Rhyssoplax corallina ( Risso, 1826 )

Rhyssoplax corallina ( Risso, 1826) View in CoL

Fig. 89 View FIGURE 89

Lepidopleurus corallinus Risso, 1826, p. 268 ; Arnaud 1977, p. 112.

Chiton ( Lepidopleurus) corallinus View in CoL ; Tiberi, 1877 p. 143, 147

Chiton corallinus View in CoL ; Monterosato 1879, p. 15; Seguenza 1879, p. 274; Scalia 1900, p. 15; Scalia 1907, p. 29; Ruggieri 1942, p. 84; Malatesta 1962, p. 163, figs 20–21; Ruggieri et al. 1968, p. 217; Ruggieri & Buccheri 1968, p. 31; Buccheri 1970, p. 245, 255; D’Alessandro 1971, p. 383; Sabelli 1974b, p. 6; D’Alessandro & Laviano 1975, p. 125; Laghi 1977, p. 109, pl. 2, figs 9–12; Ruggieri & Unti 1978, p. 50; Sabelli & Taviani 1979, p. 161, pl. 1, fig. 7; Giammarinaro & Gucciardo 1981, p. 38; Ruggieri 1982b, p. 260; Bałuk 1984, p. 290; Laghi 1984, p. 556; Sabelli & Taviani 1984, p. 269; Crovato & Taviani 1985, p. 292; Zanaroli 1985, tab. 2; Caldara 1986, p. 136; Studencka & Studencki 1988, p. 41, pl. 3, figs 1–4; Bellomo & Sabelli 1995, p. 201; Dell’Angelo & Forli 1995a, p. 234; Bertolaso & Palazzi 1997, p. 142; Dell’Angelo & Giusti 1997, p. 55, figs 14, 16; Giani 1998, p. 115, pl. 43, fig. 6; Sosso 1999, p. 134; Dell’Angelo et al. 2001a, p. 152, fig. 25; Kroh 2002, p. 10; Forli et al. 2003, p. 152; Kroh 2003, p. 133, pl. 1, figs 2–3; Chirli 2004, p. 13, pl. 4, figs 17–18, pl. 5, figs 1–2; Dulai 2005, p. 36, pl. 4, figs 1–4; Dell’Angelo et al. 2007b, p. 141; Dell’Angelo et al. 2007a, p. 42, fig. 4c; Puchalski et al. 2008 (database: chiton fossil records); Strack 2010, p. 64, fig. 57; Studencka & Dulai 2010, p. 265; Dell’Angelo et al. 2013, p. 85, pl. 6, figs A–S; Ruman & Hudácková 2015, p. 160, figs 3.7, 4.1; Dell’Angelo et al. 2016, p. 78, pl. 2, figs 1–15.

Chiton cf. corallinus View in CoL ; Brunetti & Cresti 2018, p. 17, 28, fig. 8.

Chiton corrallinus (sic); Macioszczyk 1988, p. 54, pl. 3, figs 1–3.

Chiton ( Rhyssoplax) corallinus View in CoL ; Ruggieri 1993, p. 26; Tabanelli & Segurini 1994, p. 7; Dell’Angelo & Smriglio 1999, p. 174, pls 58 - 59, figs 97 - 107; Dell’Angelo & Silva 2003, p. 14, fig. 12; Dell’Angelo et al. 2004, p. 39, pl. 3, figs 4, 7; Garilli et al. 2005, p. 139, pl. 4, figs 6–10; Kaas et al. 2006, p. 154, fig. 56, map 28; Dulai & Studencka 2007, p. 17.

Rhyssoplax corallinus View in CoL ; Sosso & Dell’Angelo 2010, p. 14, fig. p. 16; Dell’Angelo et al. 2018a, p. 30, fig. 6M-S ( non fig. 6T-U, = Rhyssoplax sp. ). Dell’Angelo et al. 2018b, p. 35, fig. 18; Dell’Angelo et al. 2020b, p. 52, tab. 9.

