Bittium foedum, Harzhauser & Guzhov & Landau, 2025

Bittium foedum sp. nov.

Figs 11A–C View FIGURE 11

Bittium (Bittium) benoisti Cossmann et Peyrot, 1922 — Steininger 1963: 45, pl. 13, fig. 3 [non Cossmann & Peyrot, 1922]. Bittium (Bittium) benoisti Cossmann et Peyrot, 1922 — Steininger et al. 1971: 382, pl. 53, fig. 3 [non Cossmann & Peyrot,

1922].

Type material. Holotype NHMW 2023 View Materials /0055/0001, SL: 4.2 mm, MD: 1.3 mm, Figs 11A View FIGURE 11 1 –A View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 . Paratypes NHMW 2023 View Materials /0055/0002, SL: 3.9 mm, MD: 1.4 mm, Fig. 11B View FIGURE 11 . NHMW 2023 View Materials /0055/0003, SL: 3.8 mm, MD: 1.2 mm, Figs 11C View FIGURE 11 1 –C View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 .

Additional paratypes. 16 spec., Paleontological Institute of the University of Vienna ( Austria), material studied by Steininger (1963) .

Type locality. Fels am Wagram ( Austria), North Alpine Foreland Basin.

Type stratum. Sand of the Fels Formation.

Age. Early Miocene, Eggenburgian (Aquitanian/Burdigalian).

Etymology. Latin foedum meaning ugly.

Diagnosis. Minute, slender turreted shell characterized by its coarse horizontally rectangular cancellate sculpture of broad spiral cords and axial ribs. Broad peribasal band composed of three coalescent spiral cords.

Description. Minute, slender turreted shell of up to seven teleoconch whorls, attaining ~ 4.5 mm in height; apical angle ~20–24°. Protoconch high conical of about three weakly convex whorls (dp = ~280 μm). First teleoconch whorl moderately convex with two broad, rounded spiral cords crossed by rounded axial rib with large tubercles developed at intersections. Two additional spiral cords appear successively on subsutural ramp on second and third teleoconch whorls. Axial ribs on later teleoconch whorls widely spaced forming coarse horizontally rectangular cancellate sculpture with large, low tubercles developed at intersections. Whorl profile convex, outline somewhat irregular due to occasional varices. Suture deeply incised, more or less linear. Last whorl convex, moderately constricted, attaining ~38% of total height. Base with trifid broad peribasal band composed of three close-set spiral cords, three further cords over siphonal fasciole. Aperture ovate. Columella excavated. Columellar callus indistinct. Anal canal indistinct. Outer lip not preserved. Siphonal canal wide, short, slightly deflected to the left.

Discussion. Bittium foedum sp. nov. is characterized by its small, slender shape and coarse horizontally rectangular cancellate sculpture. However, the most unusual character is the trifid peribasal fold that is not seen in any of its Paratethyan congeners. It is superficially reminiscent of the slightly larger Bittium praescabrum sp. nov., but differs in its blunt sculpture and the lower, more convex last whorl and broader trifid as opposed to bifid peribasal spiral band. Bittium amibouei sp. nov. is much larger than B. foedum , it has almost straight-sided whorls, the spiral cords are narrower and better defined, and again the peribasal cord is trifid as opposed to bifid.

This species was confused by Steininger (1963) with Bittium benoisti Cossmann & Peyrot, 1922 from the Burdigalian of France. However, Bittium benoisti differs clearly in its much larger size, the wide spaced spiral cords, weaker axial ribs, and it has a more bifid peribasal cord (https://science.mnhn.fr/institution/mnhn/collection/f/item/ j05916).

Paleoenvironment. The mollusk fauna of Fels am Wagram suggests shallow marine foreshore conditions with sandy bottoms (own data M.H.).

Central Paratethys. Eggenburgian (Early Miocene): North Alpine Foreland Basin: Fels am Wagram ( Austria) ( Steininger 1963).