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Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien, Serie A 119 115–130 Wien, 15 Feb. 2017
The false limpet Siphonaria in the circum-Tethyan Miocene with
emphasis on its occurrence in the Paratethys Sea
Mathias HarzHauser1*, Bernard M. Landau2 & Anton BreitenBerger3
(with 3 figures and 1 plate)
Manuscript submitted on December 28th 2015,
the revised manuscript on June 6th 2016.
Abstract
The occurrence of the false limpet genus Siphonaria is described for the first time from the Bad-
enian (Langhian) of the Paratethys. Comparison with coetaneous material available from France,
Italy and Hungary suggests the presence of at least five morphologically distinct species of this
always rare genus in the circum-Tethyan Miocene. Due to its scarcity in the fossil record, the
biogeographical and biostratigraphical value of these species is low, but it is a good indicator for
rocky intertidal paleo-environments.
Siphonaria vulcanica is described as a new species. Siphonaria variecostata sacco, 1897 and
Helcion subcostaria d’orBigny, 1852 are considered subjective junior synonyms of S. bisiphites
MicHeLin, 1831. Patella subpolygona d’orBigny, 1852 is considered an unjustified replacement
name for Siphonaria polygona (MicHeLotti, 1847). Siphonaria polygona irregularis sacco,
1897 is raised to species rank. Siphonaria tournoueri doLLfus & dautzenBerg, 1886 is consid-
ered a nomen nudum. Siphonaria tournoueri Peyrot, 1938 is considered a junior homonym of
S. tournoueri Vasseur, 1881.
Introduction
The genus Siphonaria is currently distributed worldwide in tropical and temperate rocky
intertidal habitats (dayrat et al. 2014). Its patchy fossil record dates back to the Cre-
taceous (dayrat et al. 2011) and a major diversification is observed during Eocene
times (Le renard & Pacaud 1995). After an Oligocene gap, the genus is again well
represented during the Miocene (sacco 1897; Peyrot 1932). Nevertheless, all the fossil
1 Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Burgring 7, 1010 Vienna, Austria; e-mail: mathias.harzhauser@nhm-
wien.ac.at
2 Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands; Instituto Dom Luiz da Uni-
versidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; and International Health Centres, Av.
Infante de Henrique 7, Areias São João, 8200 Albufeira, Portugal; e-mail: bernielandau@sapo.pt
3 Florastraße 8, 2540 Bad Vöslau, Austria; breitenberger@gmail.com
* Corresponding author
ZooBank LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:79D58234-E6F3-43DC-A29B-6B1435B029C8
116 Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, Serie A, 119
species are known only from a few localities and are documented by few specimens.
Therefore, the intraspecific variability for most species has been difficult to assess.
In this paper the focus is on Miocene European Siphonaria species. From the literature,
three species are known from the Early and Middle Miocene of the North-East Atlan-
tic (Siphonaria bisiphites MicHeLin, 1831, Siphonaria vasconiensis MicHeLin, 1831,
Siphonaria tournoueri doLLfus & dautzenBerg, 1886) and two species are described
from the Early Miocene of the Proto-Mediterranean Sea (Siphonaria polygona (MicHeL-
otti, 1847), Siphonaria variecostata sacco, 1897). No Neogene North Sea occurrences
are known to us as and similarly, no Siphonaria species have been described from the
Paratethys Sea despite its rich Miocene mollusc fauna (HarzHauser & PiLLer 2007).
We can nd no Pliocene record of the genus in the abundant North Sea Basin, Atlantic
or Mediterranean assemblages. One of us (B.L.) has extensive knowledge of the out-
standingly abundant lower Upper Pliocene deposits of Estepona, southern Spain, which
probably boasts of over 1000 gastropod species. Rocky shore habitats are represented
in Estepona and yet there is no record of Siphonaria (B.L. unpublished data). The rst
post-Miocene European fossil record we can nd for the genus is in the upper Pleisto-
cene/Holocene of southern Spain (Lozano-francisco et al. 2002).
