Aspella teter, 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 : 7-10

Aspella teter sp. nov.

Figs 1 , 2C–E

Ranella anceps Lam. — Hörnes 1848: 18 [non Aspella anceps ( Lamarck, 1822) ].

Ranella anceps Lam. —Hörnes 1853: 213, pl. 21, figs. 6a–d [non Aspella anceps ( Lamarck, 1822) ].

Ranella (Apollon) anceps Lamk. —Hoernes & Auinger 1885: 190, pl. 24, fig. 3 [non Aspella anceps ( Lamarck, 1822) ].

Aspella anceps Lam. — Friedberg 1938: 118 [non Aspella anceps ( Lamarck, 1822) ].

A [spella]. (A [spella].) anceps (Lm.) — Sieber 1958: 145 [non Aspella anceps ( Lamarck, 1822) ].

Aspella anceps ( Lamarck, 1822) — Stojaspal 1978: 334 [non Aspella anceps ( Lamarck, 1822) ].

Aspella (Aspella) anceps ( Lamarck, 1822) — Bałuk 1995: 218, pl. 25, figs. 3–4 [non Aspella anceps ( Lamarck, 1822) ; non figs. 1–2 = Aspella emmae ( Boettger, 1902) ].

Aspella subanceps (d’Orbigny, 1852) — Kovács 2020: 454, pl. 1, figs. 19–20 [non Aspella anceps ( Lamarck, 1822) ].

non Aspella anceps Lam. — Friedberg 1912: 182, pl. 11, fig. 16 [= Dermomurex (Dermomurex) scalaroides (de Blainville,

1829).

Type material. Holotype: NHMW 1865/0001/0560a, SL: 14.7 mm, MD: 6.6 mm, Steinebrunn ( Austria), figs. 2D 1 – D 3 . Paratypes: NHMW 1846/0037/0235, SL: 14.3 mm, MD: 6.2 mm, Steinebrunn ( Austria) , illustrated in Hörnes (1853: pl. 21, fig. 6), figs. 2C 1 –C 3. NHMW 1865/0001/0560b, SL: 15.7 mm, MD: 6.4 mm, Steinebrunn ( Austria), figs. 2E 1 –E 3. Additional paratypes: 69 spec., NHMW 1871/0010/0340, Steinebrunn ( Austria) .

Type locality. Steinebrunn ( Austria), Vienna Basin .

Type stratum. Silt and sand of the Baden Formation.

Age. Middle Miocene, middle Badenian (Langhian).

Etymology. teter, Latin for ugly.

Diagnosis. Small, slender lanceolate shell with weakly convex to subcylindrical whorls, weak to subobsolete spiral sculpture, two opposing varices with two subobsolete intervarical ribs forming prominent tips at adapical suture, with tip of first intervarical rib more swollen adapically than second.

Description. Small, slender lanceolate shell; apical angle ~25–35°. Protoconch unknown. Teleoconch of up to seven whorls. Suture deeply incised strongly undulating. Early teleoconch whorls convex with six narrow, raised axial ribs; spiral sculpture weak, consisting of delicate to subobsolete threads. Later teleoconch whorls weakly convex to subcylindrical, occasionally with faint shoulder placed above mid-whorl.Axial sculpture of two prominent varices and two subobsolete intervarical ribs forming prominent, rounded tips at adapical suture. Tip of first (right) intervarical rib typically more prominent than second. Spiral sculpture of about five flattish spiral cords (P1, s1, P2, s2, P3) separated by very narrow grooves, overrun by faint spiral threads. Last whorl attaining ~50% of total height; weakly convex to subcylindrical, rapidly contracting. Sculpture of two opposing varices with two subosolete intervarical ribs. Spiral sculpture of very weak, broad P1–P5, with P3 being slightly more prominent, delimiting base. Fasciole narrow, twisted. Aperture small, ovate. Outer lip thickened by terminal varix, bearing D1 to D5 denticles placed just behind peristome; D6 occasionally present; D2 occasionally bifid. Anal canal not developed. Siphonal canal narrow, open, distinctly bent to the left. Columella broadly excavated, smooth, slightly twisted at siphonal canal. Columellar callus forming narrow adherent rim. Most specimens bear remnants of intritacalx, obscuring most sculpture.

Discussion. Aspella teter sp. nov. has until now been confused with Aspella subanceps (d’Orbigny, 1852) , which was recently documented in detail by Lozouet (2023) from the Chattian and Early Miocene of the Aquitaine Basin. They differ in the more prominent shoulder of Aspella subanceps , its broader shell, more prominent spiral sculpture, and the stronger axial ribs, which persist across the whorls (see Cossmann & Peyrot 1924: pl. 12, figs. 24–25; Merle et al. 2011: text-fig. 71/F, pl. 157, figs. 1–3; Lozouet 2023: pl. 1, figs. 1–3, pl. 2, figs. 1–5, text-fig. 4b). Aspella emmae ( Boettger, 1902) differs from A. teter in its much broader shell, with lower spire and wider apical angle, and much weaker spiral cords resulting in an almost smooth shell surface. Similarly, the Pliocene Mediterranean Aspella tusciae Forli, Cresti & Pagli, 2023 is broader and has weaker spiral sculpture. The extant Indo-West Pacific-species Aspella anceps ( Lamarck, 1822) differs in its weaker spiral sculpture, absence of denticles within outer lip, and the prominent, persisting first intervarical rib.

Paleoenvironment. Coastal marine, inner neritic; the frequent occurrence at Steinebrunn suggest a preference for seagrass environments (own data).

Distribution in Central Paratethys. Badenian (Middle Miocene): Korytnica Basin: Korytnica ( Bałuk 1995); Vienna Basin: Steinebrunn (Hoernes & Auinger 1885); Mecsek Mountains: Mecsekpölöske ( Hungary) ( Kovács 2020).

Genus Attiliosa Emerson, 1968

Type species. Coralliophila incompta Berry, 1960 [= Attiliosa nodulosa (A. Adams, 1855) ]; original designation by Emerson (1968: 380). Present-day, Mexico.

Discussion. Attiliosa displays a considerably diversity during the Chattian and Early Miocene in the northeastern Atlantic ( Lozouet 2023). In contrast, the genus has not been recorded so far from Paratethyan assemblages, because it was partly confused with Ocenebrinae [see chresonymy for Attiliosa recognita ( Bałuk, 2006) ]. Similarly, the genus was overlooked so far in the Proto-Mediterranean Sea (e.g., Murex renieri Michelotti, 1847 , Michelotti 1847: pl. 9, fig. 19; Bellardi 1873: pl. 8, fig. 18). A critical revision of the species described by Bellardi (1873) will be needed to evaluate the history of Attiliosa in the Circum-Mediterranean Region.

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).