Episcomitra pilsbryi

Episcomitra pilsbryi (Boettger, 1906)

Figs 3I 1 –I 2

* Mitra (Mitra) pilsbryi n. sp. — Boettger 1906: 6, nr. 31.

Mitra (Mitra) pilsbryi Boettger — Zilch 1934: 260, pl. 17, fig. 21.

Mitra (Mitra) pilsbryi Boettger, 1906 — Cernohorsky 1976: 379.

Type material. Holotype: SFM 360347 (= SFM XII 12.2207a), SL: 13.3 mm, MD: 4.1 mm, Senckenberg Museum, Frankfurt/Main, Germany, Coşteiu de Sus (Romania), illustrated in Zilch (1934, pl. 17, fig. 21), figs 3I 1 –I 2.

Revised description. Shell small, moderately slender fusiform with high spire. Protoconch unknown. Teleoconch of seven whorls. Spire whorls only weakly convex, with narrow, weakly incised suture. Last whorl elongate, slowly contracting. Shell surface glossy, smooth, without axial sculpture except for faint growth lines. Spiral sculpture limited to delicate spiral threads on base and fasciole. Aperture short, moderately wide, posteriorly narrowly angulated with indistinct posterior sinus. Columellar callus narrow, sharply delimited, with three weak columellar folds adjoined by subobsolete fourth abapical fold. Outer lip thin. Siphonal canal moderately short, straight with very shallow anterior notch.

Shell measurements and ratios. SL = 13.3 mm, MD: 4.1 mm; AA = 32°, SL/ MD: 3.2, AL/AW: 4.6, AH/S: 2.5.

Discussion. Boettger (1906) discussed Episcomitra terebriformis (Bellardi, 1887) (SL: 16 mm), from the Burdigalian of Italy, as a closely related species. Episcomitra terebriformis, however, differs in its convex whorls and strongly constricted base (see Bellardi 1887a: 63, pl. 3, fig. 58 and Ferrero-Mortara et al. 1981: 157, pl. 47, figs 10a–b). Episcomitra macilenta (Bellardi, 1887) (SL: 18 mm) and Episcomitra subuliformis (Bellardi, 1887) (SL: 20 mm), both from the Burdigalian of the Colli Torinesi (Italy), are very similar to E. pilsbryi, distinguished only by their larger size, the slightly higher aperture of E. macilenta and the less convex spire whorls and weaker basal concavity of E. subuliformis (see Bellardi 1887a: 52, pl. 3, fig. 38 and Ferrero-Mortara et al. 1981: 155, pl. 46, figs 6a–b for E. macilenta and Bellardi 1887a: 55, pl. 3, fig. 42 and Ferrero-Mortara et al. 1981: 156, pl. 46, figs 14a–b for E. subuliformis). Unfortunately, represented by a single specimen, intraspecific variability cannot be assessed, but in respect to the difference in size and considering the large stratigraphic gap, we prefer to keep the Paratethyan species separate from the early Miocene Proto-Mediterranean congeners. Another similar species is Episcomitra ulivii (Chirli, 2002) from the Pliocene of Italy, which is only distinguished from the Paratethyan species by its larger shell (SL: up to 30 mm) (see Chirli 2002: 41, pl. 20, figs 5–12).

Palaeoenvironment. Unknown. Probably middle to outer neritic environments.

Distribution in Central Paratethys. Badenian (middle Miocene): Făget Basin: Coşteiu de Sus (Romania) (Boettger 1906).