Pseudonoduloconus austriacus (Hoernes & Auinger, 1879)

Figs 30 P, 33G1–G2, 33H1–H4

[Dendroconus] [Conus] austriacus n. f. — Hoernes 1878a: 195 (nomen nudum).

[Dendroconus] [Conus] Reussii n. f.— Hoernes 1878a: 195 (nomen nudum).

Conus (Dendroconus) austriacus nov. form.— Hoernes & Auinger 1879: 19, pl. 2, figs 2–3.

Conus Dendroconus Reussi nov. form.— Hoernes & Auinger 1879: 20, pl. 2, fig. 1.

Conus (Lithoconus) mercati austriacus Hoernes et Auinger—Glibert 1952a: 374, pl. 13, fig. 2.

Conus (Lithoconus) cf. austriacus Hoernes & Auinger, 1879 — Bałuk 1997: 60, pl. 20, figs 6–8.

Conus (Lithoconus) mercatti [sic] caniculatodepressa Sacco—Chira & Voia 2001: 156, pl. 2, figs 2a–b [non Monteiroconus mercati (Brocchi, 1814)].

Type material. Syntype NHMW 1875 /0009/0001, Lăpugiu de Sus (Romania), specimen illustrated in Hoernes & Auinger (1879, pl. 2, fig. 2); syntype NHMW 1866 /0011/0106, Steinebrunn (Austria), specimen illustrated in Hoernes & Auinger (1879, pl. 2, fig. 3); syntype NHMW 1853 /0003/0002, Gainfarn (Austria); middle Miocene, Badenian (Langhian).

Studied material. Syntypes and 1 spec. NHMW 1847 /0037/0030, Steinebrunn (Austria), holotype of Conus reussi Hoernes & Auinger, 1879.

Illustrated material. Figs 33 G1–G2: syntype, Lăpugiu de Sus (Romania): SL: 73.8 mm, MD: 46.3 mm, NHMW 1875/0009/0001, specimen illustrated in Hoernes & Auinger (1879, pl. 2, fig. 2); Figs 30 P, 33H1–H4: syntype, Steinebrunn (Austria): SL: 112.0 mm, MD: 62.8 mm, NHMW 1866/0011/0106, illustrated in Hoernes & Auinger (1879, pl. 2, fig. 3).

Revised description. Moderately large to large pyriform shells of up to 112 mm height. Spire ranging from flat to very low conical; early spire whorls with granulose spiral threads on adapical half; tuberculate along lower suture. Later whorls striate with weak concavity in adapical half and convex abapical part developing large, wide, blurred nodes; suture undulose. Subsutural flexure shallow, moderately curved, strongly asymmetrical. Shoulder angulated; position of maximum diameter distinctly below shoulder passing into relatively elongate last whorl; markedly constricted at base with long, moderately wide, nearly straight siphonal canal. Siphonal fasciole indistinct with prominent growth lines; very weak spiral cords on base; faint spiral cords on last whorl, visible only in tangential light. Colour pattern under UV light only seen on spire whorls, consisting of broad flammulae.

Shell measurements and ratios. Only three shells are more or less completely preserved: largest specimen: SL: 112.0 mm, MD: 62.8 mm, mean SL: 92.6 mm (σ = 19.1), mean MD: 54.0 mm (σ = 8.3), spire angle: µ = 142° (σ = 4.4), last whorl angle: µ = 39.3° (σ = 2.1), LW: µ = 1.7 (σ = 0.1), RD: µ = 0.64 (σ = 0.04), PMD: µ = 0.85 (σ = 0.02), RSH: µ = 0.09 (σ = 0.04).

Discussion. This rare species is recognized easily by its pyriform shape and the undulose suture around the broad nodes of the spire whorls and the tuberculate early spire whorls. These features separate it well from Monteiroconus. We place this species in Pseudonoduloconus based on the low spire, striate spire whorls, tuberculate early spire whorls and the undulose suture.

Hoernes & Auinger (1879) already discussed if their Conus reussi might simply represent a very large C. austriacus but separated it based on its larger size and because of the less distinct nodes on the spire. Both morphs were collected at the same locality (Steinebrunn); the single specimen of C. reussi has a worn spire and therefore the sculpture is partly abraded. Aside from the size, there is little reason to separate this specimen and we consider C. reussi a subjective junior synonym of Pseudonoduloconus austriacus (as already proposed by Bałuk 1997).

A specimen from the Tortonian of Stazzano in Italy, described by Sacco (1893a) as Conus mercati subaustriacus, might also represent this species, but is too fragmentary for a clear identification.

Paleoenvironment. The Austrian localities Gainfarn and Steinebrunn represent shallow water environments with sea grass (e.g. Zuschin et al. 2007).

Distribution in Paratethys. Badenian (middle Miocene): Vienna Basin: Gainfarn, Steinebrunn (Austria) (Hoernes & Auinger 1879; Sieber 1958b); Carpathian Foredeep: Korytnica (Poland); Transylvanian Basin: Lăpugiu de Sus (Romania) (NHMW collection).

Proto-Mediterranean Sea and northeastern Atlantic: Langhian (middle Miocene): Loire Basin: Ferrière- Larçon (Glibert 1952a); Tortonian (late Miocene):? Stazzano (Italy) (as subaustriacus in Sacco 1893a).