Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) esplus (De Gregorio, 1885a)

Harzhauser, Mathias, Landau, Bernard M. & Merle, Didier, 2025, The Muricidae (Gastropoda, Muricoidea) of the Miocene Central Paratethys Sea (Haustrinae, Muricinae, Ocenebrinae, Pagodulinae, Typhinae, Muricidae incertae sedis), Zootaxa 5572 (1), pp. 1-162 : 27-28

Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) esplus (De Gregorio, 1885a)

Figs 1 , 9A–D

Murex pomum L.—Pusch 1837: 136, pl. 11, fig. 24 [non Phyllonotus pomum ( Gmelin, 1791) ].

Murex rudis Borson —Hörnes 1856: 674, pl. 51, fig. 6 [non Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) rudis ( Borson, 1821) ].

* [ Murex trunculus rudis ] Var. esplus De Greg. —De Gregorio 1885a: 264 [nov. nom. pro Murex rudis sensu Hörnes 1856 : pl. 51, fig. 6 and Bellardi 1873: pl. 7, fig. 1].

Murex (Phyllonotus) rudis Bors. —Hoernes & Auinger 1885: 212 [non Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) rudis ( Borson, 1821) ].

Murex (Muricantha) syrticus Mayer — Strausz 1954: 26, pl. 5, fig. 124a, pl. 6, figs 14b–d [non Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) syrticus ( Mayer, 1871) ].

H [exaplex]. (M [uricanthus].) rudis (Bors.) — Sieber 1958: 144 [non Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) rudis ( Borson, 1821) ].

Murex (Muricanthus) rudis syrticus Mayer, 1871 — Strausz 1966:266, pl. 31, fig.9, pl.32, figs 2–3 [non Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) syrticus ( Mayer, 1871) ].

Hexaplex (Muricanthus) rudis (Borson, 1822 [sic]) — Hinculov in Iliescu et al. 1968: 139, pl. 39, fig. 5 [non Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) rudis ( Borson, 1821) ].

Murex (Muricanthus) rudis (Borson) — Csepreghy-Meznerics 1972: 27, pl. 9, fig. 10 [non Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) rudis ( Borson, 1821) ].

Hexaplex rudis ( Borson, 1821) — Stojaspal 1978: 334 [non Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) rudis ( Borson, 1821) ].

Hexaplex syrticus ( Mayer, 1871) — Stojaspal 1978: 334 [non Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) syrticus ( Mayer, 1871) ].

Murex (Muricanthus) rudis Borson, 1821 — Iljina 1993: 99, pl. 13, figs 8–9 [non Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) rudis ( Borson, 1821) ].

Type material. Murex esplus De Gregorio, 1885a was introduced for the specimens illustrated by Hörnes (1856: pl. 51, fig. 6) and Bellardi (1873: pl. 7, fig. 1). As first revisers we select the Paratethyan specimen of Hörnes (1856) as lectotype of Murex esplus De Gregorio, 1885a : NHMW 1855/0045/0650, SL: 35.1 mm, MD: 23.8 mm, Grund ( Austria), illustrated in Hörnes (1856: pl. 51, fig. 6), Figs 9A 1 –A 3 .

Illustrated material. NHMW 1866/0040/0069, SL: 31.1 mm, MD: 23.1 mm, Grund ( Austria), Figs 9B 1 –B 3 . NHMW 1865/0001/0188, SL: 36.1 mm, MD: 25.9 mm, Grund ( Austria), Figs 9C 1 –C 3 . NHMW 2024/0067/0001, SL: 37.4 mm, MD: 24.6 mm, Coşteiu de Sus ( Romania), Figs 9D 1 –D 3 .

Additional material. 3 spec., NHMW 1855 /0045/0680, Grund ( Austria) ; 1 spec., NHMW 1860 /0005/0040, Pöls ( Austria) ; 1 spec., NHMW 1869 /0042/0010, Niederkreuzstetten ( Austria) .

Revised description. Medium-sized, globular, solid shell; apical angle 60–73°. Protoconch unknown. Teleoconch of five whorls. Suture strongly incised, shallowly undulating. Early teleoconch whorls convex with faint mid-whorl angulation and convex subsutural ramp. Axial sculpture of four broad, prominent, rounded varices alternating with one or two slightly weaker intervarical ribs. Spiral sculpture on spire whorls of weak adis, IP and abis on convex subsutural ramp. P1 and P2 prominent with slightly weaker s1; s2 at abapical suture. Last whorl attaining ~75% of total height, inflated, strongly constricted at base. Sculpture of four rounded varices with one or two intervarical ribs intercalated; spirals subequal adis, IP and abis; P1–P5 forming prominent, rounded cords; P6 weaker on convex part of whorl; P1 not sharply delimiting shoulder, periphery at P3; s1–s6 increasing in strength towards aperture, only slightly weaker than primaries. ADP, MP and ABP prominent, close set. Fasciole swollen, separated from siphonal canal by narrow chink. Aperture roundly ovate. Outer lip with eight to nine prominent denticles close behind peristome. Anal canal weakly incised, accentuated by broad anal denticle and weak ID. Siphonal canal relatively short, moderately wide, open, slightly deflected to the left, weakly dorsally reflected. Columella excavated in adapical half, smooth, angled at transition to siphonal canal. Columellar callus forming broad rim, sharply delimited from base, adherent in parietal area.

