Varioconus taurinensis ( Bellardi et Michelotti, 1840 )

Kovács, Z. & Vicián, Z., 2013, Badenian (Middle Miocene) Conoidean (Neogastropoda) fauna from Letkés (N Hungary), Fragmenta Palaeontologica Hungarica 30, pp. 53-100 : 88

Varioconus taurinensis ( Bellardi et Michelotti, 1840)

(Figs 143–148)

1840 Conus Striatulus Brocchi var. Taurinensis – BELLARDI & MICHELOTTI, p. 62, pl. 7, figs 12–13.

1893 Conus (Chelyconus) taurinensis (Bellardi et Michelotti) – SACCO, p. 98, pl. 9, fig. 47, varieties: fusolivoides, anomalomamilla: p. 99, pl. 9, figs 50, 52.

1943 Conus (Chelyconus) elegans n. sp. – BANDAT, p. 342, pl. 2, figs 27–28.

1972 Conus anomalomamillus Sacco – DAVOLI, p. 74, pl. 4, figs 1–4, 6–13.

1972 Conus taurinensis (Bellardi et Michelotti) – DAVOLI, p. 134, pl. 8, fig. 12.

1997 Conus (Chelyconus) cf. taurinensis (Bellardi et Michelotti) – CHIRLI, p. 11, pl. 3, fig. 8.

1999 Conus (Chelyconus) cfr. anomalomamillus (Sacco) – MUÑIZ, p. 37, figs 2/A, 6/A–D (cum syn.).

1999 Conus (Chelyconus) taurinensis (Bellardi et Michelotti) – MUÑIZ, p. 64, figs 2/T, 8/G–H (cum syn.).

Material – 29 specimens.

Description – Shell small to medium-sized (SL: 16–30). Spire high, outline straight. The ultimate spiral whorl is higher than the preceding whorls, convex to step-like. Shoulder sloping. Body whorl conical, outline convex, smooth with fine ridges at the base. Subsutural flexure almost diagonal.

Remarks – The Letkés material agrees with the syntype ( SACCO 1893, pl. 9, fig. 47, refigured by FERRERO MORTARA et al. 1984, pl. 20, fig. 3), and with the specimens illustrated in the literature. Two specimens figured here (Figs 143, 148) are close to the syntype of C. taurinensis var. anomalomamilla Sacco (1893 , pl. 9, fig. 52, refigured by FERRERO MORTARA et al. 1984, pl. 20, fig. 2).

Distribution – Italy (M-P), Albania (MM), Spain (LP). Hungary: Letkés (MM).