Discoscala scaberrima ( Michelotti, 1840 )

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 : 59-62

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-FFDF-FFD9-FF3F-FA83FB12920C
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Discoscala scaberrima ( Michelotti, 1840 )
status

Treatment

Discoscala scaberrima ( Michelotti, 1840)

Figs 15A–B View FIGURE 15 , 22A–D View FIGURE 22

* Scalaria scaberrima View in CoL mihi— Michelotti 1840: 9.

Scalaria scaberrima View in CoL mihi— Michelotti 1847: 161, pl. 6, fig. 10.

Scalaria scaberrima Michelotti— Hörnes 1848: 22 View in CoL .

Scalaria scaberrima Micht.—Hörnes 1856: 476 View in CoL , pl. 47, fig. 9.

Discoscala scaberrima (Micht.) — Sacco 1891: 57.

D [iscoscala]. scaberrima var. perproducta Sacc.— Sacco 1891: 59 , pl. 2, fig. 45.

D [iscoscala]. scaberrima var. subcanaliculata Sacc.— Sacco 1891: 59 , pl. 2, fig. 46.

D [iscoscala]. scaberrima var. taurotransiens Sacc.— Sacco 1891: 59 , pl. 2, fig. 47

Acrilla (Discoscala) scaberrima (Mich.) — Cossmann 1912: 59, pl. 3, fig. 24.

A [maea]. (D [iscoscala].) scaberrima (Micht.) — Sieber 1958: 129.

Amaea (Discoscala) scaberrima Michelotti, 1840 View in CoL — Glibert 1952: 245.

Cirsotrema View in CoL (s. lat.) scaberrimum ( Michelotti, 1847) [sic]— Janssen 1967: 143, pl. 14, fig. 3.

Scala (Discoscala) scaberrima Micht. View in CoL — Csepreghy-Meznerics 1969a: 22, pl. 4, fig. 4.

Scala (Discoscala) scaberrima Micht. View in CoL — Csepreghy-Meznerics 1969b: 74, pl. 2, fig. 1.

Discoscala scaberrima (Michelotti) — Ferrero Mortara et al. 1984: 48, pl. 6, figs 3a–b.

Cirsotrema (Discoscala) scaberrima ( Michelotti, 1847) — Janssen 1984: 168, pl. 50, fig. 16.

Amaea (Discoscala) scaberrima (Michelotti) View in CoL — Schultz 1998: 54, pl. 20, fig. 13.

Type material. Syntype?, BS.030.09.001, SL: 45.0 mm, MD: 20.1 mm, S. Agata ( Italy), Tortonian (Late Miocene), illustrated in Ferrero Mortara et al. (1984: 48, pl. 6, figs 3a–b). As discussed by Ferrero Mortara et al. (1984: 48) the syntype cannot be identified clearly.

Illustrated material. NHMW 1863/0015/1213, SL: 38.1 mm, MD: 18.8 mm, Möllersdorf ( Austria), illustrated in Hörnes (1856, pl. pl. 6, fig. 10), Figs 22A View FIGURE 22 1 –A View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 . NHMW 2010/0004/0522a, SL: 29.4 mm, MD: 19.5 mm, Bad Vöslau ( Austria), Figs 15A View FIGURE 15 , 22B View FIGURE 22 1 –B View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 . NHMW 1859/0027/0161a, SL: 20.9 mm, MD: 11.4 mm, Möllersdorf ( Austria), Figs 15B View FIGURE 15 , 22C View FIGURE 22 1 –C View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 . NHMW 2010/0004/0522b, SL: 22.9 mm, MD: 11.9 mm, Bad Vöslau ( Austria), Figs 22D View FIGURE 22 1 –D View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 .

Additional material. 2 spec., NHMW 2013 View Materials /0078/0149, Baden ( Austria) ; 2 spec., NHMW 1859 View Materials /0027/0161, Möllersdorf ( Austria) ; 1 spec., NHMW 1866 View Materials /0040/0338, Lăpugiu de Sus ( Romania) .