Discussion. Hörnes (1856) and Hoernes & Auinger (1885) identified this species as Murex rudis Borson, 1821 , from the Late Miocene of Italy, which differs from Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) esplus in its larger size, longer siphonal canal and slightly higher spire (see Landau et al. 2007: pl. 2, fig. 7; Merle et al. 2011: pl. 38, figs 6–12). Strausz (1954, 1966) and Stojaspal (1978) identified the Paratethyan specimens with Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) syrticus ( Mayer, 1871) , which was described by Mayer (1871) from the Middle Miocene of Gabarret and Rimbez in the Aquitaine Basin ( France). Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) syrticus is characterized by a stout, globular shell, very prominent varices and very short siphonal canal (see Mayer 1871: 348, pl. 10, fig. 4; Cossmann & Peyrot 1924: 119, pl. 14, figs 1–2, 10–11; Merle et al. 2011: 320, pl. 38, figs 2–3). The even more globular outline and short siphonal canal distinguish H. (T.) syrticus from the Paratethyan Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) esplus (De Gregorio, 1885a) . Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) gavardanensis ( Cossmann & Peyrot, 1924) from the Middle Miocene of France is reminiscent of H. (T.). esplus , with a very similar spiral sculpture. However, it has a narrower subsutural ramp and less prominent intervarical ribs (see Cossmann & Peyrot 1924: pl. 13, fig. 47; Merle et al. 2011: pl. 38, fig. 5).

Paleoenvironment. Shallow marine, inner neritic environments.

Distribution in Central Paratethys. Karpatian (Early Miocene): Korneuburg Basin: Stetten ( Austria) (Hoernes & Auinger 1885); Vienna Basin: Niederkreuzstetten ( Austria) (Hoernes & Auinger 1885). Badenian (Middle Miocene): Korytnica Basin: Korytnica ( Poland) (Pusch 1837); North Alpine-Carpathian Foreland Basin: Grund ( Austria) (Hoernes & Auinger 1885); Vienna Basin: Steinebrunn ( Austria) (Hoernes & Auinger 1885); Styrian Basin: Pöls ( Austria) (Hoernes & Auinger 1885); Pannonian Basin: Várpalota ( Hungary) ( Strausz 1966); Mecsek Mountains: Püspöklak ( Hungary) ( Strausz 1966); Mehadia Basin: Valea Bela Reca ( Romania) (Hinculov in Iliescu et al. 1968); Făget Basin: Coşteiu de Sus, Lăpugiu de Sus ( Romania) (Hoernes & Auinger 1885).

Eastern Paratethys. Konkian (Middle Miocene): Ciscaucasia: Pivol’nyi (= so named Mount Dubrovaya) ( Russia) ( Iljina 1993).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Cord diagrams and apertural features for Haustrinae [Haustrum? pyrulatum (Hoernes & Auinger, 1882)] and Muricinae [Bolinus gapus (De Gregorio, 1885a), Bolinus partschi (Hörnes, 1853), Chicoreus (Triplex) aquitanicus (Grateloup, 1833), Chicoreus (Triplex) hirmetzli (Kovács, 2018), Chicoreus (Triplex) notatus (Eichwald, 1830). Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) trunculoides (Pusch, 1837), Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) esplus (De Gregorio, 1885a), Hexaplex(Trunculariopsis) subasperrimus (d’Orbigny, 1852), Promurex spinicosta (Bronn, 1831), Exquisitor graniferus (Michelotti, 1841)].

FIGURE 3. Bolinus gapus (De Gregorio, 1885a). A1–A3. NHMW 1847/0046/0030, Szob (Hungary). B1–B3. paralectotype, NHMW 1860/0015/1270, Grund (Austria). C1–C3. NHMW1869/0001/0280, Grund (Austria). D1–D3. lectotype, NHMW 1856/0050/0122, Gainfarn (Austria).

FIGURE 9. Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) esplus (De Gregorio, 1885a). A1–A3. lectotype, NHMW 1855/0045/0650, Grund (Austria). B1–B3. NHMW 1866/0040/0069, Grund (Austria). C1–C3. NHMW 1865/0001/0188, Grund (Austria). D1–D3. NHMW 2024/0067/0001, Coşteiu de Sus (Romania).