Favartia pseuderinaceus ( Boettger, 1902 )

Favartia pseuderinaceus ( Boettger, 1902) View in CoL

Figs 7 View FIGURE 7 , 12A View FIGURE 12 1 –A View FIGURE 1 3 View FIGURE 3

* Murex (Pteronotus) pseuderinaceus View in CoL n. sp. — Boettger 1902: 28.

Murex (Pterynotus) pseuderinaceus Boettger View in CoL — Zilch 1934: 251, pl. 15, figs. 76a–b.

[ Pterynotus View in CoL ] michelottii pseuderinaceus Boettger, 1901 View in CoL — Vokes 1971: 86.

Pterynotus pseuderinaceus (Boettger, 1901) View in CoL — Stojaspal 1978: 334.

Pterynotus (Pterynotus) pseuderinaceus ( Boettger, 1902) View in CoL — Kovács 2019: 117, figs. 13–14.

Pterynotus (Pterynotus) pseuderinaceus ( Boettger, 1902) View in CoL — Kovács 2020: 455, pl. 1, figs. 27–28.

Type material. Lectotype, SFM 366526 (=12-2255a), SL: 7.8 mm, MD: 4.7 mm, CoŞteiu de Sus ( Romania), illustrated in Zilch (1934: pl. 15, fig. 76), figs. 12A 1 –A 3.

Revised description. Small, broadly fusiform, trivaricate shell with scalate spire; apical angle 45°. Protoconch conical, worn, consisting of ~2 weakly convex whorls. Teleoconch of up to 4.5 whorls. Spire whorls shouldered; suture deeply incised. Axial sculpture of three prominent, foliaceous varices. Spiral sculpture of broad P1 and P2; P1 forming short, adaxially curved spines on shoulder varix. Interspaces slightly scabrose. Last whorl moderately convex, attaining 70% of total height; spiral cords only developed on raised, foliaceous varices. P1 broad, P2 broadest, P3–P4 intermediate, P5 and s2 weak, abis, IP, P6 and s6 subobsolete, ADP and MP weak. Cords expanded at aperture forming broad foliaceous terminal varix, with only P3 and P4 forming short blunt spines. Aperture narrowly ovate. Outer lip with weakly crenulate edge, smooth within. Anal canal subobsolete. Siphonal canal of medium length, open, straight, slightly dorsally recurved, deeply notched. Columella moderately excavated in adapical half, smooth, slightly angled at transition to siphonal canal. Columellar callus forming broad partly erect rim, adherent in parietal area.

Discussion. This species is unique in the Paratethyan assemblages due to its flaring, foliaceous varices and almost smooth shell surface between the varices. It was previously placed in the muricid genus Pterynotus Swainson, 1833 (type species: Murex pinnatus Swainson, 1822 by monotypy; present-day, Indo-West Pacific), because of its similar trivaricate shape but members of this genus differ in having developed internal denticles, columellar tubercles and more numerous and thinner spiral cords (see examples in Harzhauser et al. 2025: figs. 62–63). Pterynotus has also often been confused with Timbellus [type species: Murex latifolius Bellardi, 1873 ; subsequent designation by Vokes (1964: 14), Early Miocene, Italy], which also has a trivaricate shape. However, members of this genus differ by having developed internal denticles, thinner spiral cords and foliaceous varices. The early sculpture, the nearly smooth shell surface between the varices and a trivaricate shape on last whorls of F. pseuderinaceus ( Boettger, 1902) are characters found in some Favartia species. In addition, a great similarity can be observed with the Western Atlantic species Favartia concava Garrigues & Lamy, 2019 (see Merle et al. 2022: pl. 89, figs. 11a–b). Therefore, we attribute this species to the genus Favartia .

Paleoenvironment. Shallow marine, inner neritic.

Distribution in Central Paratethys. Badenian (Middle Miocene): Mecsek Mountains: Mecsekpölöske ( Hungary) ( Kovács 2020); Făget Basin: CoŞteiu de Sus ( Romania) ( Kovács 2019).