Revised description. Shell very large, stocky, moderately broad (apical angle 30–33°). Protoconch and first teleoconch whorls unknown. Teleoconch of about ten low, strongly convex whorls, with shallow, weakly concave subsutural ramp and angled shoulder, periphery placed mid-whorl. Suture deeply impressed on early whorls, moderately impressed on later whorls. Sculpture of numerous, thin, close-set, moderately elevated, orthocline, frondose lamellae, not aligned axially (15: 22/29: 30) that do not amalgamate, with erect crests. Lamellar interspaces bearing numerous weak spiral cords, overrun by delicate growth lines. Last whorl attaining 40% of total height, basal angulation strongly developed, delimited by prominent but narrow peribasal cord, lamellae stop abruptly at cord, basal disc well developed, bearing numerous fine spiral threads crossed by growth lines. Aperture subcircular with parietal concavity. Columella nearly straight. Outer lip not preserved. Columellar callus forming moderately broad rim, detached from base, parietal callus absent. Peristome simple, No umbilicus.

Discussion. The assumed syntype from the Tortonian of S. Agata ( Italy) differs from the specimen illustrated by Hörnes (1856) in its more pronounced, concave subsutural ramp and lamellose but distinctly less frondose varices, whereas the spire fragment agrees well with the syntype. The available Paratethyan material displays some variability in the number of lamellae and the subsutural ramp may become convex during ontogeny as seen in specimens described as variety taurotransiens by Sacco (1891). Therefore, we consider Discoscala scaberrima ( Michelotti, 1840) to be somewhat variable and tentatively treat the Paratethyan specimens as conspecific with it, awaiting more material from the Proto-Mediterranean Sea to better characterize that species. The extant Discoscala edgari (de Boury, 1912) differs in its closer-set lamellae and higher subcylindrical whorls (see Weil et al. 1999: figs 249–250).

Paleoenvironment. Occurrences in the Baden Formation of the Vienna Basin suggest middle to outer neritic settings in up to 250 m water depth ( Kranner et al. 2021).

Distribution in Central Paratethys. Vienna Basin: Baden, Bad Vöslau, Möllersdorf ( Austria) (Hörnes 1856; Schultz 1998); Bükk Mountains: Balaton ( Hungary) ( Csepreghy-Meznerics 1969a).

Proto-Mediterranean Sea. Langhian (Middle Miocene): Colli Torinesi : Sciolze, Albugnano ( Italy) ( Sacco 1891); Tortonian (Late Miocene): Po Basin: S. Agata, Stazzano, Montegibbio, Tortona ( Italy) ( Sacco 1891; Glibert 1962).

North Sea. Hemmoorian (Early/Middle Miocene): North Sea Basin: Winterswijk-Miste ( the Netherlands) ( Janssen 1984). Reinbekian (Middle Miocene): North Sea Basin: Dingden ( Germany) ( Janssen 1967).

Genus Funiscala de Boury, 1891 View in CoL

Type species. Scalaria (Funiscala) speyeriana Sacco, 1891 misidentified as Scalaria pusilla Philippi, 1844 View in CoL in the original designation by de Boury (1891: 205); fixed by Beu (2011: 19) under ICZN Article 70.3. Oligocene, Germany.

Diagnosis. “ Shell rather thick . Size fairly small; shape turriculate, conical; spire long, unstaggered; whorls convex, separated by deep sutures; ornamentation composed of thick , slightly sinuous, rarely subvaricose axial ribs, crossed by spiral cords, unpunctuated. Last whorl about a quarter of the total height, with a thick , excavated disc bordered by a peripheral carina, crenellated by the ribs; its surface is furrowed and obtusely radiated by the ribs it covers; no umbilicus, but a faint bulge that simulates a rudimentary cord. Oval-rounded aperture, located in an almost vertical plane, with a split peristome, the inner layer thin and continuous, the outer layer interrupted in the parietal region; labrum bored by a thick varicose varix.” (translated from Cossmann 1912: 86).

