Papuliscala maysi, Harzhauser & Landau, 2025

Papuliscala maysi sp. nov.

Figs 2C View FIGURE 2 , 5C–D View FIGURE 5

Cerithiopsis (Metaxia) subsoluta Boettger, 1907 — Bałuk 2006: 200, pl. 9, fig. 10 [non Papuliscala subsoluta (Boettger, 1907) ].

Type material. Holotype, NHMW 1871 View Materials /0010/0094b, SL: 4.5 mm, 2.8 MD: mm, Porzteich at Břeclav ( Czech Republic), Figs 2C View FIGURE 2 , 5C View FIGURE 5 1 –C View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 . Paratype, BkK-G1206, SL: 3.3 mm, MD: 1.2 mm, Korytnica ( Poland), illustrated in Bałuk (2006: pl. 9, fig. 10), Fig. 5D View FIGURE 5 .

Type locality. Porzteich at Břeclav ( Czech Republic), Vienna Basin .

Type stratum. Baden Formation.

Age. Middle Miocene, middle Badenian (Langhian).

Etymology. In honor of Chris Mays, paleobotanist at the NHMW.

Diagnosis. Very small to small, slender shell with turreted, multispiral protoconch, early teleoconch whorls with rounded shoulder, later whorls convex with deeply incised suture and cancellate sculpture of prominent axial ribs and five spiral cords, adapical cord placed immediately below suture, abapical cord partly obscured by suture.

Description. Shell very small to small, slender (apical angle ~18°). Protoconch turreted, 3.5 high, weakly convex whorls with low nucleus ( Fig. 5D View FIGURE 5 ). Early teleoconch whorls moderately high with broad, steep, weakly convex subsutural ramp, rounded shoulder, narrow subcylindrical periphery, constricted below. Sculpture of prominent, narrow, weakly prosocline axial ribs separated by wider interspaces (9: 12:?), overrun by weak spiral cord on subsutural ramp and two prominent cords along periphery. Later whorls with weakly convex subsutural ramp and convex periphery. Three prominent spiral cords and weaker cord at adapical suture. Fifth spiral cord at abapical suture partly covered by subsequent whorl, forming cancellate sculpture with small nodes developed at intersections. Suture deeply impressed, linear. Last whorl not preserved.

Discussion. This species is almost identical to Papuliscala presselierensis Landau, Ceulemans & Van Dingenen, 2018 , from the Tortonian of France, in general shape and sculpture but differs in its turreted, multispiral protoconch. It differs from Papuliscala parvicancellata sp. nov. in having fewer spiral cords and the pronounced subsutural ramp.

Paleoenvironment. Unknown. Extant Papuliscala species are found in deep water environments ( Bouchet & Warén, 1986).

Distribution in Central Paratethys. Badenian (Middle Miocene): Korytnica Basin: Korytnica ( Poland) ( Bałuk 2006); Vienna Basin: Porzteich at Břeclav ( Czech Republic) (hoc opus).