The scarcity of fossil Siphonaria is most probably related to its agitated rocky-intertidal
habitat. Not only is this type of environment consistently underrepresented in the geo-
logical record compared to the vast amount of sublittoral and deep marine deposits, but
the fragmentation and abrasion by waves also cause a strong preservational bias. The
combination of these two factors could explain the comparably poor record of limpets.
It is also possible that this genus might simply not have been abundant along the cir-
cum-Tethyan shores during Miocene and Pliocene times.
In modern seas, Siphonaria is moderately speciose; calculations on its diversity based
on shell characters resulted in about 60–70 species worldwide (HuBendick 1946; gofas
& rosenBerg 2015), but molecular data of dayrat et al. (2014) suggest a higher diver-
sity and a distinct provincialism. Unfortunately for palaeontologists, dayrat’s et al.
(2014) work suggested that conchological characters alone – which are quite variable in
Siphonaria – are not always reliable in distinguishing species. Despite these problems,
molecular data conrmed shell-based identications for several extant species (güLLer
et al. 2015). Therefore, we are convinced that the available material from the European
Miocene can be assigned to at least ve species based on their distinct morphologies.
Uncertainties, however, remain due to the lack of data on intraspecic variability.
Material and methods
The Paratethyan shells were collected by A.B. at Letkés in Hungary (Fig. 1) in an arti-
ficial trench. The shells studied are stored in the collections of the Natural History
Museum Vienna (NHMW), the Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali in Torino (BS), the
Collection de géologie of the Université de Bordeaux, the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle
de Bordeaux (MHNBx) and the private collection of Piet HesseL (now part of RGM
HarzHauser et al.: The false limpet Siphonaria in the Miocene of Europe 117
Fig. 1. Geographic position of Letkés in Hungary; the red rectangle in the smaller map indicates
the position of the larger map; the asterisk marks the position of the outcrop described by koVács
& Vicián (2013); the outcrop picture shows the articial trench in 2012 and the andesite boul-
ders, which might have served as habitat for the siphonariids (A: Austria, SK: Slovakia, UKR:
Ukraine, RO: Romania, SRB: Serbia, HR: Croatia, SLO: Slovenia).
coll. Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands). The conchological termi-
nology follows HuBendick (1946) and dayrat et al. (2014). We intended to illustrate
all type specimens, but several types are lost (e. g., MicHeLin collection, pers. comm.
Jean-Michel Pacaud; Benoist collection, pers. comm Laurent cHarLes; roVasenda
collection, pers. comm. Daniele orMezzano). Therefore, we re-illustrate the figures
given in the respective original papers.
118 Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, Serie A, 119
Systematic Paleontology
Class Gastropoda cuVier, 1795
Subclass Heterobranchia BurMeister, 1837
Superfamily Siphonarioidea gray, 1827
Family Siphonariidae gray, 1827
Genus Siphonaria G. B. sowerBy I, 1823
Type species: Siphonaria sipho g. B. sowerBy i, 1823; by monotypy. Recent,
Indo-West Pacific.
Siphonaria bisiphites Michelin, 1831
(Fig. 2a–d)
*1831a S.[iphonaria] bisiphites MicHeLin: 5, pl. 5, 2 text-figs.
1852 [Siphonaria] bisiphites MicHeLin – d’orBigny: 93.
