Papuliscala parvicancellata, 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 : 12-13

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-FFEE-FFE8-FF3F-F8F2FD52905D
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Papuliscala parvicancellata
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Papuliscala parvicancellata sp. nov.

Figs 2D View FIGURE 2 , 3D–E View FIGURE 3

Cerithiopsis (Metaxia) subsoluta Boettger, 1907 — Bałuk 2006: 200, pl. 9, fig. 13 [non Papuliscala subsoluta (Boettger, 1907) ].

Type material. Holotype, NHMW 1863 View Materials /0015/0804, SL: 4.7 mm, MD: 2.5 mm, Niederleis ( Austria), Figs 2D View FIGURE 2 , 3D View FIGURE 3 1 –D View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 . Paratype, BkK-G1209, SL: 4.6 mm, MD: 2.0 mm, Korytnica ( Poland), illustrated in Bałuk (2006: pl. 9, fig. 13), Fig. 3E View FIGURE 3 .

Type locality. Niederleis ( Austria), Vienna Basin .

Type stratum. Baden Formation.

Age. Middle Miocene, middle Badenian (Langhian).

Etymology. After parvus (Latin for small) and cancellata (Latin for cancellate), referring to the delicate, cancellate pattern.

Diagnosis. Very small to small, slender turreted shell with moderately high convex whorls and prominent finely cancellate sculpture of seven spiral cords with weak nodes at intersection with ribs.

Description. Shell very small to small, slender turreted (apical angle ~15°). Protoconch and early teleoconch whorls unknown. Teleoconch whorls moderately high and convex with narrow, weakly convex subsutural ramp, regularly convex below, periphery just above mid-whorl. Suture impressed, linear. Sculpture of prominent, narrow, weakly prosocline axial ribs (?: 15: 16), separated by wider interspaces, overrun by seven subequal spiral cords, forming finely cancellate sculpture, with small nodes developed at intersections. Base convex with prominent peribasal cord and five spiral cords. Aperture ovate, columella weakly concave. Outer lip not preserved. Columellar and parietal callus delicate.

Discussion. This species is based on two fragmentary specimens. Nevertheless, the available material is highly characteristic and allows for a description. It is the most finely cancellate Papuliscala species in the Paratethyan assemblages. The morphologically closest species is Papuliscala plioligustica ( Sacco, 1891) , from the Pliocene of the Mediterranean Sea. It is almost identical in shape and sculpture, but differs only in the higher number of spiral cords and axial ribs in the Pliocene species, resulting in even finer cancellate sculpture (see Ferrero Mortara et al. 1984: pl. 6, fig. 12).

Papuliscala parvicancellata nov. sp differs from most congeners, such as Papuliscala presselierensis Landau, Ceulemans & Van Dingenen, 2018 , from the Tortonian of France, in its greater number of spiral cords. The extant Papuliscala luuki Hoffman, Gofas & Freiwald, 2020 , from the Great Meteor Seamount, has comparable sculpture but its axial ribs are more delicate and the suture is more deeply incised ( Hoffman et al. 2020: figs 26–28). Papuliscala gretae Brunetti & Soccio, 2006 , from the Pliocene of Italy, is reminiscent of the Paratethyan species, but develops only five spiral cords and has lower whorls (see Brunetti & Soccio 2006: figs 1, 2a). The extant Papuliscala cerithielloides Bouchet & Warén, 1986 also has similar sculpture, but differs in its more convex whorls and it lacks nodes at the sculptural intersections (see Bouchet & Warén 1986: figs 1164). Papuliscala voorthuyseni ( Anderson, 1964) from the Middle Miocene of Dingden ( Germany) differs in its spiral cords, which distinctly overrun the more numerous axial ribs (see Anderson 1964: pl. 14, fig. 123). Papuliscala voorthuyseni ( Anderson, 1964) (sensu Janssen 1984) , from the Hemmoorian of the North Sea, is also reminiscent of P. parvicancellata in its very slender shape and cancellate sculpture but develops only five spiral cords (see Janssen 1984: pl. 50, figs 10–11).

Paleoenvironment. The Niederleis section, sediment and biota from coastal and lagoonal environments not exceeding 30 m water depth were transported by tempestites into offshore settings ( Mandic et al. 2002). Extant Papuliscala species are found in deep water environments ( Bouchet & Warén, 1986).

Distribution in Central Paratethys. Badenian (Middle Miocene): Korytnica Basin: Korytnica ( Poland) ( Bałuk 2006); Vienna Basin: Niederleis ( Austria) (hoc opus).