Kalloconus neumayri (Hoernes & Auinger, 1879)

Figs 3 O, 11C1–C3, 11D1–D2, 11E1–E2, 11F1–F2

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

Conus (Lithoconus) Neumayri nov. form.— Hoernes & Auinger 1879: 27, pl. 1, figs 17–18.

Type material. Syntype NHMW 1999 z0077/0027, Lăpugiu de Sus (Romania), illustrated in Hoernes & Auinger (1879, pl. 1, fig. 17), 3 syntypes NHMW 1854 /0035/0056, Lăpugiu de Sus (Romania), including specimen illustrated in Hoernes & Auinger (1879, pl. 1, fig. 18); middle Miocene, Badenian ( Langhian).

Studied material. Syntypes and 1 spec. NHMW 1843 /0099/0058, Gainfarn (Austria), 29 spec . NHMW A1628 Lăpugiu de Sus (Romania) .

Illustrated material. Figs 11 C1–C3: Lăpugiu de Sus (Romania): SL: 27.9 mm, MD: 17.5 mm, NHMW A1628; Figs 11 D1–D3, 3D: syntype, Lăpugiu de Sus (Romania): NHMW 1999z0077/0027, SL: 30.6 mm, MD: 20.8 mm, illustrated in Hoernes & Auinger (1879, pl. 1, fig. 17); Figs 11 E1–E2: Gainfarn (Austria), SL: 30.3, MD: 19.2 mm, NHMW 1843/0099/0058; Figs 11 F1–F2: Lăpugiu de Sus (Romania): SL: 29.2 mm, MD: 20.3 mm, NHMW A1628.

Revised description. Moderately small shells with low spire and broad conical last whorl. Early spire pointed; suture of early spire whorls impressed, undulating, resulting in coeloconoid, gradate outline. Later spire whorls weakly convex with deep but narrower suture. Early spire whorls striate; later whorl tops glossy, faintly striate (only visible under high magnification). Last spire whorl distinctly broadening, forming a prominent, rounded shoulder, coinciding with position of maximum diameter. Subsutural flexure shallow, moderately curved, moderately asymmetrical. Last whorl stoutly conical to weakly ventricose; aperture moderately narrow, with subparallel margins. Siphonal canal very short, straight; fasciole short, twisted; inner lip broad, short, straight. Surface glossy with few pitted spiral grooves on base demarcating broad spiral cords. Colour pattern consisting of large rectangular blotches roughly axially and spirally arranged.

Shell measurements and ratios. n = 10: largest specimen: SL: 36.1 mm, MD: 23.6 mm, mean SL: 28.8 mm (σ = 3.5), mean MD: 18.5 (σ = 2.9), spire angle: µ = 128.1° (σ = 6.2°), last whorl angle: µ = 37.9° (σ = 2.0°), LW: µ = 1.6 (σ = 0.1), RD: µ = 0.71 (σ = 0.03), PMD: µ = 0.91 (σ = 0.03), RSH: µ = 0.09 (σ = 0.04).

Discussion. The highly characteristic colour pattern is among the most intense in Paratethyan cones under UV light and allows a quick identification in the collection, even in mixed lots. None of the specimens tends to form dots or dashes. Therefore, we reject the synonymization with Kalloconus berghausi (Michelotti, 1847) as proposed by Hall (1966) and Bałuk (1997). Moreover, the striae on the early spire whorl become obsolete much earlier and it lacks the nodules along the shoulder of the early spire whorls seen in K. berghausi .

Paleoenvironment. At least the lot NHMW A1628 from Lăpugiu de Sus (Romania) derives from sandy nearshore environments with miliolid and elphidiid foraminifers (based on sedimentfill of the shells).

Distribution in Paratethys. Badenian (middle Miocene): Vienna Basin: Gainfarn (Austria) (NHMW collection), Transylvanian Basin: Lăpugiu de Sus (Romania) (Hoernes & Auinger 1879).