Ptychocerithium distinctissimum ( Eichwald, 1851 )

Harzhauser, Mathias, Guzhov, Aleksandr & Landau, Bernard, 2025, A revision of the Cainozoic Cerithiidae and Plesiotrochidae (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda) of the Paratethys Sea (Europe, Asia), Zootaxa 5625 (1), pp. 1-180 : 95-98

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5625.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E4AB35FE-B158-4722-A849-C271E419DEE7
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/211887DE-356F-DC78-FF54-840EF336F9E9
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Ptychocerithium distinctissimum ( Eichwald, 1851 )
status

Treatment

Ptychocerithium distinctissimum ( Eichwald, 1851)

Figs 27B, 43A–L View FIGURE 43

* Cerithium distinctissimum — Eichwald 1851: 85, pl. 7, fig. 19.

Cerith [ium]. nanum View in CoL m.— Eichwald 1851: 89, pl. 7, fig. 21 [non Cerithium nanum Adams, 1850 View in CoL ].

Cerithium distinctissimum — Eichwald 1852: 2, pl. 7, fig. 19.

Cerithium nanum View in CoL — Eichwald 1852: 2, pl. 7, fig. 21 [non Cerithium nanum Adams, 1850 View in CoL ].

Cerith [ium]. distinctissimum m.— Eichwald 1853: 147.

Cerith [ium]. nanum m.— Eichwald 1853: 147 [non Cerithium nanum Adams, 1850 ].

C [erithium]. Bronniforme n. sp. — Hilber 1881: 184 [nomen nudum].

Cerithium View in CoL Bronni-forme Hilber nova forma — Hilber 1882: 8, pl. 1, figs 16–17.

Cerithium distinctissimum Eichw.— Friedberg 1914: 259 , pl. 16, figs 10–11.

Cerithium distinctissimum Eichw.—Krach 1950: 305 , pl. 2, fig. 12.

Cerithium distinctissimum Eichwald 1853 — Zelinskaya et al. 1968: 153, pl. 38, fig. 5.

Cerithium distinctissimum Eichw.— Urbaniak 1974: 38 , pl. 3, fig. 7.

Cerithium irregulare Dub.— Urbaniak 1974: 38 , pl. 3, fig. 11 [non Cerithium irregulare Dubois de Montpéreux, 1831 = Chondrocerithium gibbosum ( Eichwald, 1830) ].

Cerithium bronni Partsch— Urbaniak 1974: 31 View in CoL , pl. 3, figs 4–5, pl. 12, fig. 17 [non Ptychocerithium bronnii ( Naumann, 1852) ].

non Cerithium nanum Eichw. View in CoL var.— Krach 1935: 14, pl. 1, fig. 7 [? = aberrant Pithocerithium rubiginosum ( Eichwald, 1830) ] non Cerithium (Ptychocerithium) distinctissimum Eichw.— Korobkov 1955 : plate captions, pl. 25, fig. 16 [? = Thericium sp. ]. non Cerithium (Ptychocerithium) distinctissimum Eichw. an sp. dist.— Csepreghy-Meznerics 1956: 387, pl. 3, figs 15–16 [? =

Ptychocerithium bronnii ( Naumann, 1852) ]. non Cerithium (Ptychocerithium) distinctissimum Eichwald 1853 —Kojumdgieva in Kojumdgieva & Strachimirov 1960: 107,

pl. 31, fig. 10 [? = Ptychocerithium bronnii ( Naumann, 1852) ]. non Cerithium bronni distinctissimum Eichwald— Strausz 1962: 43 , pl. 9, figs 2–3 [? = Ptychocerithium bronnii ( Naumann,

1852)]. non Cerithium bronni distinctissimum Eichwald, 1853 — Strausz 1966: 138, pl. 9, figs 2–3 [? = Ptychocerithium bronnii

( Naumann, 1852)].

Type material. Lectotype designated herein: specimen illustrated in Eichwald (1852: pl. 7, fig. 19), probably specimen SPSU 3/299, SL: 27 mm, MD: 11.8 mm, Zavadintsi ( Ukraine), late Badenian, Figs 43A View FIGURE 43 1 –A View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 . Paralectotype: ZI RAS 63731, SL: 17.2 mm, MD: 6.5 mm, Tarnoruda ( Ukraine), late Badenian, Fig. 43B View FIGURE 43 .

