Favartia kovacsi Harzhauser, Landau & Merle, 2025, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Harzhauser, Mathias
name: Landau, Bernard M.
name: Merle, Didier
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Mollusca
Gastropoda
Neogastropoda
Muricidae
Favartia
Favartia kovacsi

description: Favartia kovacsi sp. nov.
Figs 7, 11A–D
Type material Holotype: NHMW 1863/0015/0664a, SL: 7.3 mm, MD: 4.2 mm, Niederleis (Austria), figs. 11A 1 – A 3. Paratypes: NHMW 1863/0015/0664b, SL: 7.3 mm, MD: 4.2 mm, Niederleis (Austria), figs. 11B 1 –B 3. NHMW 1863/0015/0664c, SL: 7.1 mm, MD: 4.0 mm, Niederleis (Austria), figs. 11C 1 –C 3. NHMW 1863/0015/0664d, SL: 7.1 mm, MD: 4.1 mm, Niederleis (Austria), figs. 11D 1 –D 3.
Type locality. Niederleis (Austria), Vienna Basin.
Type stratum. Baden Formation.
Age. Middle Miocene, middle Badenian (Langhian).
Etymology. In honor of Zoltán Kovács (Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, Budapest), in recognition for his contributions on Paratethyan Muricidae.
Diagnosis. Small, moderately slender fusiform shell with relatively high spire, convex last whorl, prominent broad P1–P5, weakly granulose sculpture; roughly pentagonal outline in apical view.
Description. Small, moderately slender fusiform shell, with relatively high spire; apical angle 45–53°. Protoconch conical of three moderately convex whorls. Teleoconch of up to four whorls. Suture impressed, shallowly undulating. Early teleoconch whorls with shallow subsutural ramp, angled shoulder, subcylindrical periphery, moderately tapered below. Axial sculpture of eight prominent, narrow, widely spaced axial ribs overrun by prominent P1–P2 and weak IP. Last whorl attaining ~65–70% of total height, with convex subsutural ramp, rounded shoulder, convex periphery, rapidly contracting below. Axial sculpture of six weakly foliose varices with weak intervarical rib. Angle between terminal varix and penultimate varix about 90°, causing roughly pentagonal outline in apical view. Spiral sculpture of broad, convex IP, P1–P5, ADP and weak abis, s1, s2, P6, MP and ABP; P1–P4 typically broadening on terminal varix. Weak growth lines cause weakly granulose to scabrose sculpture on cords. Fasciole moderately swollen, delimiting shallow, narrow pseudoumbilicus. Aperture small, ovate. Outer lip thickened, with weakly crenulate edge, weak to subobsolete D1–D5; D2 occasionally bifid. Anal canal indistinct, wide. Siphonal canal moderately short, narrow, open, slightly bent to the left. Columella broadly excavated, smooth, distinctly angled at siphonal canal. Columellar callus forming broad, sharply delimited, erect rim.
Discussion. This species is characterized by its minute size. Favartia kostejana (Boettger, 1902) is comparable in size but differs in its squamose sculpture. Favartia czjzeki (Hoernes & Auinger, 1885) is comparable in shape but differs in its larger size, even higher spire, more incised suture and distinct s2. Favartia absona (De Cristofori & Jan, 1832) and Favartia suboblonga (d’Orbigny, 1852) both differ from F. kovacsi sp. nov. in their much broader shells and larger size.
One specimen differs from typical specimens in the presence of weak s1 and s2 (Figs 11D 1 –D 3). This might represent some variability in secondary sculpture.
Paleoenvironment. The Niederleis section, sediment and biota from coastal and lagoonal environments not exceeding 30 m water depth were transported by tempestites into offshore settings (Mandic et al. 2002).
Distribution in Central Paratethys. Badenian (Middle Miocene): Vienna Basin: Niederleis (Austria).
description: Published as part of Harzhauser, Mathias, Landau, Bernard M. & Merle, Didier, 2025, The Muricidae (Gastropoda, Muricoidea) of the Miocene Paratethys Sea (Aspellinae, Ergalataxinae, Coralliophilinae, Rapaninae), pp. 1-106 in Zootaxa 5611 (1) on pages 22-24, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5611.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/15215738