A revision of the Neogene Conidae and Conorbidae (Gastropoda) of the Paratethys Sea
Author
Harzhauser, Mathias
Author
Landau, Bernard
text
Zootaxa
2016
4210
1
1
178
journal article
37280
10.11646/zootaxa.4210.1.1
e782e07d-76b7-4e9b-ba34-ed3286254ec6
1175-5326
252966
D39416B8-CF85-440B-84C2-D4380BECC4E3
Leporiconus paratethyianus
nov. sp.
Figs 17
K, 23A1–A3, 23B1–B3, 23C1–C3
?
Varioconus pelagicus
(
Brocchi, 1814
)
—
Kovács & Vicián 2013
(partim): 87 [non
Lautoconus pelagicus
(
Brocchi, 1814
)
].
Holotype:
Figs 23A
1
–A3, 17K: SL:
34.6 mm
, MD:
17.8 mm
, NHMW 2016/0005/0001.
Paratype:
Figs 23
B1–B3: SL:
32.6 mm
, MD:
16.3 mm
, NHMW 2016/0005/0002.
Paratype:
Figs 23
C1–C2: SL:
30.8 mm
, MD:
16.9 mm
, NHMW 2016/0005/0003a.
Additional material:
1 specimen
NHMW
2016
/0005/0003, all specimens from
Letkés
,
Hungary
.
Type stratum:
fossil-rich marly sand with coral blocks and andesite boulders of the Sámsonháza Formation (
Császár 1997
).
Type
locality:
Letkés
at the western part of the
Börzsöny Mts.
(
Hungary
); see
Kovács
&
Vicián
(2013)
for a map and description.
Age:
Middle Miocene, early Badenian (= Langhian).
Etymology:
Referring to the Paratethys Sea.
Description.
Moderately small biconical to stout torpedo-shaped shell with moderately high conical to weakly cyrtoconoid spire and conical last whorl. Early spire whorls gradate, tuberculate along lower suture, striate; later spire whorls high, moderately convex, distinctly striate; suture impressed, narrowly canaliculated, undulating. Subsutural flexure shallow, weakly curved, moderately asymmetrical. Last whorl conical, squat, with broadly rounded, sometimes weakly angulated rounded shoulder; not constricted at base. Narrow aperture strongly narrowing at posterior canal, weakly broadening towards short, straight siphonal canal. Siphonal fasciole indistinct. Sculpture of last whorl consisting of densely spaced spirals of tiny beads, which are also roughly axially arranged. Lower half of last whorl with prominent, beaded spiral cords. Colour pattern under UV light consisting of narrow, axially elongate flammulae on spire whorls and very dense, regular pattern of spirally arranged tiny dots, coinciding with beads on last whorl.
Shell measurements and ratios.
Only
4 specimens
are available, of these three are adult: SL: 34.6/32.6/
30.8 mm
, MD: 17,8/16.3/
16.9 mm
, spire angle: 85/83/98°, last whorl angle: 39/37/36°, LW: 1.94/2.00/1.82, RD: 0.70/ 0.68/0.66, PMD: 0.86/0.83/0.79, RSH: 0.26/0.26/0.17.
Discussion.
We place this species in
Leporiconus
based on the beaded spiral cords, the tuberculate early spire whorls and the striate spire whorls. The tiny dotted colour pattern coinciding with the beads is also seen in the
type
species
L. glans
. This is a very peculiar species, which is characterised by its stout torpedo-shaped outline and the densely beaded sculpture. In their paper on the
Conidae
from Letkés,
Kovács & Vicián (2013)
might have partly referred to this species as
Lautoconus pelagicus
(
Brocchi, 1814
)
as they mention beads and small tubercles in their description.
Lautoconus pelagicus
differs in its larger size, smooth shell surface, slightly recurved siphonal canal and completely different colour pattern (se
Pinna & Spezia 1978
;
Landau
et. al
. 2013
).
Leporiconus transsylvanicus
(
Hoernes & Auinger, 1879
)
is congeneric, but differs in its more slender torpedo-like shell with a longer last whorl, higher position of the shoulder, lower spire and less prominent sculpture.
Paleoenvironment.
The locality Letkés comprises a mixed assemblage of partly reworked taxa (
Kovács & Vicián 2013
); the frequent occurrence of corals suggests a shallow marine depositional environment.
Distribution in Paratethys.
Badenian (middle Miocene):
Pannonian Basin:
Letkés (
Hungary
).