Paziella (Flexopteron) zsoldosi, Kovács & Vicián, 2019

Kovács, Zoltán & Vicián, Zoltán, 2019, Muricidae (Neogastropoda) from the Middle Eocene of the Hungarian Paleogene Basin, Fragmenta Palaeontologica Hungarica 36, pp. 31-51 : 40

Paziella (Flexopteron) zsoldosi n. sp.

( Figs 17–21 )

1990 Murex sp. – KECSKEMÉTI-KÖRMENDY, p. 164, pl. 29, figs 5–6.

Holotype – HNHM PAL 2020.20.1., SL 13 ( Figs 19–20 ).

Type strata and locality – Upper Lutetian sandy clay, Tés, Hungary.

Derivation of name – In honour of the collector: Márton Zsoldos (Bakonynána, Hungary).

Material – Holotype and two additional specimens ( Figs 17–18, 21 ).

Diagnosis – Paziella (Flexopteron) species with multispiral protoconch and five teleoconch whorls, ovate aperture with strong denticles within, smooth columella, sculpture of strong spiral cords and numerous axial varices.

Description – Multispiral protoconch of 3 1/4 smooth, rounded whorls, five shouldered teleoconch whorls, elongated spire, broad subsutural slope, ovate aperture, outer lip thickened by growth lamellae, strong denticles within (D1–D5; D1–D3 stronger than D4–D5), weakly developed parietal callus, smooth columella, elongated and slightly curved siphonal canal, spiral sculpture of strong primary cords (P1–P6 on the last whorl), axial sculpture of numerous sharp varices (eight on the last whorl).

Remarks – Based on morphology the new species is assigned to subgenus Paziella (Flexopteron) . The fragmentary Murex sp. from the shallow marine deposits of borehole Cs.115 at Csabdi ( KECSKEMÉTI-KÖRMENDY 1990, pl. 29, figs 5–6; refigured on Figs 17–18 ) is considered herein as a representative of P. (F.) zsoldosi n. sp. (unfortunately this specimen is not available in the mollusc collection of the MGSH). According to KECSKEMÉTI-KÖRMENDY (l. c.) the smooth, multispiral protoconch, the rounded early teleoconch whorls, as well as the weakly developed primary spiral cords and the sharp axial varices are closely allied to that of P. (F.) flexuosa (Deshayes) . However, these features are common on different Eocene species of the subgenus, consequently the species level determination depends on the adult morphology. The adult shell of P. (F.) zsoldosi n. sp. is distinguishable from the Early Eocene P. (F.) flexuosa (Deshayes, 1865) and P. (F.) ogormani (Cossmann, 1923) by much stronger spiral cords and lack of spines; from the Middle Eocene P. (F.) foliacea fraterculus (Deshayes, 1865) by elongated spire, more widely spaced varices and lack of spines, and from the Middle Eocene P. (F.) elatior ( Koenen, 1889) by less elongated shell and different sculpture (see MERLE et al. 2011, pls 135–138). The teleoconch whorls of Paziella (Flexopteron) sp. specimens from Tés ( Figs 20–22 ) are broader, they represent another species.

The material came from the sandy clay deposits of the Tés locality. It was associated by coastal to shallow water gastropods: Pseudobellardia auriculata (Schlotheim, 1820) , Tympanotonos aculeatus (Schlotheim, 1820) , Cerithium subcorvinum Oppenheim, 1894 , Editharus roncanus (Brongniart, 1823) , Ampullina perusta (Defrance in Brongniart, 1823), Deshayesia alpina (d’Orbigny, 1850) , Stilospirula doroghensis (Oppenheim, 1892) , Tectonatica pasinii (Bayan, 1870) , Globularia incompleta (Zittel, 1862) , Clavilithes noae Lamarck 1803 , Dilatilabrum fortisi (Brongniart, 1823) , Timbellus micropterus (Deshayes) ,? Pterochelus contabulatus gantensis (Szőts) , Paziella (Flexopteron) sp., Janiopsis n. sp. and Hemiconus eszterhazyi (Papp, 1897) .

Figures

Figs 17–21. Paziella (Flexopteron) zsoldosi n. sp. – Figs 17–18. Csabdi, SL unknown. – Fig. 17. Lateral view. – Fig. 18. Apical view (refigured from KECSKEMÉTI-KÖRMENDY 1990, pl. 29, figs 5–6). – Figs 19–20. HNHM PAL 2020.20.1., holotype, Tés, SL 13. – Fig. 19. Apertural view.– Fig. 20. Abapertural view. – Fig. 21. Coll. Zsoldos, Tés, SL 11.4, abapertural view. Scale bar: 5 mm