Metula sp.

Harzhauser, Mathias & Landau, Bernard M., 2024, The Colubrariidae, Eosiphonidae, Melongenidae, Pisaniidae, Prodotiidae and Tudiclidae (Gastropoda, Buccinoidea) of the Miocene Paratethys Sea, Zootaxa 5427 (1), pp. 1-110 : 15-16

Metula sp.

Fig. 7A

Metula nov. sp. — Harzhauser et al. 2015: 96, pl. 3, fig. 13.

Material. NHMW 2014/0379/0044, SL:> 26 mm, MD: 10 mm, 1 natural casts with corresponding silicone mould; Fig. 7A .

Description. “ A single fragmentary specimen is available; protoconch comprising at least 3 high, smooth and moderately convex whorls; a delicate adsutural spiral cord appears on the last protoconch whorl. Beginning of teleoconch marked by the onset of a dense pattern of axial ribs and spiral cords producing delicate beads at the intersections.” ( Harzhauser et al. 2015: 96).

Discussion. The poor preservation does not allow an identification. Harzhauser et al. (2015) discussed similarities with ‘ Metula submitraeformis’ (= Metula aliceae nov. sp.) from which it differs in its larger protoconch and more prominent spiral sculpture with broader spiral cords. The large multispiral protoconch distinguished the Austrian species also from Metula major ( Grateloup, 1845) from the Burdigalian of the Aquitaine Basin (see Lozouet 2021: pl. 7, figs 1–4).

Distribution in Central Paratethys. Ottnangian (Early Miocene): North Alpine Foreland Basin: Allerding

( Austria) ( Harzhauser et al. 2015).

Figures

FIGURE 7. A. Metula sp., NHMW 2014/0379/0044, Allerding (Austria).