Rhyssoplax corallina View in CoL ; Koskeridou et al. 2009, p. 315, figs 8.5–8.8, 9.1–9.2; Dell’Angelo et al. 2021b, p. 418, figs 90–97; Dell’Angelo et al. 2022, p. 13, fig. 8.1–8.9; Brunetti & Cresti 2023, p. 10, 28, pl. 1, fig. A; Dulai & Katona 2024, p. 41, figs 27–29; Schwabe & Dulai 2024, p. 60, figs 8–10; Dulai 2025a, p. 8, fig. 14; Dulai 2025b, p. 28, figs 14–16.

Callochiton corallinus ; Ruggieri 1953, p. 40.

Chiton rubicundus View in CoL O.G. Costa, 1829; Monterosato 1872, p. 28; Seguenza 1874, p. 12; Brugnone 1877, p. 18; Monterosato 1877, p. 33.

Chiton pulchellus Philippi, 1844 View in CoL (non Chiton pulchellus Gray, 1828 View in CoL ); Coppi 1880, p. 227.

Clathopleura (sic) corallina an pulchella; Coppi 1881, p. 87 ( fide Laghi 1977).

Chiton olivaceus var. plioparva Sacco 1897, p. 89 , pl. 7, figs 1–5; Van Belle 1981, p. 56; Ferrero Mortara et al. 1984, p. 299 ( fide Laghi 1977).

Chiton denudatus Reuss, 1860, p. 259 , pl. 8, figs 14–5; Procházka 1900, p. 72, 117, fig. 28; Bałuk 1971, p. 462, pl. 5, figs 9–11; Dell’Angelo et al. 2016, p. 98; Wysocka et al. 2016, p. 377; Dell’Angelo et al. 2018b, p. 52, tab. 17.

Chiton ( Clathropleura) corallinus denudatus ; Šulc 1934, p. 24, pl. 2, figs 44–45.

“ Chiton View in CoL ” sp. Lesport & Cahuzac, 2005, p. 86, 96, tab. 1 ( pars).

Chiton sp. Rado, 1969, p. 193, pl. 2, fig. 40; Macioszczyk 1988, p. 54, pl. 3, fig. 7.

Type material. Presumably lost, not present in the Risso collection hosted at MNHN ( fide Arnaud 1977) .

Type locality. Nice ( France) .

