Cochlis neoobscura, Harzhauser & Landau & Guzhov, 2025

Cochlis neoobscura nov. sp.

Figs 2D View FIGURE 2 , 13A–D View FIGURE 13 , 14A View FIGURE 14

Natica millepunctata Lam.—Hörnes 1856: 518 View in CoL ( pars) [ non Natica millepunctata Lamarck, 1822 View in CoL = Naticarius stercusmuscarum ( Gmelin, 1791) View in CoL ].

Type material. Holotype: NHMW 1855 View Materials /0045/0967a, SL: 32.7 mm, MD: 33.6 mm, Bad Vöslau ( Austria), Figs 2D View FIGURE 2 , 13A View FIGURE 13 1 –A View FIGURE 1 4 View FIGURE 4 . Paratypes: NHMW 1855 View Materials /0045/0967b, SL: 27.3 mm, MD: 27.8 mm, Bad Vöslau ( Austria), Figs 13B View FIGURE 13 1 –B View FIGURE 1 4 View FIGURE 4 . NHMW 2024 View Materials /0235/0001, SL: 28.1 mm, MD: 27.4 mm, Gainfarn ( Austria), Figs 13C View FIGURE 13 1 –C View FIGURE 1 4 View FIGURE 4 . NHMW 2007 View Materials z0088/ 0015a, SL: 25.2 mm, MD: 26.1 mm, Enzesfeld ( Austria), Figs 13D View FIGURE 13 1 –D View FIGURE 1 4 View FIGURE 4 . NHMW 2007 View Materials z0088/0015b, SL: 30.8 mm, MD: 28.7 mm, Enzesfeld ( Austria), Figs 14A View FIGURE 14 1 –A View FIGURE 1 3 View FIGURE 3 .

Additional paratypes. NHMW 2010 View Materials /0004/0588 , SL: 39.1 mm, MD: 40.7 mm, Bad Vöslau ( Austria) .

Etymology. Combination of neo - for Neogene and obscurus, Latin for unclear, dark; referring to the obscure status of this species in the literature.

Type locality. Bad Vöslau ( Austria), Vienna Basin.

Type stratum. Baden Formation.

Age. Middle Miocene, middle Badenian (Langhian).

Diagnosis. Medium sized, globose shell with depressed spire, moderately expanding last whorl and moderately narrow umbilicus, half covered by shield-like umbilical callus fused to anterior lobe of parietal callus and moderately low funicle, strongly thickened basal lip, color pattern of large subcircular blotches with intense margins.

Description. Medium sized, globose shell of about four teleoconch whorls; only weakly wider than high (SL/MD = ~1.0). Spire depressed conical, with weakly convex whorls; apical angle 128–135°. Protoconch poorly preserved of ~2.5 smooth, convex whorls; transition into teleoconch indistinct. Suture linear, narrow but distinctly incised. Last spire whorl with weakly concave subsutural shelf close to aperture, delimited by faint shoulder angulation. Last whorl moderately expanding, inflated, attaining ~95% of total height. Periphery placed below mid-whorl (~42%), regularly convex. Growth lines distinct and weakly prosocyrt in apical view, weaker to subobsolete at periphery. Aperture wide, D-shaped. Position of adapical tip of aperture high (~85%), distinctly above mid-whorl, slightly below shoulder.Aperture attaining ~85% of total height. Columellar lip thick, basal lip slightly expanded and further thickened, outer lip thin. Columellar angle ~12–16°. Opercular ridge in outer lip distinct. Umbilicus moderately narrow (~11%), moderately deep, with weak growth lines, half-covered by umbilical callus. Parietal callus very long (~74%), strongly thickened with prominent adapical swelling and thin, widely expanding, subtrigonal anterior lobe. Margin of parietal callus strongly concave. Funicle low, terminating in prominent callus fused with anterior lobe of parietal callus, together forming shield like umbilical callus. Occasionally, faint, short transverse groove or notch between funicle and parietal callus. Basal fasciole very solid, rounded to weakly angled. Color pattern of large, regularly spaced, subcircular blotches with intense margins. Operculum unknown.

Discussion. This species is relatively rare in the Vienna Basin and was confused with the French Early Miocene Cochlis tigrina ( Defrance, 1825) in the collection of the NHMW. Specimens of Cochlis eximia ( Eichwald, 1830) , from the late Badenian of the Carpathian Foreland Basin, are strongly reminiscent of Cochlis neoobscura nov. sp. from the middle Badenian of the Vienna Basin. They differ in the broader funicle of Cochlis eximia , the larger and well delimited anterior lobe and the broader and longer umbilical channel. Cochlis curta ( Erünal-Erentöz, 1958) , from the Serravallian of the Karaman Basin ( Turkey), might be another related species, which differs only in its better separated funicle and less expanding anterior lobe (see Landau et al. 2013: pl. 1, figs 1a–c). Cochlis paragigantica nov. sp. has similar umbilical features but differs in its larger size, less expanding last whorl and convex spire whorls. Cochlis unica ( Bałuk, 1995) has narrower umbilicus, a narrower umbilical callus and lacks the separation between anterior lobe and umbilical callus. Moreover, its last whorl has a lower expansion rate. Euspira bononiensis ( Foresti, 1884) , from the Tortonian of Italy, is exceptionally similar in shape. However, this similarity is superficial. It differs in its uniform pale brown color, lacks an opercular ridge, but most importantly it lacks a funicle and columellar callus, characters that place it in Euspira rather than Cochlis . ( Pedriali et al. 2009: 389, pl. 1, figs 1–3, pl. 3, figs 1–2, 21–22).

Paleoenvironment. Occurrences at Gainfarn and Enzesfeld suggest inner neritic environments with seagrass (Zuschin et al. 2007).

Distribution in Central Paratethys. Badenian (Middle Miocene): Vienna Basin: Bad Vöslau, Gainfarn, Enzesfeld ( Austria) ( hoc opus).