Monteiroconus conicomaculatus (Sacco, 1893)

Figs 17 P, 24G1–G3

Conus Mercati Brocc. —Hörnes 1851: 23 (partim), pl. 2, figs 3a–c.

Conus (Lithoconus) Mercati Brocc. — Hoernes & Auinger 1879: 27 (partim).

[ Conus (Lithoconus)] conicomaculata Sacc.— Sacco 1893a: 20 [nov. nom. pro Conus mercati in Hörnes 1851, pl. 2, fig. 3].

Type material. Holotype NHMW 1860 /0001/0054a, illustrated in Hörnes (1851, pl. 2, fig. 3), Mikulov-Kienberk (Czech Republic); middle Miocene, Badenian (late Langhian).

Studied material. Holotype and 2 spec. NHMW 1860 /0001/00054, Mikulov-Kienberk (Czech Republic).

Illustrated material. Figs 17 P, 24G1–G3: Mikulov-Kienberk (Czech Republic): SL: 60.1 mm, MD: 37.8 mm NHMW 1860 /0001/00054.

Revised description. Medium-sized shells with low conical spire consisting of broad, flat to slightly concave spire whorls with weak striae. Subsutural flexure shallow, moderately curved, moderately asymmetrical. Distinct, subangulate shoulder; position of maximum diameter slightly below shoulder. Last whorl broadly conical to weakly ventricose, not constricted; few weak spiral cords on base. Aperture wide with straight outer lip. Siphonal canal wide, short, straight; siphonal fasciole weakly swollen. Colour pattern under UV light consisting of about 12 spirals of wide-spaced subquadratic to elongate rectangular blotches.

Shell measurements and ratios. Only 3 specimens are available: SL: 60.1/53.3/ 49.5 mm, MD: 37.8/32.9/ 31.3 mm, spire angle: 118/110/119°, last whorl angle: 41/37/38°, LW: 1.59/1.62/1.58, RD: 0.71/0.72/0.73, PMD: 0.85/ 0.91/0.85, RSH: 0.12/0.14/0.14.

Discussion. This species was introduced by Sacco (1893a) as variety name of Conus mercati Brocchi, 1814 . Morphologically, it is very similar to Pliocene specimens of Monteiroconus mercati (Brocchi, 1814) as shown by Pinna & Spezia (1978) and Hall (1966). Nevertheless, it differs in its striate spire whorls, which are smooth in M. mercati (see discussion in Landau et al. 2013). The smaller size, higher spire and shorter last whorl allow a separation from Monteiroconus mojsvari (Hoernes & Auinger, 1879) .

Paleoenvironment. Shallow marine seagrass environments.

Distribution in Paratethys. Badenian (middle Miocene): Vienna Basin: Mikulov-Kienberk (Czech Republic) (Hörnes 1851).