Material examined. Lower Miocene: France (Aquitanian): Maïnot: 3 valves ( JFL); France (Burdigalian): Carrière Vives: 5 valves ( BD 651), Coupe du fossé près de La Solitude: 2 valves ( JFL, Figs 89B–D View FIGURE 89 ), Lahitet: 13 valves ( AC, JFL, PR); Italy (Burdigalian): Valle Ceppi: 17 valves ( BD 652, MZB 32071–32073, Figs 89J–L View FIGURE 89 , PG), Sciolze: 10 valves ( PG). Middle Miocene: Italy (Langhian): Albugnano: 2 valves ( MZB 32074, PG); Central Paratethys (Langhian-Serravallian): Romania: Bujtur: 1 valve ( NHMW 1863/0015/0116, as Chiton bohemicus , Figs 89H–I View FIGURE 89 ), Costej: 3 valves ( BD 653), Lăpugiu de Sus: 3 valves ( BD 654), Hungary: Bánd: 34 valves ( BD 655), Letkés: 18 valves ( BD 656), Sámsonháza: 1 valve ( BD 657), Várpalota: 1 valve ( BD 658); Eastern Paratethys: Ukraine: Varovtsi: 2 valves ( BD 659), Zalistsi: 1 valve ( BD 660); France (Serravallian): Orthez (Le Paren): 2 valves ( BD 661), Sallespisse (Carré): 1 valve ( PR). Upper Miocene: Italy (Tortonian): Borelli: 1 valve ( BD 662), Montegibbio: 8 valves ( BD 663, MZB 32076–32077, Figs 89E–F View FIGURE 89 ), Rio di Bocca d’Asino: 112 valves ( BD 664, Fig. 89A View FIGURE 89 , MZB 32075, Figs 89M–N View FIGURE 89 , PG), Vargo: 2 valves ( PG), Vigoleno: 11 valves ( BD 665), Villa Monti: 40 valves ( BD 666, PG); France (Tortonian): Beugnon: 1 valve ( RGM.1310176), Renauleau: 8 valves ( BD 149, MNHN.F.A67123), Saint-Clément-de-la-Place: 4009 valves ( BD 148, Figs 89O–P View FIGURE 89 , MNHN.F.A67117–A67122, NHMW 2017/0108/0032, RGM.1008354, RGM.1008367, RGM.1008435), Sceaux d’Anjou: 17 valves ( BD 150, RGM.1008444, RGM.1008449); France (Messinian?): Moulin-Pochas: 5 valves ( PR). Lower Pliocene: Italy: Borzoli: 2788 valves ( BD 667), Bussana: 795 valves ( BD 668, PG, MZB 45733, MZB 45735–45736), Caranchi: 34 valves ( BD 669, MP), Garlenda: 364 valves ( MP), Genova Sestri: 69 valves ( BD 670), Rio Sant’ Antonino: 2620 valves ( BD 671, MP, PG, MZB 45730–45732, MZB 45734, MZB 45737–45742), Rio Torsero: 29 valves ( BD 672, MP, PG), Salea: 2 valves ( BD 673), Zinola: 87 valves ( BD 674). Pliocene: Spain: Estepona: 250 valves ( BD 675). Portugal: Vale de Freixo: 664 valves ( BD 243, GeoFCUL VFX.03.342–343, MNHN.F. A81988 View Materials - A81989 View Materials , RGM.1364014-1364015). Italy: Piedmont: Moncalvo: 11 valves ( BD 676), San Damiano: 15 valves ( BD 677), Valle Botto: 1 valve ( BD 678); Emilia-Romagna: Castell’Arquato: 3 valves ( BD 679), Cava di Campore: 768 valves ( BD 680), Ceparano: 2 valves ( BD 681), Gagliardella: 16 valves ( BD 682), Marzeno: 1 valve ( BD 683), Monte Castellaccio: 3 valves ( BD 684), Pietra Mora: 1 valve ( BD 685); Tuscany: Bibbiano: 30 valves ( BD 686), Castell’Anselmo: 4 valves ( BD 687), Castelnuovo Berardenga: 1 valve ( BD 688), Castiglioncelio del Trinoro: 2 valves ( BD 689), Cetona “Palazzo Tosoni”: 2 valves ( BD 690), Cisternino: 2 valves ( BD 691), Colle Val d’Elsa: 25 valves ( BD 692), Montenero: 16 valves ( BD 693), Orciano Pisano: 185 valves ( BD 694), Pietrafitta: 19 valves ( BD 695), Poggio alla Fame: 2 valves ( BD 696, Fig. 89G View FIGURE 89 ), Pontedera: 3 valves ( BD 697), Serre di Rapolano: 27 valves ( BD 698), Villa Banfi: 1 valve ( BD 699); Latium: Magliano Sabina: 3 valves ( BD 700); Sicily: Trappeto: 19 valves ( BD 701), Sciacca: 18 valves ( BD 702). Upper Pliocene to upper Pleistocene: France: Bosq d’Aubigny: 5 valves ( RGM.1310186). Pleistocene: Italy: Tuscany: Caletta: 4 valves ( BD 703), Capraia Island-Capo Corso: 35 valves ( BD 704), Cisternino: 5 valves ( BD 705), Riparbella: 3 valves ( BD 706); Puglia: Cutrofiano: 1 valve ( BD 707), Gallipoli: 15 valves ( BD 708); Calabria: Archi S. Francesco: 56 valves ( BD 709), Carrabbati: 5 valves ( BD 710), Castellace: 1 valve ( BD 711), Gallina: 9 valves ( BD 712), Le Castella: 150 valves ( BD 713), Monasterace: 1 valve ( BD 714), Musalà: 20 valves ( BD 715), Pecoraro: 28 valves ( BD 716), Petti di Carrubbare: 3 valves ( BD 717), Pezzo: 134 valves ( BD 718), S. Maria di Catanzaro: 11 valves ( BD 719), Stalettì: 6 valves ( BD 720), Terreti: 15 valves ( BD 721), Torrente Boscaino: 2 valves ( BD 722); Sicily: Capo Milazzo: 67 valves ( BD 723), Grammichele: 1 valve ( BD 724), Menfi: 3 valves ( BD 725), Messina : 3 valves ( BD 726), Salice: 7 valves ( BD 727), Selinunte Casa Catarinicchia: 5 valves ( BD 728), Selinunte Casa Parrino: 2 valves ( BD 729). Greece: Kyllini: 20 valves ( BD 730, DGUP). Maximum width of the valves: 6.7 / 8.3 / 6.8 mm.

