Scala polonica, 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 : 115

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-FF97-FF96-FF3F-FF2EFD5B91FA
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Scala polonica
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Scala polonica sp. nov.

Figs 43B View FIGURE 43 1 –B View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2

Scala (Clathrus) kunstleri (De Boury in Cossmann, 1912)— Bałuk 2006: 202, pl. 10, fig. 3 [non Fuscoscala kunstleri de Boury in Cossmann, 1912].

Type material. Holotype, BkK-G1218, SL: 6.4 mm, MD: 2.5 mm, Korytnica ( Poland), illustrated in Bałuk (2006: pl. 10, fig. 3), Figs 43B View FIGURE 43 1 –B View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 .

Type locality. Korytnica ( Poland), Korytnica Basin .

Type stratum. Pińczów Formation.

Age. Middle Miocene, middle Badenian (Langhian).

Etymology. Referring to Poland.

Diagnosis. Shell small, moderately slender conical with strongly convex whorls and strongly raised lamellae obliquely aligned axially, fused across suture, resulting in deeply fenestrate suture.

Description. Small, moderately slender conical shell (apical angle 22°). Protoconch and first teleoconch whorls unknown. Teleoconch whorls strongly convex with periphery placed mid-whorl. Suture deeply impressed, fenestrate. Sculpture of prominent, strongly raised lamellae, obliquely aligned axially, fused but indented across suture (?: 8: 8). Crests of lamellae slightly rolled over. Interspaces with faint spiral threads. Last whorl attaining about 40° of total height, no basal angulation nor peribasal cord, base convex, lamellae strongly rolled over. Aperture not preserved.

Discussion. Scala polonica sp. nov. is highly reminiscent of the extant Scala clathrus ( Linnaeus, 1758) from which it differs in its smaller size and more indented lamellae across the suture (see Weil et al. 1999: fig. 110; Landau et al. 2006: pl. 7, figs 1–2; Raven & Suárez 2020: figs 5A–C).

Bałuk (2006) identified this species with Fuscoscala kunstleri De Boury in Cossmann, 1912, which was originally described from the Burdigalian of Saucats ( France). The two are indeed similar, but Fuscoscala kunstleri differs from the Paratethyan species in its broad and steep subsutural ramp, the slightly angled periphery below mid-whorl and its lamellae are not axially aligned (De Boury in Cossmann 1912: pl. 2, figs 7–8; Cossmann & Peyrot 1922: pl. 3, fig. 80).

Paleoenvironment. Unknown.

Distribution in Central Paratethys. Badenian (Middle Miocene): Korytnica Basin: Korytnica ( Poland) ( Bałuk 2006).

Genus Sthenorytis Conrad, 1863

Type species. Scalaria expansa Conrad, 1842 ; subsequent designation by de Boury (1890: 190). Miocene, Maryland, USA.

Diagnosis. “ Thick, massive shell. Size fairly large; shape turbinate, conical; spire short, not gradate, with disjointed, very convex, low whorls; axial lamellae strong and prominent, oblique, reflexed, striated, bent backwards where they form a uneven festoon before welding - over the sutures - to the lamellae of the previous whorl; in the intervals, the sutures are visibly perforated and bordered above by a spiral cord which detaches from the left side of each lamella; in addition, in most species, the surface of the whorls is adorned with broad, obtuse spiral cords which rise up on the left side of each lamella, and which are separated by obsolete, narrower grooves. Last whorl approximately equal to two-thirds of total height, rounded at the base, which is loosely bounded by a discontinuous cord between the lamellae; the surface of the base is almost completely covered by the reflexed lamellae, up to the center where they fuse together entirely, leaving no umbilical left. Peristome subcircular, inclined in an oblique plane at 25° to the vertical axis; inner layer rather calloused, not distinctly auriculated anteriorly; outer layer reflected outward over the entire extent of the labrum, with a broad posterior expansion that folds back strongly before fusing with the lamella of the previous whorl.” (translated from Cossmann 1912: 44–45).

Discussion. The name of this genus was frequently misspelled. Sthenorhytis in Dall (1889) and Stenorhytis in Cossmann (1912) are incorrect subsequent spellings.