Oxymeris transleithana Harzhauser & Landau 2023, nov. sp.
Creators: name: Harzhauser, Mathias
name: Landau, Bernard M.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Mollusca
Gastropoda
Neogastropoda
Terebridae
Oxymeris
Oxymeris transleithana

description: Oxymeris transleithana nov. sp.
Figs 14A–F
Terebra (Subula) fuscata modesta Trist. — Strausz 1954: 37, pl. 2, figs 45a–c [non Oxymeris modesta Defrance, 1829].
Terebra (Subula) fuscata modesta Tristan — Strausz 1962: 31, pl. 5, figs 12–14 [non Oxymeris modesta Defrance, 1829].
Terebra (Subula) fuscata modesta Tristan (in Defrance)— Strausz 1966: 395, pl. 5, figs 12–14 [non Oxymeris modesta Defrance, 1829].
Type material. Holotype, NHMW 2023 /0298/0001, 71.9 mm, MD: 15.7 mm, Várpalota (Hungary), Figs 14B 1 – B 2. Paratypes: NHMW 2023 /0298/0002, 81.7 mm, MD: 17.1 mm, Várpalota (Hungary), Figs 14A 1 –A 2. NHMW 2023 /0298/0003, 73.5 mm, MD: 17.6 mm, Várpalota (Hungary), Figs 14C 1 –C 2. NHMW 2023 /0298/0004, 100.8 mm, MD: 19.3 mm, Várpalota (Hungary), Figs 14D 1 –D 2. NHMW 2023 /0298/0005, 77.0 mm, MD: 17.0 mm, Várpalota (Hungary), Figs 14E 1 –E 2. NHMW 2023 /0298/0006, 70.1 mm, MD: 14.7 mm, Várpalota (Hungary), Figs 14F 1 –F 2. 30 spec., NHMW 2023 /0298/0007, Várpalota (Hungary).
Type locality. Várpalota (Hungary), Pannonian Basin.
Type stratum. Sand of the Öskü Member of the Lajta Formation (Kókay 2013).
Age. Middle Miocene, early Badenian (Langhian).
Etymology. Referring to Transleithania, the historical name for the Hungarian part of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy.
Diagnosis. Very large shell characterized by a change from slender coeloconoid early spire to obese cyrtoconoid late spire. Teleoconch whorls smooth, weak axial ribs only on early whorls, convex with high, ovoid last whorl and very short, wide siphonal canal.
Description. Very large shell of about 14 teleoconch whorls; apical angle 17°. Protoconch unknown. Early spire slender coeloconoid, changing to obese cyrtoconoid spire profile around tenth teleoconch whorl. Early teleoconch whorls subcylindrical, gradate, Sculpture of weak axial ribs. Later teleoconch whorls convex with periphery mid-whorl. Whorls smooth, except for delicate growth lines. Last whorl ovoid, very high, 42% of total height. Base weakly contracting. Fasciole prominent, very broad, adapically delimited by very prominent, sharp carina and separated from base by very narrow groove. Aperture very narrow, elongate. Columella slightly twisted, weakly excavated in adapical third. Parietal area slightly convex. Columellar callus forming thin, broad rim, weakly delimited from base. Anal canal narrowly incised, indistinct. Outer lip thin. Basal lip moderately wide. Siphonal canal very short, wide, deeply notched at tip.
Discussion. Oxymeris transleithana is characterised by the contrast between the very slender whorls on the top third of the spire giving a coeloconoid profile and the later inflated whorls giving the bottom two-thirds a cyrtoconoid profile. This change in growth rate is not seen in any of its European Neogene congeners. It differs from O. modesta in its obese outline, the more convex last two spire whorls and the higher last whorl (42% vs. 35–37%). Oxymeris buiturica (Hoernes & Auinger, 1880) differs in its smaller size, slender conical outline and prominent axials sculpture. Similarly, Oxymeris plicaria (de Basterot, 1825) differs in its more regular conical outline and distinct axials sculpture on early spire whorls.
Paleoenvironment. Agitated sandy, coastal environments (own data).
Distribution in Central Paratethys. Badenian (Middle Miocene): Vienna Basin: Traiskirchen (Austria) (hoc opus); Pannonian Basin: Várpalota (Hungary).
description: Published as part of Harzhauser, Mathias & Landau, Bernard M., 2023, The auger snails (Gastropoda, Conoidea, Terebridae) of the Miocene Paratethys Sea, pp. 1-70 in Zootaxa 5385 (1) on pages 30-32, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5385.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/10376252