Illustrated material. NHMW 1871 View Materials /0007/0001, SL: 27.2 mm, MD: 10.1 mm, Gliwice (“ Gleiwitz ”) ( Poland), Figs 43C View FIGURE 43 1 –C View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 . PIN 5904 View Materials /84, SL: 22.8 mm, MD: 6.7 mm, ravine Zhabyak ( Ukraine), Fig. 43D View FIGURE 43 . NHMW 2023 View Materials /0022/0003, SL: 25.3 mm, MD: 8.5 mm, Zalistsi ( Ukraine), Figs 43E View FIGURE 43 1 –E View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 . NHMW 2023 View Materials /0022/0004, SL: 23.9 mm, MD: 7.1 mm, Zalistsi ( Ukraine), Figs 27B, 43F View FIGURE 43 1 –F View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 . NHMW 1859 View Materials /0040/0023, SL: 23.1 mm, MD: 7.2 mm, Golubytsya ( Ukraine), Figs 43G View FIGURE 43 1 –G View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 . PIN 5904 View Materials /81, SL: 26 mm, MD: 9.3 mm, ravine Zhabyak ( Ukraine), Figs 43H View FIGURE 43 1 –H View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 . PIN 5904 View Materials /82, SL: 27 mm, MD: 9.2 mm, ravine Zhabyak ( Ukraine), Fig. 43I View FIGURE 43 . PIN 5904 View Materials /83, SL: 29 mm, MD: 10.4 mm, ravine Zhabyak ( Ukraine), Fig. 43J View FIGURE 43 . PIN 5904 View Materials /85, SL: 20.5 mm, MD: 7.9 mm, Stara Pisochna ( Ukraine), Fig. 43K View FIGURE 43 . PIN 5904 View Materials /86, SL: 20 mm, MD: 7.6 mm, Sataniv ( Ukraine), Fig. 43L View FIGURE 43 .

Additional material. 8 spec., NHMW 1859 View Materials /0045/0397, Oles’ko ; 2 spec., NHMW 1859 View Materials /0045/0483, Golubytsya ( Ukraine) .

Revised description. Medium sized, slender shell of up to 12 teleoconch whorls, attaining ~ 30 mm in height (all specimens are fragmentary); apical angle ~20–30°. Protoconch and early teleoconch whorls unknown. Spire whorls weakly convex with broad very irregular axial ribs separated by narrower interspaces. One or two prominent varices starting around fifth teleoconch whorl. Spiral sculpture of prominent primary and secondary spiral cords separated by narrower, but deep grooves. Narrow subsutural cord with indistinct beads delimited by slightly deeper and broader groove. Axial sculpture weak to subobsolete on last whorls. Suture narrowly to deeply incised, irregularly and weakly undulating. Last whorl low, moderately convex, attaining ~35–40% of total height. Two prominent varices at aperture and about 180° before. Base strongly constricted with one peribasal spiral cord and numerous primary and secondary spiral cords. Aperture ovate, wide. Columella broadly excavated. Columellar callus forming broad, moderately thickened rim, sharply delimited from base. Anal canal distinctly incised, moderately narrow, with prominent parietal denticle. Outer lip slightly thickened, with densely crenulated edge. Few spiral lirae deep inside aperture. Siphonal canal moderately long, moderately narrow, twisted, slightly deflected to the left.

Synonyms. Cerithium nanum Eichwald, 1851 , from the Badenian of Zaleśce (Salisze) ( Ukraine), seems to be based on a juvenile P. distinctissimum . Cerithium nanum is preoccupied by Adams (1850: 117). Cerithium bronniforme Hilber, 1882 , the syntypes from Golubytsya ( Ukraine) were stored in the Geological Survey of Austria (Vienna) but were destroyed during World War II. Already Friedberg (1914: 259) considered Cerithium bronniforme as junior synonym of C. distinctissimum Eichwald, 1830 with which it co-occurs. This morphotype is characterized by the more prominent axial sculpture and deeper suture.

Discussion. This species is characterized by its irregular outline due to the broad varices, the crenulated outer lip, the shallow suture and the short canal. Ptychocerithium bronnii ( Naumann, 1852) might be related, but differs in its more regular axial ribs, the slightly lower spire whorls and the weaker crenulation of the outer lip. Specimens from the Pannonian Basin, illustrated by Csepreghy-Meznerics (1956) and Strausz (1966) as Cerithium bronniforme , might rather represent aberrant specimens of Ptychocerithium bronnii ( Naumann, 1852) .

Paleoenvironment. Unknown.

Distribution. Endemic to the late Badenian of the Polish-Ukrainian Fore-Carpathian Basin.

Central Paratethys. Badenian (Middle Miocene): Voronyaky Hills: Golubytsya, Pidhirtsi (Lviv Region, Ukraine); Ukrainian Fore-Carpathian Basin: Tarnów ( Poland) ( Urbaniak 1974); Dibrova, Gorodok, Sataniv, Stara Pisochna, Tarnoruda, Varivtsi, Velyka Levada, Zaichyky (Khmel’nytskyi Region), Hołdy hill near Buchyna, Oles’ko, Plugiv, Yaseniv (Lviv Region), Mala Bilka, Mykulyntsi, Myslova, Rydomyl’, Staryi Pochaiv, Velyka Bilka (= Bilka), Zalistsi, ravine Zhabyak near Dzvynyacha, Zhukivtsi (Ternopil Region, Ukraine) ( Hilber 1882; Friedberg 1914; hoc. opus); Błoń, Bogucic, Gliwice (“Gleiwitz”) ( Poland) (Krach 1950; hoc opus).

