TYPE SPECIES. — Murex latifolius Bellardi, 1872, Middle Miocene, Italy (by subsequent designation; Vokes 1964: 14).

REMARKS

The genus Timbellus was reinstated by Merle et al. (2011) for the species generally classified in Pterynotus s.s. Swainson, 1833 but usually with a less scabrous shell morphology and with three major axial varices “appearing early during the ontogeny”. This distinction from the Pterynotus s.s. group was noted by Barco et al. (2010), with Pterynotus fulgens Houart, 1988 in their DNA analysis even falling outside the Muricinae Rafinesque, 1815. The classification used here follows Barco et al. (2010) pending availability of more material for further DNA research and the publication of additional results.

On the other hand, the classification of Merle et al. (2011) mixes the species with a trivaricate axial sculpture starting already on the first teleoconch whorl, such as Timbellus latifolius, the type species, and some Recent species like T. fulgens (Houart, 1988). In Timbellus goniodes n. sp., here described, and a few other species such as T. bednalli (Brazier, 1878), T. phyllopterus (Lamarck, 1822) and Pterynotus alatus (Röding, 1798), the type species of Pterynotus, the trivaricate sculpture appears only on the third or fourth teleoconch whorl. Their generic placement awaits confirmation by genetic analysis.