Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) trunculus conglobatus ( Michelotti, 1841 )

Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) trunculus conglobatus ( Michelotti, 1841) View in CoL

(Figs 5–6)

1841 Murex conglobatus – MICHELOTTI, p. 16, pl. 4, fig. 7.

2013 Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) trunculus conglobatus (Michelotti) – GORET et al., p. 7, pl. 1, figs 4–5, pl. 2, fig. 1 (cum syn.).

Material – 1 specimen; Lăpugiu: M.59.1951A.

Remarks – A detailed taxonomic analysis of the Recent and fossil H. (Trunculariopsis) trunculus (Linnaeus) group was offered by LANDAU et al. (2007), and a Late Miocene–Middle Pliocene chronosubspecies, H. (T.) trunculus conglobatus (Michelotti) was considered. The subspecies is highly variable in morphology, the specimen figured here with scalate spire and long spines is close to that illustrated by MERLE et al. (2011, pl. 40, fig. 4). Nevertheless, the Early Badenian range of the taxon cannot be stated with certainty even now. On the one hand the taxon has never been mentioned in the Middle Miocene at other localities, on the other hand – being a donation – the origin of the specimen is not well-established, the circumstances of the collecting work are unknown. The donator was Rezső Streda (1883–1960; D. Theol., Roman Catholic priest) fossil collector. He donated and sold a great number of Miocene molluscs to the HNHM during the 1950s–60s, and he was regarded as a reliable collector.