1896 S.[iphonaria] variecostata sacco: 96 (nomen nudum).
1897 Siphonaria? variecostata sacc. – sacco: 87, pl. 10, fig. 100.
1932 Siphonaria bisiphites MicHeLin – Peyrot: 215, no. 1418, pl. 12, figs 29, 31, 34, 40, 54.
1984 Siphonaria? variecostata sacco, 1897 – ferrero-Mortara et al.: 296, pl. 55, figs 1a–1b.
2001 Siphonaria bisiphites MicHeLin, 1831 – Lozouet et al.: 84, pl. 37, figs 10a–10b.
Discussion: Siphonaria bisiphites is either a strongly polymorphic species, or
possibly represents a species-group. The syntype in MicHeLin (1831a; herein Fig. 2a)
shows a roughly rectangular outline and ~45 primary and secondary radial ribs of similar
strength, which are cut by few but deep concentric growth lines; the maximum length
is given as 18 mm. Peyrot (1932; herein Fig. 2b) illustrated a distinctly larger speci-
men with a maximum diameter of 28 mm, an ovoid outline and about 42 radial ribs. Of
these, some primary ribs are somewhat bifid and between two primary ribs appears one
slightly weaker secondary rib. The muscle scar is deep and delimits a moderately wide,
crenulated margin. The specimen described by Lozouet et al. (2001) is intermediate in
size and has a subquadratic outline agreeing well to MicHeLin’s type. It differs from the
other shells in its very broad and bulgy primary ribs and the very regular intercalation
of a narrow but prominent secondary rib between each pair of primary ribs. The Aquita-
nian specimen illustrated herein (Fig. 2c) has also distinct primary ribs but develops 2–3
secondary and tertiary ribs between a pair of primary ribs. This morphotype corresponds
fully to the holotype of Siphonaria variecostata sacco, 1897 (BS.104.01.007) from the
Burdigalian of the Turin Hills (Fig. 2d). Therefore, we consider S. variecostata a subjec-
tive junior synonym of S. bisiphites.
Lozouet et al. (2001) considered the shells described and illustrated by grateLouP
(1828, 1836, 1845) as Patella costaria (non desHayes, 1824) to be S. bisiphites. There-
fore, Helcion subcostaria d’orBigny, 1852, which was introduced by d’orBigny (1852)
as a replacement name for grateLouP’s P. costaria, is a subjective junior synonym of
HarzHauser et al.: The false limpet Siphonaria in the Miocene of Europe 119
Siphonaria bisiphites. With the scant material available, we do not feel it is possible at
present to separate the various morphotypes described above, and therefore follow pre-
vious authors in considering S. bisiphites as a single polymorphic species. The where-
abouts of the specimens illustrated by Peyrot (1932, pl. 12, figs 31, 34, 40) is unknown
(pers. comm. Laurent cHarLes, Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de Bordeaux).
D i s t r i b u t i o n : northeastern Atlantic: Aquitanian (Saucats, Saint-Martin-d’Oney),
Burdigalian (St-Paul-lès-Dax, Mérignac) (Peyrot 1932; Lozouet et al. 2001; http://
www.fossilshells.nl/); Proto-Mediterranean Sea: Burdigalian (Turin Hills) (as S.
variecostata).
Siphonaria polygona (Michelotti, 1847)
(Pl. 1, Figs 1–5)
1842 Patella Saccharina Linn. LaM. – sisMonda: 24 (non Patella saccharina Linnaeus, 1758).
*1847 Patella polygona sisM. – MicHeLotti: 133, pl. 5, fig. 9.
1847 [Patella] polygona E. sisM. – sisMonda: 25.
1852 [Patella] subpolygona E. sisM. – d’orBigny: 94.
1896 Siphonaria polygona (sisMd.) – sacco: 96.
1896 [Siphonaria polygona (sisMd.)] var. pluricostulata sacco: 96 (nomen nudum).
1896 [Siphonaria polygona (sisMd.) var.] longiuscata sacco: 96 (nomen nudum).
1897 Siphonaria poligona [sic] (sisMd.) – sacco: 87, pl. 10, figs 91–95 (non fig. 90 = Siphonaria irregu-
laris sacco, 1897).
1897 S.[iphonaria] polygona var. pluricostulata sacc. – sacco: 87, pl. 10, figs 96–97.
1897 S.[iphonaria] polygona var. longiuscula sacc. – sacco: 87, pl. 10, fig. 98.
1962 Siphonaria polygona sisMonda, 1847 – gLiBert: 75.
1984 Siphonaria polygona (sisMonda, 1847) – ferrero-Mortara et al.: 296.
1984 [Siphonaria polygona] var. pluricostulata sacco, 1897 – ferrero-Mortara et al.: 296.
