Nitidiscala oligocostata ( Bałuk, 1975 )

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 : 99-100

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5630.1.1
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scientific name	Nitidiscala oligocostata ( Bałuk, 1975 )
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Nitidiscala oligocostata ( Bałuk, 1975)

Figs 33F–G View FIGURE 33 , 36D–F View FIGURE 36

* Scala (Clathrus) oligocostata sp. n. — Bałuk 1975: 174, pl. 20, fig. 12. Type material. Holotype: Z.PAL.U. W., No BkK-G 342, SL: 3.5 mm, MD: 1.6 mm, Korytnica ( Poland), illustrated in Bałuk (1975: pl. 20, fig. 12).

Illustrated material. NHMW 2024 View Materials /0283/0001, SL: 3.9 mm , MD: 2.0 mm, Lăpugiu de Sus ( Romania), Figs 33F View FIGURE 33 , 36D View FIGURE 36 1 –D View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 . NHMW 1863 View Materials /0015/1006, SL: 7.4 mm , MD: 3.5 mm, Rousínov ( Czech Republic), Figs 33G View FIGURE 33 , 36F View FIGURE 36 . NHMW 2024 View Materials /0284/0001, SL: 4.5 mm , MD: 2.2 mm, Hrušovany nad Jevišovkou ( Czech Republic), Figs 36E View FIGURE 36 1 –E View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 .

Revised description. Shell small, moderately broad (apical angle ~28°). Protoconch and early teleoconch whorls unknown. Teleoconch whorls strongly convex with periphery placed just below mid-whorl. Suture deeply impressed, weakly undulating. Sculpture of widely spaced, strongly raised, slightly flaring, robust, prosocline lamellae, obliquely aligned axially (?: 7: 7), crests slightly rolled over. Interspaces wide, smooth, glossy. Last whorl relatively high, moderately convex, slightly angled at mid-whorl, lamellae persisting and strongly rolled over on base, no peribasal cord, base slightly convex. Aperture depressed ovate, columella weakly concave, nearly straight. Outer lip slightly thickened by varix. Columellar callus forming broad rim, detached from base; parietal callus weak. Peristome duplex but outer layer largely covered by inner layer.

Discussion. There are only few comparable species known from the Miocene of the Circum-Mediterranean Region. Nitidiscala recidiva (de Boury in Cossmann & Peyrot, 1922), from the Early Miocene of France, differs in its even wider interspaces between the lamellae and lacks a weak mid-whorl angulation of the last whorl ( Cossmann & Peyrot 1922: pl. 3, figs 14–15). Nitidiscala benoisti (de Boury in Cossmann & Peyrot, 1922), from the Early Miocene of France, has weaker lamellae on the spire whorls and has a larger last whorl (see Cossmann & Peyrot 1922: pl. 3, figs 69–70). Although the French species were placed in the genus Foveoscala de Boury, 1909 [= Hirtoscala Monterosato, 1890 ] by Cossmann & Peyrot (1922), this allocation is rejected herein based on the rolled over crests of the lamellae and the lack of flaring varices with trigonal shoulder spines (see discussion under Hirtoscala ).

‘Clathrus’ mutinofoliaceus Sacco, 1891, from the Burdigalian or Langhian of the Colli Torinesi ( Italy), is stockier and differs in its more convex whorls with deeply impressed suture and fewer, orthocline lamellae (see Sacco 1891: pl. 1, fig. 29). ‘Clathrus’ miopaucicostulata Sacco, 1891, from the Tortonian of Montegibbio ( Italy) is based on a fragment which seems to have a peribasal cord, as typical for Gyroscala , and its lamellae are less flaring and less prosocline (see Sacco 1891: pl. 1, fig. 28). The status of these two Italian species will need revision and we hesitate to place them in Nitidiscala .

The Paratethyan species differs from the extant Nitidiscala statuminata (G.B. Sowerby II, 1844) only in its less flaring varices, which are not as fused along the suture. Some species of Laeviscala de Boury, 1909 [type species Scalaria subauriculata Souverbie in Souverbie & Montrouzier, 1866; present-day, New Caledonia] are reminiscent of Nitidiscala oligocostata but Laeviscala is characterized by its cancellate microsculpture in the lamellar interspaces ( Bonfitto 2018: 120).

Paleoenvironment. Unknown.

Distribution in Central Paratethys. Badenian (Middle Miocene): Korytnica Basin: Korytnica ( Poland) ( Bałuk 2006); North Alpine-Carpathian Foreland Basin: Hrušovany nad Jevišovkou, Rousínov ( Czech Republic) (hoc opus).

Genus Nodiscala de Boury, 1890

Type species. Scalaria bicarinata Sowerby, G.B. II., 1844 View in CoL ); original designation by de Boury (1890: 168). Present-day, Indo-West Pacific.

Diagnosis. “ Thick shell. Size small; shape narrow, somewhat pupoidal; spire elongate, with subconoidal curvature; protoconch smooth, polygyrate; whorls convex, with sutures often bordered above: ornamentation composed of axial ribs, subnodular anteriorly, often interrupted below the sutural bead, and fine rows of spiral punctations, sometimes transforming into deeper grooves, at the anterior part of each whorl. Last whorl little more than a third of the total height, with a convex, imperforate base, often with a very obsolete, spirally punctate disc. Aperture small and circular; peristome split, inner layer thin and continuous; outer layer broadly bordered and discontinuous; labrum varicose, slightly oblique.” (translated from Cossmann 1912: 84).

Discussion. Nodiscala is treated as subjective junior synonym of Opalia H. Adams & A. Adams, 1853 by MolluscaBase eds (2024h) but Opalia australis ( Lamarck, 1822) , the type species of Opalia , differs significantly from Nodiscala species in its conical shape, non-crenulate suture and prominent axial ribs, which emerge from the prominent peribasal cord and the lack of spiral sculpture. Therefore, we keep both genera separated (for additional discussions see Landau et al. 2006: 49).