Coralliophila elegantula, Harzhauser & Landau & Merle, 2025

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 : 69-70

Coralliophila elegantula sp. nov.

Figs 37 , 40C 1 –C 3

Murex ( Occenebra [sic]) alternatus Bell.— Hoernes & Auinger 1890: 224 (pars), pl. 27, fig. 6 [non Coralliophila alternata ( Bellardi, 1873) ]

Type material. Holotype: NHMW 1857/0024/0024, SL: 20.1 mm, MD: 12.8 mm, Lăpugiu de Sus ( Romania), illustrated in Hoernes & Auinger (1890: pl. 27, fig. 6), figs. 40C 1 –C 3.

Type locality. Lăpugiu de Sus ( Romania), Făget Basin .

Type stratum. Silt and clay of the Dej Formation.

Age. Middle Miocene, early/middle Badenian (Langhian).

Etymology. elegantulus, Latin for elegant.

Diagnosis. Small, biconic shell with moderately high, conical spire; last whorl strongly inflated mid-whorl and strongly constricted at base; spiral sculpture of faintly scabrose, subequal primary and secondary cords from adis to EAB1.

Description. Small, biconic shell with moderately high spire; apical angle 61°. Protoconch unknown. Teleoconch of up to six whorls. Suture moderately incised, shallowly undulating. First three teleoconch whorls with broad, straight-sided subsutural ramp, angled shoulder placed short distance above suture, slightly incised below. Nine weak axial ribs overrun by five close-set spiral cords on subsutural ramp (including adis, IP, abis and tertiary cords); from first to third whorl P1 and P2 more prominent. Later whorls with weakly convex subsutural ramp with six weakly scabrose cords (including adis, IP and adis); rounded shoulder (marked by P1) and abaxially s1, P2, s2 and P3. Last whorl attaining about 75% of total height, with weakly convex subsutural ramp, strongly inflated and rounded mid-whorl, strongly constricted below.Axial sculpture of seven broad, rounded axial ribs, fading over base. Spiral sculpture of narrow, faintly scabrose, subequal primary (P1 to P6 on convex part of whorl and ADP, MP, ABP, EAB1 on siphonal canal) and secondary cords (s1 to s6, ads and ms). Fasciole weakly developed, delimiting broad, shallow pseudoumbilicus. Aperture pyriform; outer lip thin, smooth within. Anal canal indistinct; siphonal canal long, open, wide, straight. Columella straight, smooth, weakly angled at siphonal canal. Columellar callus forming narrow, sharply delimited rim.

Discussion. This species is characterized by its last whorl that is strongly but narrowly inflated mid-whorl and strongly constricted at the base, its delicate spiral sculpture consists of subequal primary and secondary cords, and weak fasciole. It is reminiscent of Coralliophila acuta sp. nov. but differs in its larger size, convex subsutural ramp, rounded and swollen periphery and more delicate and more uniform spiral sculpture, consisting of a greater number of cords. Moreover, C. acuta bears more prominent P1, P2, P4 that are distinct from the secondary cord. Hoernes & Auinger (1885) confused Coralliophila elegantula sp. nov. with Coralliophila alternata ( Bellardi, 1873) , from the Tortonian of Stazzano ( Italy), which differs in its angled shoulder and lower spire ( Bellardi 1873: pl. 8, fig. 8). Coralliophila fusiformis Bellardi, 1882 , from the Early and Middle Miocene of the Colli Torinesi ( Italy), is reminiscent of C. elegantula in general shape but differs in its narrower spire, more numerous axial ribs and coarse spiral sculpture (see Bellardi 1882: pl. 12, fig. 13). Coralliophila granifera ( Michelotti, 1847) differs in its more evenly inflated last whorl ( Bellardi 1882: pl. 12, figs. 7–8).

Paleoenvironment. Unknown.

Distribution in Central Paratethys. Badenian (Middle Miocene): Făget Basin: Lăpugiu de Sus ( Romania) (hoc opus).

Figures

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

FIGURE 3. A1–A2. Attiliosa evae (Kovács & Vicián, 2024). holotype, HNHM PAL 2024.8.1., Letkés (Hungary).B1–B2. Attiliosa juhaszi Kovács & Vicián, 2024. holotype, HNHM PAL 2024.1.1., Letkés (Hungary).

FIGURE 37. Cord diagrams of Coralliophilinae.

FIGURE 40. A1–A2. Coralliophila biconica Boettger, 1906, holotype, SFM 366520, CoŞteiu de Sus (Romania). B1–B2. Coralliophila gracilispira Boettger, 1906, holotype, SFM 366521, Lăpugiu de Sus (Romania). C1–C3. Coralliophila elegantula sp. nov., holotype: NHMW 1857/0024/0024, Lăpugiu de Sus (Romania). D1–D2. Coralliophila ficiformis (Bałuk, 1995), holotype, Z.Pal.U.W. BkK-G716, Korytnica (Poland).