 2018/0191/0002, SL: 29.5 mm, MD: 12.1 mm, Maigen (Austria), (illustrated in Schaffer 1912, pl. 52, fig. 30); Fig. 13H: NHMW 2018/0191/0001, SL: 35.4 mm, MD: 20.9 mm, Maigen (Austria): (illustrated in Schaffer 1912, pl. 52, fig. 29); Fig. 13I: digitally restored specimen based on three fragments.

Revised description. Shell medium-sized, moderately slender. Protoconch and early teleoconch unknown. Earliest preserved teleoconch whorl moderately convex with prominent, convex B spiral cord at mid-whorl accompanied by much weaker A and C spiral cords and faint d spiral cord. Soon, primary cords attain about same strength, forming nearly flat sided, subcylindrical whorls separated by deeply incised suture. Strongly raised, convex spiral cords separated by broad, deeply concave interspaces. Entire shell surface, including spiral cords, covered by delicate spiral threads. Lateral sinus angle moderately steep; moderately deep with maximum in adapical third of whorl; weak inflection point close below adsutural suture; second, more prominent inflection point in abapical quarter of whorl passing via gentle sinus into base. Basal sinus weakly opisthocyrt. Transition into base coinciding with prominent spiral cord; base nearly flat bearing four narrow but strongly raised spiral cords. Parietal callus thin, not expanding. Aperture missing in all available specimens. No information on inner lirae due to preservation.

Shell measurements and ratios. The available fragments suggest a height of ~ 75 mm and a maximum diameter of: ~ 24 mm; PA: 17°. Lateral sinus (n = 9): LS angle = 15.1° (σ = 2.0°), LS p = 0.86 (σ = 0.13), LS d = 5.12 (σ = 0.33).

Discussion. This species is common in upper Eggenburgian and lower Ottnangian strata in the North Alpine Foreland Basin and is recognized easily by its markedly prominent spiral sculpture. The sculpture is reminiscent of Helminthia vermicularis (Brocchi, 1814) and thus, Sacco (1895) and Mars (1973) treated the species as variety of vermicularis . Gourret (1890) listed the taxon even as full synonym of T. vermicularis . Both taxa can be separated, however, based on the broader and distinctly more swollen spiral cords of H. vermicularis and its more convex whorls. This is contrasted by the nearly screw-like appearance of H. doublierii . Moreover, the A spiral cords becomes prominent in H. doublierii at an earlier stage of growth.

Paleoenvironment. Large numbers of Helminthia doublierii were found in littoral and shallow sublittoral sand from agitated shoals surrounding small islands in front of the Bohemian Massif (Lukeneder & Harzhauser 2002). In contrast, Pfister et al. (2011) report large populations from medium deep sublittoral bay facies in the Belpberg area in Switzerland.

Distribution. Western and Central Paratethys. Burdigalian (early Miocene): Rhône Basin: Marseille region, e.g. Plan d’Aren, St. Mitre (France) (Matheron 1842; Gourret 1890; Mars 1973). Eggenburgian (early Miocene): North Alpine Foreland Basin: Fels am Wagram, Maria, Dreieichen, Gauderndorf, Maigen (Austria) (Sieber 1960; Steininger 1973); Ottnangian (early Miocene): North Alpine Foreland Basin: Luzern Freiburg, Bern, St. Gallen and numerous localities in the Belpberg region (Switzerland) (Rutsch 1929; Pfister & Wegmüller 2007), Rainbach bei Schärdig, Bregenz, Wirtatobel, Obermarkersdorf, Unternalb at Retz (Austria) (Blumrich 1931; Sieber 1960; Lukeneder & Harzhauser 2002), Pannonian Basin: Bántapuszta, Várpalota (Hungary) (Kókay 1972; Steininger et al. 1973). Proto-Mediterranean Sea. Burdigalian (early Miocene): Torino Hills: Baldissero, Sciolze (Italy). A Miocene occurrence from the Cyrenaica in Libya, mentioned by Taviani (1939), will need verification.