Nitidiscala bonfittoi, Harzhauser & Landau, 2025

Harzhauser, Mathias & Landau, Bernard M., 2025, The Epitoniidae (Gastropoda, Epitonioidea) of the Miocene Central Paratethys Sea-an overwhelming diversity, Zootaxa 5630 (1), pp. 1-142 : 97

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5630.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:89462472-D932-4255-880F-C6EF15220A31
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D787A4-FF85-FF84-FF3F-FED7FDFE91EE
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Nitidiscala bonfittoi
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Nitidiscala bonfittoi sp. nov.

Figs 33I View FIGURE 33 , 37C View FIGURE 37 1 –C View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2

Scala (Clathrus) parilis (De Boury in Cossmann) — Bałuk 1975: 173, pl. 20, fig. 13 [non Clathrus parilis de Boury in Cossmann, 1912 = Hirtoscala miofrondiculoides ( Sacco, 1891) ].

Scala (Clathrus) parilis (De Boury in Cossmann, 1912)— Bałuk 2006: 202, pl.10, fig. 4 [non Clathrus parilis de Boury in Cossmann, 1912 = Hirtoscala miofrondiculoides ( Sacco, 1891) ].

Scala (Clathrus) cfr. parilis (Boury in Cossmann)— Švagrovský 1982: 29, pl. 9, fig. 6.

Type material. Holotype, NHMW 2024 View Materials /0283/0002, SL: 3.4 mm, MD: 1.6 mm, Lăpugiu de Sus ( Romania), Figs 33I View FIGURE 33 , 37C View FIGURE 37 1 –C View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 . Paratype, BkK-G1219, SL: 7.2 mm, MD: 3.4 mm, Korytnica ( Poland), illustrated in Bałuk (2006: 202, pl.10, fig. 4) .

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

Type stratum. Silt and clay of the Dej Formation.

Age. Middle Miocene, Badenian (Langhian).

Etymology. In honor of Antonio Bonfitto (University of Bologna, Italy), in recognition of its contributions on Epitoniidae systematics.

Diagnosis. Very small, moderately broad, stocky conical with convex whorls, deeply impressed suture, relatively large last whorl and about 8 or 9 thin, strongly raised, slightly alate lamellae, partly obliquely axially aligned and fused across suture, ovate aperture with strongly thickened peristome.

Description. Shell very small, moderately broad, stocky conical (apical angle ~35°). Protoconch high conical with raised small nucleus, of 4.5 smooth, weakly convex whorls, last protoconch whorl with slight mid-whorl angulation (diamater 210 μm). Teleoconch of up to six convex whorls ( Bałuk 2006), periphery just below mid-whorl. Suture deeply impressed. Sculpture of moderately close-set, strongly raised, thin but robust, only weakly prosocline lamellae, partly obliquely aligned axially, crossing suture where raised adapical tip align with lamella of preceding whorl (7/8: 8/9: 8). Crests of lamellae becoming successively more rolled over during ontogeny, partly with alate tips at adapical suture. Interspaces between varices smooth, glossy. Last whorl large, attaining about ~46–50% of total height, convex, lamellae persisting on base, strongly rolled over, no basal angulation, no peribasal cord, base slightly convex. Aperture ovate, columella weakly concave. Fasciole short, broad, with prominent growth lines. Columellar callus forming narrow rim, attached to fasciole, parietal callus delicate. Peristome strongly thickened, glossy, duplex with inner layer largely covering outer layer. No umbilicus.

Discussion. Nitidiscala bonfittoi sp. nov. differs from Nitidiscala browni sp. nov. in its evenly convex whorls, which lack a shoulder and lack the small trigonal spines developed on the lamellae at the shoulder. The Pliocene Mediterranean Nitidiscala pultoastensis ( Sacco, 1891) is very similar but differs in its more prosocline and slightly closer-set lamellae (see Sacco 1891: pl. 1, fig. 30; Ferrero Mortara et al. 1984: pl. 5, fig. 9). The Pliocene Atlanto-Mediterranean Nitidiscala foliacea (G.B. Sowerby I, 1823) is slightly stockier and has more numerous lamellae (see Wood 1848: pl. 8, fig. 17; Chirli 2009: pl. 11, figs 7–12) and N. frondicula ( Wood, 1842) of Chirli 2009: pl. 11, figs 13–18) is distinguished by its wider subsutural ramp with weakly coronate shoulder and N. frondicula ( Wood, 1842) in Landau et al. (2006: pl. 22, fig. 8) is slenderer with higher lamellose varices. Nitidiscala baluki sp. nov. is comparatively stouter. The Pliocene to Recent Mediterranean Nitidiscala septemcostata ( Conti, 1871) has only seven lamellae (see Landau et al. 2006: pl. 11, figs 5–7).

Paleoenvironment. Unknown.

Distribution in Central Paratethys. Badenian (Middle Miocene): Korytnica Basin: Korytnica ( Poland) ( Bałuk 2006); Vienna Basin: Borský Mikuláš ( Slovakia) ( Švagrovský 1982); Făget Basin: CoŞteiu de Sus, Lăpugiu de Sus ( Romania) ( Boettger 1902; hoc opus).