Papuliscala hoffmani, Harzhauser & Landau, 2025

Papuliscala hoffmani sp. nov.

Figs 2E View FIGURE 2 , 3C View FIGURE 3 1 –C View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 , 4B View FIGURE 4

Type material. Holotype, NHMW 1871 View Materials /0010/0094a, SL: 6.3 mm, MD: 2.0 mm, Porzteich at Břeclav ( Czech Republic), Figs 2E View FIGURE 2 , 3C View FIGURE 3 1 –C View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 , 4B View FIGURE 4 .

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

Type stratum. Baden Formation.

Age. Middle Miocene, middle Badenian (Langhian).

Etymology. In honor of Leon Hoffman (Senckenberg Research Institute, Wilhelmshaven, Germany), in recognition of his contributions in malaocology.

Diagnosis. Small, slender turreted shell with protoconch of 2.5 whorls, strongly convex teleoconch whorls, prominent axial ribs especially over subsutural ramp, overrun by six spiral cords forming low rounded nodes on abapical three spiral cords.

Description. Shell small, slender turreted (apical angle ~17°). Protoconch turreted of 2.5 smooth, weakly convex whorls with small nucleus. Teleoconch of more than seven whorls with narrow, moderately steep, weakly convex subsutural ramp, convex periphery placed just above mid-whorl. Suture deeply impressed, linear. Sculpture of prominent, convex, moderately widely spaced, weakly prosocline axial ribs (9: 12:?), separated by slightly wider interspaces. Axial ribs overrun by six broad, convex, somewhat blurred spiral cords, separated by narrower interspaces. Axial ribs most prominent on subsutural ramp, with comparatively weak spiral cords. Abapical three spiral cords forming prominent, low, rounded nodes at intersections. Last whorl poorly preserved; basal sculpture with one, possibly two very weak basal cords.

Discussion. Differs from Papuliscala subsoluta (Boettger, 1907) in the higher position of the periphery, the fewer, comparatively blurred spiral cords, and the distinctly less clearly defined rectangular sculpture. The extant Papuliscala elongata ( Watson, 1881) , from the western and eastern Atlantic, is slenderer and has narrower, sharper axial ribs, and much narrower spiral cords. It also differs in having a protoconch of only two whorls with a big bulbous first whorl (see Brunetti & Soccio 2006: fig. 2b; Pimenta et al. 2018: fig. 15E). They also differ in the greater number of more strongly developed cords on the base of P. subsoluta .

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

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