Pygmaepterys transsylvanicus (Hoernes & Auinger, 1885)

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 : 41-43

Pygmaepterys transsylvanicus (Hoernes & Auinger, 1885)

Figs 21 , 24A–B

* Murex (Muricidea) transsylvanicus nov. form.—Hoernes & Auinger 1885: 207, pl. 24, fig. 12.

Murex (Muricidea) transsylvanicus Hö. Au. — Boettger 1902: 29.

Murex (Muricidea) transsylvanicus Hö. Au. — Boettger 1906: 44.

[ Dermomurex ] transsylvanicus Hörnes & Auinger, 1885 — Vokes 1971: 108.

Aspella (Dermomurex) transsylvanica (Hörnes et Auinger, 1885) — Stojaspal 1978: 334.

Favartia (Pygmaepterys) transsylvanica (Hoernes & Auinger) — Vicián et al. 2017: p. 268, text-fig. 2, pl. 2, figs. 9–10. Favartia (Pygmaepterys) transsylvanica (Hoernes & Auinger, 1885) — Kovács et al. 2018: 122, figs. 5U–V.

Favartia (Pygmaepterys) transsylvanica (Hoernes et Auinger, 1885) — Kovács 2019: 124, figs. 36–37.

Favartia (Pygmaepterys) transsylvanica (Hoernes & Auinger) — Kovács 2020: 463, pl. 2, figs. 20–21.

Pygmaepterys transsylvanicus (Hoernes & Auinger, 1885) — Merle et al. 2022: 378, pl. 105, figs. 7–11.

Pygmaepterys transsylvanicus (Hoernes et Auinger) — Kovács & Vicián 2024: 24, figs. 57–58.

Type material. Lectotype (designated herein): NHMW 1874/0025/0031, SL: 12.5 mm, MD: 5.8 mm, Lăpugiu de Sus ( Romania), illustrated in Hoernes & Auinger (1885: pl. 24, fig. 12), figs. 24A 1 –A 3 . Paralectotype: NHMW 1854/0035/0175, SL: 11.6 mm, MD: 5.6 mm, Lăpugiu de Sus ( Romania), figs. 24B 1 –B 3 .

Revised description. Small, solid, slender fusiform shell; apical angle ~55°. Protoconch worn, conical of>2.5 weakly convex whorls. Teleoconch of up to five whorls. Suture deeply incised, linear. First two teleoconch whorls with broad, steep, weakly convex subsutural ramp and shoulder placed short distance above suture. Axial sculpture of eight prominent, relatively narrow, widely spaced ribs, overrun by moderately prominent IP, abis and prominent P1, forming cancellate pattern. Later whorls weakly convex with very prominent P1 and P2 and foliose varices. Last whorl attaining ~70% of total height; slender ovate, with weakly convex subsutural ramp, rounded shoulder, moderately contracting below. Axial sculpture of eight prominent, raised, weakly foliose varices and primary cords of same strength, forming cancellate pattern with deep interspaces. P1–P4 very prominent, subequal; IP and P5 weak, P6 atrophied; ADP, MP, ABP forming weaker, rounded, close-set cords. Interspaces with delicately scabrose growth lines; EAB occasional and weak; s2 very weak. Fasciole weakly swollen, delimiting narrow pseudoumbilicus. Aperture narrowly ovate. Outer lip strongly thickened with prominent ID and prominent D1–D5, D2 slightly stronger in some specimens. Anal canal weakly incised, broadly U-shaped, Siphonal canal moderately long, moderately narrow, open, slightly bent to the left. Columella strongly excavated with about four denticles strengthening abapically, strongly angled at siphonal canal. Columellar callus forming broad adherent rim.

Discussion. Pygmaepterys transsylvanicus (Hoernes & Auinger, 1885) is characterized by its cancellate sculpture. Pygmaepterys aturensis Lozouet, 1999 , from the Chattian of the Aquitaine Basin, is very similar in outline and sculpture but has weaker denticles and is only about half the size of P. transsylvanicus (see Lozouet 1999: pl. 12, figs. 3–4; Merle et al. 2022: pl. 104, 5–6). Pygmaepterys subdecussatus (d’Orbigny, 1852) , from the Early Miocene of the Aquitaine Basin, differs in its lower spire and more horizontally elongate cancellate sculpture (see Merle et al. 2022: pl. 104, figs. 8–10).

Paleoenvironment. Occurrences at Letkés ( Hungary) point to inner neritic environments with corals ( Kovács & Vicián 2014). The occurrence at Bánd (locality 28) ( Hungary) indicates intertidal-sublittoral patch reef environments (pers. comm. Zoltán Kovács 22. 1. 2025) .

Distribution in Central Paratethys. Badenian (Middle Miocene): Pannonian Basin: Letkés, Márkháza ( Hungary) ( Kovács et al. 2018; Kovács & Vicián 2024); Bakony Mountains: Bánd ( Hungary) ( Vicián et al. 2017); Făget Basin: CoŞteiu de Sus, Lăpugiu de Sus ( Romania) ( Kovács 2019).

Genus Tripterotyphis Pilsbry & Lowe, 1932

Type species. Typhis lowei Pilsbry, 1931 ; by original designation ( Pilsbry & Lowe 1932: 78). Present-day, Eastern Atlantic.

Figures

FIGURE 21. Cord diagrams and apertural features of Aspellinae (Pazinotus, Pygmaepterys, Tripterotyphis).

FIGURE 24. Pygmaepterys transsylvanicus (Hoernes & Auinger, 1885). A1–A3. lectotype, NHMW 1874/0025/0031, Lăpugiu de Sus (Romania). B1–B3. NHMW 1854/0035/0175, paralectotype, Lăpugiu de Sus (Romania).