1984 [Siphonaria polygona] var. longiuscula sacco, 1897 – ferrero-Mortara et al.: 296.
2009 Siphonaria polygona – zunino & PaVia: 360.
Fig. 2. Siphonaria bisiphites MicHeLin, 1831. a1–a2: re-illustration of the lost syntypes illustrated
in MicHeLin (1831); St-Paul-lès-Dax, France, Burdigalian. b1–b3: re-illustration from Peyrot
(1932, pl. 12, gs 31, 34, 40), Mérignac, France, Burdigalian. c1–c2: specimen from Saint-Martin-
d’Oney, Aquitanian; International Fossil Shell Museum, no. 23861. d1–d2: holotype of Siphonaria
variecostata sacco, 1897 (pl. 10, g. 100, BS.104.01.007), Turin Hills, Italy, Burdigalian.
120 Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, Serie A, 119
M a ter i al e xam i ne d : 5 specimens in the collection of the Museo Regionale di Sci-
enze Naturali, Torino (BS.104.01.001, BS.104.01.002, BS.104.01.004, BS.104.01.005,
BS.104.01.006).
D e s c r i p t i o n : Small, of about 13–16 mm maximum diameter elongate-ovate to
faintly hexagonal (length/width ratio of 1.3–1.5), low (length/height ratio: 4.3), equilat-
eral shells. Pointed, subcentral apex with apical angle of 135°. Shell surface with 17–21
somewhat angular primary and secondary radial ribs; secondary radial ribs may attain
same strength as the primary ones and a separation may be difficult. Siphonal ribs not
markedly more prominent. Primary ribs distinctly protruding the edge, secondary ribs
less protruding. Interspaces between ribs flat, often displaying weak concentric growth
lines. Muscle scars deep and distinct, demarcating a broad and undulate margin.
D i s c u s s i o n : The authorship of this species was traditionally attributed to Eugenio
sisMonda, who listed it as Patella saccharina. This extant Indo-West Pacific species is
now treated as Patelloida saccharina (Linnaeus, 1758) according to BoucHet (2015),
and is clearly unrelated to Siphonaria. MicHeLotti (1847) recognized the mistake,
described differences between the Miocene and Recent species and introduced Patella
Plate 1
Siphonaria polygona (Michelotti, 1847)
from the Burdigalian of the Turin Hills (Italy).
Fig. 1: BS.104.01.002, specimen illustrated by sacco (1897, pl. 10, fig. 91).
Figs 2a–2b: BS.104.01.001, specimen illustrated by sacco (1897, pl. 10, fig. 92).
Figs 3a–3b: BS.104.01.004, syntype of S. polygona pluricostulata sacco (1897, pl. 10, fig. 96).
Figs 4a–4c: BS.104.01.005, syntype of S. polygona pluricostulata sacco (1897, pl. 10, fig. 97).
Figs 5a–5b: BS.104.01.006, syntype of S. polygona longiuscula sacco (1897, pl. 10, fig. 98).
No exact locality given on labels.
Siphonaria irregularis Sacco, 1897
from the Burdigalian of the Turin Hills (Italy).
Figs 6a–6b: BS.104.01.003, specimen illustrated by sacco (1897, pl. 10, fig. 90) as Siphonaria
polygona, no exact locality given on label.
Figs 7a–7b: syntype (or holotype) of S. polygona irregularis sacco (1897, pl. 10, fig. 99) from
Sciolze; the specimen is lost (re-illustrated from sacco, 1897).
Siphonaria vulcanica nov. sp.
from the Badenian (Langhian) of Letkés (Hungary).
Figs 8a–8c: NHMW 2015/0390/0001, holotype.
Figs 9a–9c: NHMW 2015/0390/0002, paratype.
