Euspira sp. 1

Euspira sp. 1 and Euspira sp. 2

Figs 45C–D View FIGURE 45

Polinices catena helicina (Brocc.) — Iljina 1972: 49, pl. 1, figs 12–13 [ non Euspira helicina ( Brocchi, 1814) View in CoL ].

Polinices catena helicina (Broc.) — Iljina et al. 1976: plate captions, pl. 28, figs 10–11 [ non Euspira helicina ( Brocchi, 1814) View in CoL ].

Illustrated material. Euspira sp. 1 , PIN 2220/296, SL: 7.6 mm, MD: 7.1 mm, Gup, Abkhazia, Late Miocene, early Maeotian, Figs 45C View FIGURE 45 1 –C View FIGURE 1 4 View FIGURE 4 . Euspira sp. 2 , PIN 2220/297, SL: 6.3 mm, MD: 5.8 mm, Gup, Abkhazia, Late Miocene, early Maeotian, Figs 45D View FIGURE 45 1 –D View FIGURE 1 4 View FIGURE 4 .

Discussion. Both specimens are juvenile shells and might not reflect the morphology of fully grown specimens. While the shells are similar in size, specimen PIN 2220/296 differs in its more solid and abapically broader parietal callus, the less rounded adapical part of the whorl and by the smoother junction of the whorls at the shallower suture. Therefore, the two specimens might represent two different species.

Other specimens, except for those illustrated by Iljina (1972) and Iljina et al. (1976), were not found in her collection, although she mentioned numerous naticids from the same interval and locality during her field trips in the years 1964 and 1967 (unpublished field reports of Iljina). Material comes from clayey sands and clays with shelly bands in the upper part of the lower Maeotian. Based on Iljina’s field reports, the illustrated specimens were collected on the right bank of the Galidzga River near Chatsvkit (also mapped as Chatsvkyt or Chatskit) and not from the vicinity of Gup (Gupi) as mentioned in the papers and on the labels.

Maybe the specimens represent cases of planktonic immigrations into the Eastern Paratethys from an adjacent basin without forming autochthonous Eastern Paratethyan populations.

Eastern Paratethys. Early Maeotian (Late Miocene): Transcaucasia : Galidzga River near Chatskvit ( Abkhazia) ( Iljina et al. 1976) .

Genus Figovina nov. gen.

Type species. Figovina yasenivensis nov. sp., Badenian (Middle Miocene, Serravallian), Ukraine .

Etymology. From фиговина (figovina), Russian slang for an incomprehensible object or object of unclear use.

Diagnosis. Small globular shell with shallow subsutural ramp and wide, open umbilicus covered to various degree by strongly expanding and heavy anterior lobe of parietal callus, without funicle; abapical sulcus delimited by very prominent spiral ridge bent towards interior of umbilicus.

Description. As for type species.

Included species. Figovina yasenivensis nov. sp., Badenian (Middle Miocene), Ukraine; Natica ( Lunatia ?) szobiensis Strausz, 1959 , Badenian (Middle Miocene), Hungary; Natica helicina sarmatica Friedberg, 1938 , Sarmatian (Middle Miocene), Poland.

Discussion. Two of the species united herein in Figovina nov. gen. have been placed in Euspira by Harzhauser (2002) and Mandic et al. (2008). The large anterior lobe of the parietal callus and the spiral ridge delimiting the umbilicus abapically exclude this placement. The spiral ridge is reminiscent of Payraudeautia , but this genus does not form a large anterior lobe. Figovina may be an offshoot of Euspira , lacking a funicle.