Thericium putzgruberi, Harzhauser & Guzhov & Landau, 2025

Thericium putzgruberi nom. nov.

Figs 57A–C View FIGURE57

* Cerithium Europaeum View in CoL May. var. acuminata Schff.— Schaffer 1912: 150 , pl. 51, figs 26–29 [non Zekeli 1852].

Type material. Lectotype designated herein, F/1138, SL: 16.5 mm, MD: 8.2 mm, illustrated in Schaffer (1912: 150, pl. 51, fig. 29), Krahuletz Museum (Eggenburg, Austria), Figs 57C View FIGURE57 1 –C View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 . Paralectotype, F/1135, SL: 17.5 mm, MD: 9.0 mm, illustrated in Schaffer (1912: 150, pl. 51, fig. 26), Krahuletz Museum (Eggenburg, Austria), Figs 57A View FIGURE57 1 –A View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 . Paralectotype, F/ 1137, SL: 17.0 mm, MD: 8.2 mm, illustrated in Schaffer (1912: 150, pl. 51, fig. 28), Krahuletz Museum (Eggenburg, Austria), Figs 57B View FIGURE57 1 –B View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 . Paralectotype, F/1136, illustrated in Schaffer (1912: 150, pl. 51, fig. 27). Eggenburg ( Austria). Early Miocene, Eggenburgian .

Etymology. In honor of Gerhard Putzgruber (Strass im Strassertale, Austria), in recognition of his enthusiasm in collecting fossils from the Eggenburg region.

Revised description. Small, broadly conical shell of more than 11 low teleoconch whorls with undulating suture, attaining ~ 17 mm in height; apical angle about 40°. Protoconch unknown. Early teleoconch whorls convex with weak shoulder placed below mid-whorl. Broad axial ribs separated by interspaces of similar width crossed by four spiral cords. Later teleoconch whorls with slightly concave sutural ramp, weakly shouldered, with wide-spaced prominent axial ribs forming small, adapically pointed, tubercles over shoulder and numerous narrow, subequal primary to tertiary spiral cords. Starting from the fourth whorl, every third axial rib develops prominent varix, roughly at about 120°. Last whorl inflated with periphery slightly below shoulder, attaining ~22% of total height. Base strongly constricted with numerous secondary and tertiary spiral threads and weak peribasal spiral cord. Columella deeply excavated; columellar callus forming narrow rim. Outer lip not preserved. Siphonal canal moderately long, narrow, twisted, distinctly deflected to the left.

Discussion. This species is characterized by its small size, broadly conical outline, inflated last whorl and strongly constricted base. Thericium putzgruberi differs from the much larger Thericium minutum ( Naumann, 1852) , in its less incised suture and weaker subsutural cord. The conical spire and the pointed tubercles are reminiscent of spire fragments of the Middle Miocene Thericium miospinosum ( Sacco, 1895) , which differs in its deeply incised suture and more prominent axial ribs at same growth stage.

It is likely that this species was erected based on subadult material. As it was described by Schaffer (1912), we accept this species, although Schaffer’s name acuminata is preoccupied by Zekeli (1852: 94) and Radovanović (1900: 68), and we propose Thericium putzgruberi nom. nov. as replacement name.

Paleoenvironment. Coastal, inner neritic ( Mandic et al. 2004).

Distribution. Only known from the Eggenburgian (Early Burdigalian) of the Central Paratethys Sea.

Central Paratethys. Eggenburgian (Early Miocene): North Alpine Foreland Basin: Eggenburg ( Austria) ( Schaffer 1912).