An additional Ptychocerithium species might be represented by a cast illustrated in Steininger (1973: 406, pl. 4, fig. 8) as Cerithium (Ptychocerithium) granulinum Bellardi et Michelotti, 1840 from Bántapuszta ( Hungary). The poor preservation does not allow a clear identification. The locality was listed as Ottnangian by Steininger (1973) but is now considered to be of Karpatian age based on the pectinid assemblages (Oleg Mandic pers. comm. 29. 2. 2025).

Genus Thericium Monterosato, 1890 View in CoL

Type species. Cerithium vulgatum Bruguière, 1792 View in CoL ; original designation by Monterosato (1890: 163). Present-day, Mediterranean Sea.

Diagnosis. “ Shell small to medium with long spire of many whorls (6-13). Whorls separated by weak sinus and sculptured with spiral cords which may be beaded or nodular; tubercles sometimes prominent at periphery or extending radially to form axial riblets. Several varices scattered on whorls; varix opposite outer lip on body whorl. Outer lip slightly expanded, moderately crenulate. Siphonal canal short, moderately recurved; anal canal short. Columella slightly curved or straight with weak fold bordering anal sinus.” ( Houbrick 1974: 38).

Discussion. Cerithium Bruguière, 1789 species are Indo-Pacific taxa, characterized by a flaring outer lip, with a tooth-like extension projecting abapically over the anterior siphonal canal and a relatively longer siphonal canal. We therefore agree with Houbrick (1974, p. 39) in separating the Atlantic and Mediterranean forms from the larger Indo-Pacific species and treat Thericium Monterosato, 1890 at full generic rank. Later, Houbrick (1992: 10), doubted that this separation was justified and considered the discussed conchological features unreliable. Consequently, Thericium is not accepted by MolluscaBase eds. (2021). To our knowledge, no molecular data has been published to date that might decide this matter, and we prefer to keep Thericium separate from Cerithium following Landau et al. (2013), Van Dingenen et al. (2016), Vermeij (2017) and others.

Distribution. Western Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea ( Houbrick 1974) .

Objective synonyms

Gourmierium Jousseaume, 1894 View in CoL ; introduced by Jousseaume (1894: 396) in a list in which he placed Thericium vulgatum View in CoL , T. rupestre and T. pulchellum . Subsequent type species designation by Houbrick (1974: 38).

Goumierium Monterosato, 1910; introduced by Monterosato (1910: 65) as emendation of Gourmierium Jousseaume, 1894 View in CoL

Vulgocerithium Sacco, 1895; Sacco (1895: 7) introduced the name Vulgocerithium referring to a letter from M. Cossmann and listed Cerithium vulgatum and Cerithium europaeum as species. Subsequent type designation by Cossmann (1906: 77).

Subjective synonyms

Drillocerithium Monterosato, 1910 View in CoL ; type species Cerithium protractum Bivona, 1838 View in CoL ; subsequent designation by Houbrick (1974: 38). Present-day, Mediterranean Sea.

Gladiocerithium Monterosato, 1910 View in CoL , type species Cerithium alucastrum ( Brocchi, 1814) View in CoL ; original designation by Monterosato (1910: 68). Pliocene, Mediterranean Sea.

Hirtocerithium Monterosato, 1910 View in CoL ; type species Hirtocerithium pugioniforum Monterosato, 1910 [= subjective junior synonym of Thericium vulgatum View in CoL ], by monotypy ( Monterosato 1910: 73). Present-day, Mediterranean Sea.

Lithocerithium Monterosato, 1910 View in CoL , type species Lithocerithium fuscatum Costa, 1829, original designation by Monterosato (1910: 75) [= subjective junior synonym of Thericium lividulum (Risso, 1826) ]. Present-day, Mediterranean Sea.

Pliocerithium Monterosato, 1910 ; type species Pliocerithium holothurium Monterosato, 1910 , original designation by Monterosato (1910: 67). Pliocene, Mediterranean Sea. Considered a subjective junior synonym of Thericium vulgatum View in CoL by Houbrick (1974: 38) but might be a valid Pliocene species ( Appolloni et al. 2018).

SL	University of Sierra Leone, Njala University College

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Taxonomy

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Mollusca
Class	Gastropoda
Family	Cerithiidae
Genus	Ptychocerithium