Description. Head valve semicircular, posterior margin markedly V-shaped, front slope straight. Intermediate valves broadly rectangular (W/L = 2.20–3.19), moderately elevated (H/W = 0.30–0.47), semicarinate in anterior profile, anterior margin evenly to weakly convex, side margins truncated, posterior margin straight but for the small, sharp-pointed apex, lateral areas raised, clearly separated from CA, sometimes by a clearly visible step. Tail valve semicircular (W/L = 1.70–2.13), anterior margin slightly convex, mucro subcentral, antemucronal slope straight to slightly convex, postmucronal slope straight to slightly concave.

HV, LA and PMA smooth, concentric growth lines vaguely indicated. CA and AMA sculptured with up to 15 longitudinal folds at both sides of rather broadly triangular smooth jugum, innermost folds narrow, not reaching valve’s front margin. Aesthetes very dense, each megalaesthete accompanied by many micraesthetes.

Articulamentum with apophyses wide, rounded, connected across narrow, shallow sinus by a short, dentate jugal plate, slit formula 8–10 / 1/ 9–11, slits shallow, inequidistant, slit rays hardly or not indicated, teeth short, finely pectinate, eaves narrow, minutely porous.

Remarks. Rhyssoplax corallina ( Risso, 1826) is a common extant species in the Mediterranean Sea whose fossil record encompasses the lower Miocene to the Pleistocene of the Mediterranean, northeastern Atlantic and Paratethys areas.

Sacco (1897) did not report Chiton corallinus , and placed valves from Neogene deposits, with HV, LA and PMA smooth, as Chiton olivaceus var. plioparva .

Chiton denudatus Reuss, 1860 , from the Paratethys, was considered by Laghi a synonym of Chiton corallinus View in CoL , and this synonymy was accepted by Bałuk (1984) and subsequent authors (e.g., Dell’Angelo et al. 2013, 2016; Studencka & Dulai 2010; Ruman & Hudácková 2015).

We consider the valve from Węglinek ( Poland) described as “ Chiton sp. ” by Macioszczyk (1988: p. 54, pl. 3, fig. 7) as falling within the infraspecific variability of Rhyssoplax corallina View in CoL (compare with the valve figured by Dell’Angelo et al. 2016: pl. 2, fig. 13).

Dell’Angelo et al. (2018a) attributed tentatively to Rhyssoplax corallina two valves from the upper Oligocene (Chattian) of Saint-Paul-les-Dax ( France, Aquitaine Basin). Given the relatively poor preservation state of the material and geological antiquity, we consider unlikley its co-specificity with the extant taxon (see under “species of problematic assignment”).

The material examined displays a great variability in both the shape of the valves and the sculpture of the tegmentum, as reported by the material from the Pliocene of Liguria ( Dell’Angelo et al. 2013) and the Miocene of N. Italy ( Dell’Angelo et al. 2016). An example of the variability of the tail valves is shown in the three tail valves figured in lateral view ( Figs 89L, 89N and 89P View FIGURE 89 ), regarding the position of the mucro (subcentral in Figs 89L and 89P View FIGURE 89 ) and the antemucronal and postmucronal slopes. Furthermore, the sculpture of the central and antemucronal areas in Rhyssoplax corallina is not formed by true longitudinal ribs, but rather by longitudinal small folds ( Figs 89F, 89I View FIGURE 89 ), as is also the case in R. olivacea .

Comparisons. Rhyssoplax corallina is very similar to R. assurrecta Dell’Angelo et al., 2018b (see above).

