Euspira eblera ( De Gregorio, 1885 ), 2025

Euspira eblera ( De Gregorio, 1885) nov. comb.

Figs 2J View FIGURE 2 , 36A–D View FIGURE 36

Natica helicina Brocc.—Hörnes 1856: 525 (pars), pl. 47, fig. 7 [not fig. 6 = Euspira vinitor nov. sp.]

* Natica eblera De Greg. — De Gregorio 1885: 87 [for Natica helicina View in CoL in Hörnes 1856: pl. 47, fig. 7].

Natica ( Lunatia) catena helicina Brocchi, 1814 View in CoL — Strausz 1966: 228 ( pars), pl. 49, figs 3–5 [ non Euspira helicina ( Brocchi, 1814) View in CoL ].

Euspira catena helicina ( Brocchi, 1814) View in CoL — Švagrovský 1981: 141, pl. 45, figs 4, 6 [ non Euspira helicina ( Brocchi, 1814) View in CoL ].

Lunatia catena helicina (Brocchi) — Schultz 1998: 58, pl. 22, fig. 11 [ non Euspira helicina ( Brocchi, 1814) View in CoL ].

Type material. Holotype. NHMW 1855 View Materials /0045/0968a, SL: 23.8 mm, MD: 22.2 mm, Bad Vöslau ( Austria), illustrated in Hörnes (1856: pl. 47, fig. 7), Figs 36A View FIGURE 36 1 –A View FIGURE 1 4 View FIGURE 4 .

Illustrated material. NHMW 1846/0037/00445a, SL: 20.1 mm, MD: 19.1 mm, Bad Vöslau ( Austria), Fig. 2J View FIGURE 2 . NHMW 1855/0045/0968b, SL: 25.9 mm, MD: 23.3 mm, Bad Vöslau ( Austria), Figs 36B View FIGURE 36 1 –B View FIGURE 1 4 View FIGURE 4 . NHMW 1846/0037/00445a, SL: 21.9 mm, MD: 19.1 mm, Bad Vöslau ( Austria), Figs 36C View FIGURE 36 1 –C View FIGURE 1 4 View FIGURE 4 . NHMW 1846/0037/00445b, SL: 22.6 mm, MD: 21.9 mm, Bad Vöslau ( Austria), Figs 36D View FIGURE 36 1 –D View FIGURE 1 4 View FIGURE 4 .

Additional material. NHMW 1846 View Materials /0037/00445b , SL: 20.3 mm, MD: 19.6 mm, Bad Vöslau ( Austria); 5 spec. , NHMW 1855 View Materials /0045/0968, Bad Vöslau ( Austria); 5 spec. , NHMW 2024 View Materials /0241/0001, Baden-Sooss ( Austria); 17 spec. , NHMW 1997 View Materials z0178/1807, Ritzing ( Austria); 10 spec. , NHMW 2016 View Materials /0177/0436, Lăpugiu de Sus ( Romania) .

Revised description. Medium sized, weakly elongate-globose, solid shell of ~4.5 teleoconch whorls; usually slightly higher than wide ( SL /MD = 1.0–1.1). Protoconch low turbiniform, of 2.75 convex whorls. Spire moderately elevated, low conical; apical angle 115–127°. Suture linear, adpressed. Teleoconch whorls with broad, low subsutural cord and narrow, weakly concave subsutural shelf delimited by prominent shoulder angulation. Last whorl weakly expanding, attaining ~88–95% of total height, moderately convex below shoulder, strongly convex at periphery and base. Periphery below mid-whorl (~43%). Growth lines distinct and weakly prosocyrt in apical view, prosocline and delicate at periphery. Aperture moderately wide D-shaped, prosocline. Position of adapical tip of aperture moderately low (~75%), slightly above mid-whorl, far below shoulder. Aperture attaining ~68–76% of total height. Columellar lip and basal lip broad, reinforced, outer lip thin. Columellar angle ~18–25°. Opercular ridge in outer lip insignificant. Umbilicus moderately narrow (~13%), deep with prominent growth lines. Parietal callus long (~57%), strongly thickened, not expanding over base, with concave margin. Anterior lobe of parietal callus prominent, expanding, relatively narrow. Funicle close to anterior lobe of parietal callus weak, depressed, narrow forming prominent semicircular knob, separated from anterior lobe by narrow transverse groove. Abapical sulcus broad, weakly concave. Basal fasciole rounded with prominent growth lines. Color pattern of uniform tan.

Discussion. Euspira eblera ( De Gregorio, 1885) is characterized by the weak subsutural cord, narrow subsutural shelf with distinct shoulder angulation and the knob-like funicle, which is separated by a narrow groove from the prominent anterior lobe of the parietal callus. Despite these features, it was mixed up by Hörnes (1856) and in the collection of the NHMW with other small Naticidae species, such as Euspira protracta ( Eichwald, 1830) and Payraudeautia profunda nov. sp., which were all misidentified as ‘ Natica helicina’. Euspira protracta differs in its higher spire and simple umbilical callus. Payraudeautia profunda has a comparable outline but differs in its prominent spiral ridge delimiting the umbilicus.

Paleoenvironment. Occurrences in the Baden Formation of the Vienna Basin suggest middle to outer neritic settings in up to 250 m water depth ( Kranner et al. 2021).

Distribution in Central Paratethys. Badenian (Middle Miocene): Vienna Basin: Baden-Sooss, Bad Vöslau ( Austria) ( hoc opus), Devínska Nová Ves ( Slovakia) ( Švagrovský 1981); Oberpullendorf Basin: Ritzing ( Austria); Pannonian Basin: Devecser, Szob ( Hungary) ( Strausz 1966); Făget Basin: Lăpugiu de Sus ( Romania).