Babelomurex sp.

Harzhauser, Mathias, Landau, Bernard M. & Merle, Didier, 2025, The Muricidae (Gastropoda, Muricoidea) of the Miocene Paratethys Sea (Aspellinae, Ergalataxinae, Coralliophilinae, Rapaninae), Zootaxa 5611 (1), pp. 1-106 : 80-81

Babelomurex sp.

Figs 41 , 47A 1 –A 2

Coralliophila sacyi ( Cossmann & Peyrot, 1924) — Kovács 2020: 459, pl. 4, figs. 25–26 [non Coralliophila sacyi ( Cossmann & Peyrot, 1924) ].

Material. Private collection Zoltán Kovács, SL: 10.5 mm, MD: 6.0 mm, Bánd ( Hungary) ( Kovács 2020).

Description. Small, slender fusiform shell with high, conical spire; apical angle 51°. Protoconch unknown. Teleoconch of at least five whorls. Suture distinctly incised, shallowly undulating. Early teleoconch whorls with broad, steep subsutural ramp, angled shoulder, slightly constricted below. Axial sculpture of eight very prominent, raised ribs separated by slightly weaker interspaces, overrun by narrow, strongly raised adis, IP abis, P1–P3, forming cancellate pattern in spiral interspaces. Last whorl attaining 67% height, with broad, weakly convex subsutural ramp, angled shoulder, weakly convex periphery, moderately contracting below. Axial sculpture of eight prominent, raised, well-defined, slightly prosocline ribs separated by wider interspaces. Subsutural ramp with narrow subsutural cord, adis, IP and abis; P1 along shoulder prominent; P3, P4 forming prominent cords, P5 delimiting base. P2 atrophied, P5, P6, weak, recessed; cords separated by wider interspaces; MP and ABP broad, prominent, more close-set. Spiral cords hardly overriding axial ribs, forming regular, cancellate sculpture. Fasciole weak, delimiting narrow pseudoumbilicus. Aperture, narrowly pyriform; outer lip smooth. Anal canal indistinct, wide; siphonal canal open, moderately wide, slightly bent to the left. Columella straight, slightly twisted at siphonal canal. Columellar callus indistinct, poorly delimited from base, erect at pseudoumbilicus.

Discussion. Babelomurex sp. resembles Babelomurex janianus (Coconi, 1873) from the Pliocene of Estepona, illustrated by Landau et al. (2007: pl. 15, fig. 9) by having very similar spiral sculpture. Nevertheless, B. janianus displays a wider shape, a more prominent P1, closer to the anterior suture line than in Babelomurex sp. The specimens represent a yet undescribed species. Because the illustrated material is stored in a private collection, we do not describe it formally as new. It was identified by Kovács (2020) as Coralliophila sacyi ( Cossmann & Peyrot, 1924) , which was described from the Burdigalian of Saucats ( France). The holotype of Coralliophila sacyi (MNHN. F.A87180) differs from the Paratethyan species in its stout outline and lacks cancellate sculpture (see Lozouet 2023: pl. 46, figs. 20–22). The shape and the sculpture of Babelomurex sp. are reminiscent of those of Coralliophila cf. sacyi ( Cossmann & Peyrot, 1924) from the Chattian of Saint-Paul-lès-Dax, illustrated by Lozouet (2023: pl. 46, figs. 18–19). However, Coralliophila cf. sacyi differs by having a more prominent P1 on the early whorls, and a slenderer shell.

Paleoenvironment. The occurrence at Bánd ( Hungary) points to inner neritic environments with corals ( Kovács 2020).

Distribution in Central Paratethys. Badenian (Middle Miocene): Bakony Mountains: Bánd ( Hungary) ( Kovács 2020).

Genus Galeropsis Hupé, 1860

Type species. Galeropsis lavenayanus Hupé, 1860 ; by monotypy. Early Miocene , Bordeaux ( France) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Cord diagrams and apertural features of Aspellinae (Aspella, Attiliosa, Dermomurex).

FIGURE 2. A–B. Aspella emmae (Boettger, 1902). A1–A2. lectotype, SFM 366519, CoŞteiu de Sus (Romania). B1–B3. NHMW 1871/0001/0182, Steinebrunn (Austria). C–E. Aspella teter sp. nov. C1–C3. paratype, NHMW 1846/0037/0235, Steinebrunn (Austria). D1–D3. holotype, NHMW 1865/0001/0560a, Steinebrunn (Austria). E1–E3. paratype, NHMW 1865/0001/0560b, Steinebrunn (Austria).

FIGURE 41. Cord diagrams of Coralliophilinae.

FIGURE 47. A1–A2. Babelomurex sp., private collection Zoltán Kovács, Bánd (Hungary). B1–B2. Galeropsis badenica Kovács & Vicián, 2024, holotype: HNHM PAL 2024.9.1., Letkés (Hungary). C1–C2. Leptoconchus jaegeri Rolle, 1863, SFM 366522, CoŞteiu de Sus (Romania). D1–D2. Leptoconchus rollei Boettger, 1906, lectotype, SFM 366523, CoŞteiu de Sus (Romania).