Distribution. Lower Miocene: northeastern Atlantic (Aquitanian/Burdigalian): Aquitaine Basin, France: Carrière Vives, Coupe du fossé près de La Solitude, Lahitet, Maïnot ( Dell’Angelo et al. 2018a); Proto–Mediterranean Sea (Burdigalian): N. Italy: Valle Ceppi, Sciolze ( Dell’Angelo et al. 2016). Middle Miocene: northeastern Atlantic (Serravallian): Aquitaine Basin, France: Orthez, Sallespisse ( Dell’Angelo et al. 2018a); Proto–Mediterranean Sea (Langhian): Po Basin, N. Italy: Albugnano ( Dell’Angelo et al. 2016); Central Paratethys (Langhian–Serravallian): Slovakia: Devínska Nová Ves, Rohožník, Dubová ( Ruman & Hudáčková 2015), Czech Republich: Knínice, Rudoltice, Zidlochovice ( Procházka, 1895, 1900; Šulc 1934), Poland: Korytnica, Lychów, Nawodzice, Rybnica, Węglin, Weglinek ( Bałuk 1971, 1984; Macioszczyk 1988; Studencka & Studencki 1988), Austria: Grund, Steinabrunn ( Šulc 1934; Kroh 2003), Hungary: Bánd, Borsodbóta, Devecser, Letkés, Sámsonháza, Várpalota ( Dulai 2005, 2025 a, 2025b; Dulai & Katona 2024; Schwabe & Dulai 2024; this study), Romania: Bujtur, Costej, Lăpugiu de Sus ( Rado 1969; Dell’Angelo et al. 2007a: this study); Eastern Paratethys: Ukraine: Varovtsi, Zalistsi ( Studencka & Dulai 2010; this study). Upper Miocene: northeastern Atlantic (Tortonian): Ligerian Basin, France: Saint-Clément-de-la-Place, Sceaux d’Anjou, La Presselière, Beugnon ( Dell’Angelo et al. 2018b); northeastern Atlantic (Messinian?), Ligerian Basin, France: Moulin Pochas ( Dell’Angelo et al. 2018a); Proto–Mediterranean Sea (Tortonian–Messinian): Po Basin, N. Italy:Villa Monti, Rio di Bocca d’Asino, Vargo, Vigoleno, Montegibbio, Borelli ( Laghi 1977; Dell’Angelo et al. 1999, 2016). Lower Pliocene: central Mediterranean, Italy: Liguria: many localities ( Sosso & Dell’Angelo 2010; Dell’Angelo et al. 2013). Pliocene: northeastern Atlantic, Mondego Basin, Portugal (MPMU1); Vale de Freixo ( Dell’Angelo & Silva 2003; Dell’Angelo et al. 2022); western Mediterranean, Estepona Basin, Spain: Estepona (Dell’Angelo et al. 2004); central Mediterranean, Italy: many localities in Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Latium, Sicily ( Laghi 1977; Dell’Angelo et al. 2001a; Chirli 2004; this study). Upper Pliocene to upper Pleistocene: central Mediterranean, France: Bosq d’Aubigny ( Dell’Angelo et al. 2018b), Greece: Rhodes Island ( Koskeridou et al. 2009). Pleistocene: North Atlantic: Netherlands ( Strack 2010); central Mediterranean, Italy: many localities in Tuscany, Puglia, Calabria, Sicily ( Sabelli & Taviani 1979; Dell’Angelo et al. 2001a; this study); Greece: Kyllini ( Garilli et al. 2005). Recent: Atlantic Ocean: Spain (Carmona Zalvide et al. 2000), Portugal ( Consolado Macedo et al. 1999); Morocco ( Pallary 1920); Ampère and Gettysburg Seamounts ( Beck et al. 2006). Mediterranean Sea: Spain: Alboran isl. ( Salas & Luque 1986); France ( Marion 1883; Pruvot 1897); Italy: many localities ( Monterosato 1879; Dell’Angelo & Smriglio 1999; Vazzana 2010; Trono & Macrì 2013); Croatia: ( Leloup & Volz 1938; Dell’Angelo & Zavodnik 2004); Greece and Aegean Sea Islands ( Strack 1988, 1990; Zenetos & Van Aartsen 1995; Koukouras & Karachle 2005); Turkey ( Ozturk et al. 2014); Algeria ( Mars 1957); Tunisia ( Kaas 1989; Cecalupo et al. 2008); Israel ( Barash & Danin 1977); Lebanon ( Crocetta et al. 2014); Marmara Sea ( Öztürk et al. 2014).