Funiscala infans ( Boettger, 1906 )

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 : 62-63

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5630.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:89462472-D932-4255-880F-C6EF15220A31
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scientific name	Funiscala infans ( Boettger, 1906 )
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Treatment

Funiscala infans ( Boettger, 1906)

Figs 21G View FIGURE 21 , 22E View FIGURE 22

* Pliciscala (Funiscala) infans n. sp. — Boettger 1906: 96.

Funiscala infans Boettger— Cossmann 1912: 195 , pl. 5, fig. 9.

Opalia (Funiscala) infans (Boettger) — Zilch 1934: 229, pl. 10, fig. 74.

Type material. Holotype, SMF 380175 About SMF _12-1453a ( XII 1453 a), SL: 3.4 mm, MD: 1.3 mm, CoŞteiu de Sus ( Romania), specimen illustrated in Zilch (1934: pl. 10, fig. 74), Figs 21G View FIGURE 21 , 22E View FIGURE 22 .

Revised description. Very small, moderately slender conical shell (apical angle 23°). Protoconch turreted of four whorls. Teleoconch of six strongly convex whorls with indistinct, convex subsutural ramp and deeply impressed, linear suture. Sculpture of relatively narrow, weakly prosocline, convex axial ribs separated by wider interspaces, vaguely aligned axially (14: 14: 14). Tips of ribs weakly pointed without touching preceding whorl. One prominent varix on last two whorls. Spiral sculpture of numerous, faint, close-set spiral threads. Last whorl convex, attaining ~35% of total height, basal angulation distinct delimited by prominent, rounded peribasal cord, basal disc flattened, almost smooth. Aperture subcircular with concave columella. Columellar and parietal lip continuous, forming narrow rim. Peristome duplex. Outer lip strongly thickened.

Discussion. This species is reminiscent of Funiscala grata (de Boury, 1891) , from the Tortonian of Montegibbio ( Italy), which differs in its broader axial ribs and more prominent spiral cords (de Boury 1891: pl. 4, fig. 12). Funiscala microscopica ( Boettger, 1906) differs in its punctate microsculpture, character of the genus Nodiscala , and weaker basal angulation. Funiscala pusilla ( Philippi, 1844) , from the Rupelian of Germany, differs in its more superficial suture, broader axial ribs and prominent spiral cords in the narrower interspaces (see Janssen 1978: pl. 12, fig. 57).

Paleoenvironment. Unknown.

Distribution in Central Paratethys. Badenian (Middle Miocene): Făget Basin: CoŞteiu de Sus ( Romania) ( Zilch 1934).

Genus Gregorioiscala Cossmann, 1912

Type species. Scalaria romettensis De Gregorio, 1889 ; original designation by Cossmann (1912: 80). Miocene, Italy.

Diagnosis. “ Very thick shell. Medium size ; shape turriculate, generally convex; spire long, gradate, acute at the apex, whorls very convex in the middle; excavated posteriorly, separated by linear suture, slightly bordered below; framed by two ramps. Sculpture composed of axial ribs, quite numerous, straight, faded on the posterior ramp and not reaching the anterior suture either, crossed by very fine spiral threads, barely visible when the shell is worn. From the fourth whorl before the last, a very large varicose vein, continuous from one suture to the other, even overflowing the sutures, appears and advances - at each whorl - by an amount equal to its own width. Last whorl less than a third of the total height, ornamented like the rest of the spire, limited at the periphery of the base by a large, obtusely crenellated cord; base narrow, imperforate, only slightly convex, finely striated and vaguely striped by the varices. Circular aperture, with very thick , split peristome, the inner layer fairly narrow and cylindrical, nowhere sloping, except for a small calloused portion on the parietal region; outer layer discontinuous, varicose over the extant of the peristome. ” (translated from Cossmann 1912: 80).

Discussion. We are not aware of illustrations of the type species Scalaria romettensis De Gregorio, 1889 , aside from the rather poor drawing of a fragmentary specimen in De Gregorio (1889: pl. 1, fig. 21). Therefore, the understanding of this genus remains ambiguous. We follow Bouchet & Warén (1986: 544) and Landau et al. (2006) who defined Gregorioiscala Cossmann, 1912 as characterized by a strong basal cord, a thickened outer lip and a thick, pitted intritacalx. The varices on subsequent whorls are aligned. Compressiscala Masahito & Habe, 1976 (type species Compressiscala japonica Masahito & Habe, 1976 ; present-day, Indo-West Pacific) is generally considered as subjective junior synonym (e.g. Kilburn 1985: 277; Bouchet & Warén 1986: 544), although molecular data is missing so far. Currently, MolluscaBase eds. (2024e) lists 17 extant and two fossil species in this genus. This list, however, might need revision. For example, the extant western Atlantic Gregorioiscala pimentai Lima & Christoffersen, 2014 and Gregorioiscala federicoi Bonfitto, 2020 from the Red Sea are comparatively stout and lack prominent and protruding varices (see Lima & Christoffersen 2014: fig. 1; Bonfitto 2020: fig. 1). Similarly, the generic placement of the Recent Gregorioiscala exfoliata Bouchet & Warén, 1986 , from the Bay of Biscay, and Gregorioiscala sarsi (Kobelt, 1903) , from Norway, included by Bouchet & Warén (1986) in this genus, will need revision as they are not very similar to the type species. The herein described species, however, is morphologically very close to the extant Gregorioiscala pachya (Locard, 1897) and the Pliocene Gregorioiscala abrupta ( De Cristofori & Jan, 1832) and fits within the generic concept of Landau et al. (2006).