Euspira wagramensis nov. sp.

Figs 46D 1 –D 4

Lunatia catena helicina (Brocchi, 1814) — Steininger 1963: 50, pl. 10, fig. 8 [non Euspira helicina (Brocchi, 1814)].

Lunatia catena johannae (Mayer, 1895) — Steininger 1963: 50, pl. 10, fig. 9 [non Euspira johannae (Mayer-Eymar, 1895)].

Lunatia catena johannae (Mayer, 1895) — Steininger et al. 1971: 394, pl. 7, figs 8–9 [non Euspira johannae (Mayer-Eymar, 1895)].

Type material. Holotype: MFN 21041, University Vienna, Institute for Paleontology, SL: 11.8 mm, MD: 12.0 mm, Fels am Wagram (Austria), illustrated in Steininger (1963: pl. 10, figs 9a–b), Figs 46D 1 –D 4.

Type locality. Fels am Wagram (Austria), North Alpine Foreland Basin.

Type stratum. Sand of the Fels Formation.

Age. Early Miocene, Eggenburgian.

Etymology. Referring to Wagram, a hill range in Lower Austria.

Diagnosis. Small, thin-shelled, globose-ovate shell with weakly elevated spire, strongly convex whorls, regularly convex, weakly expanding last whorl, thin parietal callus and thin, trigonal parietal callus, covering small part of relatively narrow umbilicus.

Description. Small, thin-shelled, globose-ovate shell of about 4.5 teleoconch whorls; only slightly wider than high (SL/MD = ~1.0). Protoconch not preserved. Spire elevated, conical, with strongly convex whorls; apical angle ~110°. Suture linear, distinctly incised. Teleoconch whorls with narrow, weakly convex subsutural shelf; shoulder subobsolete, rounded. Last whorl weakly expanding, regularly convex, attaining ~87% of total height. Periphery placed mid-whorl (~52%). Growth lines delicate, prosocline. Aperture moderately wide, ovate, prosocline. Position of adapical tip of aperture moderately low (~78%), above mid-whorl, distinctly below shoulder. Aperture attaining ~67% of total height. Columellar lip and basal lip thin, outer lip very thin. Columella angled at umbilicus. Columellar angle above angulation ~45°. Presence of opercular ridge unknown. Umbilicus moderately narrow (~13%), deep. Parietal callus short (~35%), thin, not expanding over base, with concave margin. Anterior lobe of parietal callus weak, thin, fused with narrow, relatively thin, trigonal umbilical callus. Funicle subobsolete. Basal fasciole weak, broad, rounded. Color pattern not preserved.

Discussion. This species was identified by Steininger (1963) and Steininger et al. (1971) as Euspira johannae (Mayer-Eymar, 1859), which was originally described from the Langhian of the Loire Basin (France). Both species have an almost identical outline, but the French species has a much wider umbilicus (see Mayer-Eymar 1895: 160, pl. 7, fig. 2; Glibert 1952b: 70, pl. 5, fig. 9). The Pliocene Mediterranean Euspira helicina (Brocchi, 1814) is larger, has a broader spire and a thicker, larger umbilical callus, and a more prominent anterior parietal lobe (see Pedriali & Robba 2009: pl. 1, figs 12–13).

Paleoecology. Sandy, coastal marine, inner neritic (own data, M.H.).

Distribution in Central Paratethys. Eggenburgian (Early Miocene): North Alpine Foreland Basin: Fels am Wagram (Austria) (Steininger 1963).