Bittium praescabrum, Harzhauser & Guzhov & Landau, 2025

Bittium praescabrum sp. nov.

Figs 18A–D View FIGURE 18

Cerithium scabrum Olivi— Hörnes 1855 View in CoL (pars): 410, pl. 42, fig. 17 [non Bittium scabrum (Olivi, 1792) View in CoL ].

Type material. Holotype NHMW 2023 View Materials /0040/0011, SL: 4.8 mm, MD: 1.5 mm, Figs 18A View FIGURE 18 1 –A View FIGURE 1 2 View FIGURE 2 . Paratypes: NHMW 2023 View Materials /0040/0012, SL: 5.6 mm, MD: 1.7 mm, Fig. 18B View FIGURE 18 . NHMW 2023 View Materials /0040/0013, SL: 4.3 mm, MD: 1.4 mm, Fig. 18C View FIGURE 18 . NHMW 2023 View Materials /0040/0014, SL: 5.3 mm, MD: 1.6 mm, Fig. 18D View FIGURE 18 . All Steinebrunn ( Austria), middle Badenian, Middle Miocene .

Additional paratypes. 1 spec., NHMW 2023 View Materials /0040/0015, Steinebrunn ( Austria), illustrated in Hörnes (1855 (pars): 410, pl. 42, figs 17a–b). 9089 spec., NHMW1855 View Materials /0002/0091, Steinebrunn ( Austria) .

Type locality. Steinebrunn ( Austria), Vienna Basin.

Type stratum. Silt sand of the Baden Formation.

Age. Middle Miocene, middle Badenian (Langhian).

Etymology. Prae - Latin for ‘before’, and scabrum referring to Bittium scabrum Olivi, 1792 , with which this species was confused by Hörnes (1855).

Diagnosis. Small, slender conical shell with multispiral protoconch of three convex whorls, moderately convex teleoconch whorls, sculpture of four spiral cords with prominent tubercles at intersections overrunning weaker axial ribs, two strongly raised peribasal spiral cords overhanging profile of concave base.

Description. Small, slender conical shell of up to nine teleoconch whorls, attaining ~ 6 mm in height; apical angle ~30°. Broad conical protoconch of three convex whorls terminating in sinusigera (dp = 260 μm). Last protoconch whorl with mid-whorl angulation and two faint spiral threads below angulation. First teleoconch whorl with broad subsutural ramp, two spiral cords, angulated at upper cord delimiting shoulder, indistinct axial ribs, small tubercles developed at intersections. On second whorl, third cord appears over subsutural ramp, rapidly becoming equal in strength. Fourth spiral cord over ramp on fourth teleoconch whorl; all cords overrun weak ribs forming small tubercles at intersections. Fifth, narrow spiral cord at abapical suture partly covered by subsequent whorls on last four whorls. Narrow spiral thread may be intercalated between adapical two cords on last two teleoconch whorls in some specimens. Whorl profile moderately convex with periphery slightly below mid-whorl. Suture linear, deeply incised. Axial ribs weakening further on late teleoconch whorls resulting in even more prominent spiral sculpture. Varices becoming more prominent on last three whorls causing slightly irregular outline. Last whorl weakly convex attaining ~40% of total height. Transition into base angulated with pair of strongly raised peribasal spiral cords, overhanging concave base, three further strong cords on fasciole. Aperture ovate, not very wide. Columella excavated. Columellar callus indistinct. Anal canal, outer lip and siphonal canal not preserved.

Discussion. Bittium praescabrum sp. nov. is characterized by its small shell, slender outline and the convex, somewhat irregular whorls. It occurs at Steinebrunn along with Bittium tani sp. nov. Both species are found in huge numbers and have been lumped by Hörnes (1855) in ‘ Bittium reticulatum ’. Both, Bittium reticulatum and Bittium tani differ from Bittium praescabrum quite distinctly in their larger size and straight sided whorls. In addition, the two very strong peribasal spiral cords overhanging the concave base distinguish Bittium preascabrum from all other Paratethyan Bittium species.

Paleoenvironment. Shallow marine, inner neritic with sea grass cover (own data M.H.).

Distribution. Badenian of the Central Paratethys Sea.

Central Paratethys. Badenian (Middle Miocene): Vienna Basin: Steinebrunn ( Austria) (hoc opus).