Discussion. De Boury (1891: 205) clearly stated Scalaria pusilla Philippi, 1844 as type species but referred to the illustration given in Speyer (1864: pl. 41, fig. 9). In the same year, but slightly later, Sacco (1891) introduced Scalaria (Funiscala) pusilla speyeriana Sacco, 1891 as name for this species along with several additional varieties, such as Funiscala pusilla sandbergeriana ( Sacco, 1891) (see Sandberger 1863: pl. 11, fig. 1). De Boury (1911) discussed this problem again and stated: “ It is necessary to change the name of the type, which is characterized by the very well developed transverse cords which are not observed in the true S. pusilla . This has only a few grooves.” (translated from de Boury 1911: 219). Cossmann (1912: 86) agreed that the type was originally misidentified and suggested that Scalaria pusilla should be placed in Bifidoscala Cossmann, 1888 (type species Scalaria lemoinei de Boury, 1883 ; Thanetian, France). Consequently, Cossmann (1912) listed ‘ Scalaria Speyeri Sacco’ as type species of Funiscala . As pointed out by Beu (2011), the action by de Boury (2011) conforms to ICZN Article 70.3. (misidentified type species). According to Janssen (1978) Scalaria pusilla Philippi, 1844 and Scalaria (Funiscala) pusilla speyeriana Sacco, 1891 are synonyms anyway.

To complicate things, De Boury (1913b: 72) concluded that the Oligocene species placed by him previously in Funiscala should be placed in Bifidoscala and considered Funiscala a synonym of Bifidoscala . Bifidoscala lemoinei (de Boury, 1883) as illustrated by Cossmann & Pissarro (1907: pl. 7, fig. 52-24) is indeed very similar to Funiscala pusilla . Nevertheless, Cossmann (1912: 66) emphasized the presence of an umbilicus in Bifidoscala and defined the genus by “ oblique axial ribs, slightly thickened at the base, invariably divided by a longitudinal groove which gives them a bifid appearance; their intervals are adorned with spiral cords which do not seem to rise up the sides of the ribs. ” (translated from Cossmann 1912: 66). Cossmann (1912) emphasized that the peculiar bifid appearance of the axial ribs was not a matter of preservation but a genuine feature and restricted the genus to a group of species, which “ existed only for a very limited time ” ( Cossmann 1912: 67). Therefore, we prefer to keep Funiscala and Bifidoscala separate, awaiting a thorough revision of this enigmatic group.

For species that de Boury (1913b) thought to correspond to his original concept of Funiscala , he introduced Rugatiscala for species without punctate microsculpture [type species Scalaria levesquei de Boury, 1913 , original designation by de Boury (1913b: 72); Eocene, France]. The type species of Rugatiscala is characterized by an almost cancellate sculpture in which the ribs and cords are almost equal in strength (de Boury 1913b; pl. 8, fig. 6). This morphology differs strongly from that observed in the Miocene species and therefore a close relationship is unlikely.

Funiscala View in CoL was treated as subgenus of Pliciscala View in CoL by Boettger (1906), Kautsky (1925) and Korobkov (1955) and Scalaria pusilla Philippi, 1844 View in CoL was placed in Pliciscala de Boury, 1887 View in CoL by Janssen (1978: 175). Pliciscala gouldi ( Deshayes, 1861) View in CoL , the type species of Pliciscala View in CoL from the Middle Eocene of the Paris Basin, is slender pupoid with numerous, relatively narrow axial ribs and subobsolete spiral sculpture. Its base is convex with prominent peribasal cord but without basal disc ( Deshayes 1861: pl. 11, figs 15–16). This morphology is quite different from species placed in Funiscala View in CoL by us, which are moderately slender conical with comparatively fewer, prominent axial ribs, spiral cords in the interspaces and distinct basal angulation (see Janssen 1978: pl. 12, fig. 57). Therefore, we keep both genera separated. No unequivocal Pliciscala species are known to us from the Neogene of the Paratethys Sea and Proto-Mediterranean Sea.

Funiscala View in CoL is reminiscent of Punctiscala de Boury, 1890 View in CoL [type species Scalaria plicosa Philippi, 1844 View in CoL ; Pliocene, Italy] but differs in its smooth shell, which lacks the punctate surface of Punctiscala View in CoL . In addition, Punctiscala View in CoL is larger, has a stronger spiral sculpture and the number of axial ribs decreases during ontogeny.

MD	Museum Donaueschingen
NHMW	Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien

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Taxonomy

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Mollusca
Class	Gastropoda
Family	Epitoniidae
Genus	Discoscala