Pseudofusus sp.

Harzhauser, Mathias, Landau, Bernard M. & Vermeij, Geerat J., 2024, The Dolicholatiridae and Fasciolariidae (Gastropoda, Buccinoidea) of the Miocene Paratethys Sea, Zootaxa 5470 (1), pp. 1-92 : 59-60

Pseudofusus sp.

Figs 25A–C

Fusinus nov. sp. — Harzhauser et al. 2015: 96, pl. 4, figs 1–3.

Material. Three silicone moulds NHMW 2014/0379/0045, NHMW 2014/0379/0046, NHMW 2014/0379/0047, illustrated in Harzhauser et al. 2015 (pl. 4, figs 1–3). MD of largest fragment 21 mm, Figs 25A–C .

Description. “ Early spire whorls regularly convex, bearing narrow, strongly raised and slightly prosocline axial ribs crossed by 5–6 sharp, prominent spiral cords. Secondary spiral threads intercalated between primary cords on third and fourth teleoconch whorls. Spirals slightly swollen at intersections with axial ribs. Later whorls become angulated at shoulder, with steep sutural ramp bearing weak spiral threads. Axial ribs prominent, rounded, about half the width of their interspaces, weakening abapically, bearing horizontally-elongated tubercles at the sculptural intersections. Last whorl convex, bearing about ten primary spiral cords, with secondary and tertiary spiral threads intercalated in the interspaces. Columellar lip narrow and thin; rest of aperture and siphonal canal not preserved.” ( Harzhauser et al. 2015: 96).

Discussion. As pointed out by Harzhauser et al. (2015) this species is quite distinctive due to the change in sculpture and whorl profile with ontogeny. The early teleoconch whorls are reminiscent of Pseudofusus crispoides ( Kittl, 1887) whereas the subsutural ramp of the last whorl is similar to that of Pseudofusus austriacus (Hoernes & Auinger, 1890) . Due to the poor preservation, we refrain from establishing a new species based on the available material.

Paleoenvironment. Found in an assemblage from rocky shore environments.

Distribution in Central Paratethys. Ottnangian (Early Miocene): North Alpine Foreland Basin: Allerding ( Austria) ( Harzhauser et al. 2015).

Genus Pseudolatirus Bellardi, 1884

Type species. Fusus bilineatus Naumann, 1852 , subsequent designation by Cossmann (1901: 24). Middle Miocene, Austria.

Original diagnosis. “Shell fusiform, long: spire very acute. Whorls laterally channeled and regularly convex; last whorl very depressed at the base: deep sutures. Axial ribs terminate at posterior canal and are produced at the posterior suture. Columella with one or two folds, sometimes anteriorly rugose in adults; small columellar folds, axis of shell slightly oblique, sometimes obsolete, siphonal canal narrow, long, more or less regularly produced in the axis of the shell, without umbilicus.” ( Bellardi 1884: 46, translated from Latin).

Discussion. Kantor et al. (2018) restricted Pseudolatirus to Miocene species from Europe and placed only Latirus teschi Finlay, 1927 from the Late Miocene to Pleistocene of the Indo-West Pacific, in this genus. The latter is surely not congeneric with Pseudolatirus bilineatus and may rather be a member of Takashius Kantor, Fedosov, M. A. Snyder & Bouchet, 2022 (see Tesch 1915; pl. 81, fig. 119). Recent species placed in Pseudolatirus in the literature were placed in the Fusininae genera Takashius Kantor, Fedosov, M.A. Snyder & Bouchet, 2022 [= Okutanius Kantor, Fedosov, Snyder & Bouchet, 2018 ] and Vermeijius Kantor, Fedosov, Snyder & Bouchet, 2018 by Kantor et al. (2018). Pseudolatirus as understood herein is a monotypic genus.

Pseudolatirus was placed in Peristerniinae by Kantor et al. (2018) but already Stahlschmidt & Fraussen (2012: 86) stated that Pseudolatirus bilineatus “ is conchologically similar to Fusininae rather than to Peristerniinae ”. Herein we confirm this view, based on the morphology and sculpture of the early teleoconch whorls. The sculpture of wide spaced spiral cords and wide spaced axial ribs is typical for Fusininae and differs from the close-set, often beaded spiral cords of Peristerniinae .

Figures

FIGURE 25. Pseudofusus sp., silicone moulds. A. NHMW 2014/0379/0045, Allerding (Austria). B. NHMW 2014/0379/0046, Allerding (Austria). C. NHMW 2014/0379/0047, Allerding (Austria).