HarzHauser et al.: The false limpet Siphonaria in the Miocene of Europe 121
122 Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, Serie A, 119
polygona for the Miocene species. Nevertheless, probably out of courtesy, he indicated
sisMonda as author. Even d’orBigny (1852), who introduced subpolygona as (unjus-
tified) replacement name indicated sisMonda as author. In any case, the authorship
has to be passed to MicHeLotti (1847) as he made the name available and provided a
description. The type illustrated by MicHeLotti (1847) represents a vaguely pentagonal
to hexagonal shell with 12 primary radial ribs and 7 slightly weaker secondary ribs, all
of which protrude over the shell margin, giving a deeply crenulated edge. This morpho-
type corresponds well with the shells (Pl. 1, Figs 1–2) considered by sacco (1897) to be
typical representatives of S. polygona. In addition, sacco (1897) established four new
subspecies (variations) of S. polygona accompanied by very brief diagnoses. According
to these, S. polygona pluricostulata differs from the type by more numerous and densely
set radial ridges, S. polygona longiuscula is elongate and irregularly elliptical and S.
polygona irregularis is characterized by its robust shell and the secondary ridges close
to the shell margin. In S. polygona longiuscula the right margin is damaged, resulting
in a seemingly irregular elongate shape. Typical S. polygona develop around 17 pri-
mary ridges and the two specimens of S. polygona pluricostulata have only 2 and 4
ridges more. Thus, taking into account the wide intraspecific variability seen in extant
Siphonaria species (i. e., güLLer et al., 2015) and considering that all the specimens
come from the same localities and geological horizons, there is little reason to sepa-
rate pluricostulata and longiuscula as distinct species or subspecies. Only S. polygona
irregularis differs considerably in its morphology and size and is considered herein to be
a distinct species unrelated to S. polygona (see under discussion of S. irregularis).
D i s t r i b u t i o n : Proto-Mediterranean Sea: originally mentioned by sisMonda (1842)
vaguely from the Turin Hills. Later, MicHeLotti (1847) gave Termô-Fôurà as locality,
which belongs to the middle to upper Burdigalian Termofourà Formation (zunino &
PaVia, 2009). In addition, sacco (1897) mentions records from Sciolze, which is most
probably also of Burdigalian age.
Siphonaria irregularis Sacco, 1897
(Pl. 1, Figs 6–7)
1896 [Siphonaria polygona (sisMd.) var.] irregularis sacco: 96 (nomen nudum).
1897 Siphonaria poligona [sic] (sisMd.) – sacco: 87, pl. 10, fig. 90 (non Siphonaria polygona MicHeLotti,
1847).
*1897 S.[iphonaria] poligona [sic] var. irregularis (roV.) – sacco: 87, pl. 10, fig. 99.
1984 [Siphonaria polygona] var. irregularis sacco, 1897 – ferrero-Mortara et al.: 296.
M a t eri a l ex a m ine d : 1 specimen in the collection of the Museo Regionale di Sci-
enze Naturali, Torino (BS.104.01.003). The syntype (or holotype) of Siphonaria polyg-
ona irregularis was part of the roVasenda-collection, which was destroyed during
World War II.
D e sc r ipt ion : Large, robust, low shell with subcentral apex; apical angle 150°. Exact
size of the lost type specimen is unknown as the illustrations of the exterior and interior
HarzHauser et al.: The false limpet Siphonaria in the Miocene of Europe 123
in sacco (1897) differ slightly in size. The maximum diameter may thus be 31 or 34
mm; maximum diameter of second studied specimen: 23.6 mm; for both specimens the
length/width ratio is ~1.2, length/height ratio: 5.5. Exterior with about 17 broad, blunt
and somewhat knobby primary ribs and weaker secondary ribs, which become interca-
lated in later stages of growth; interspaces narrow, concave. Ribs protrude slightly the
edge. Muscle scars moderately incised, siphonal groove broad and shallow.
D i s c u s s i o n : Two specimens illustrated by sacco (1897) as Siphonaria polygona
differ considerably from the other shells in their much larger size and different sculpture
(figs 90 and 99 in sacco 1897, pl. 10). For one of these shells sacco (1897) established
the varietal name irregularis, whereas the other one was treated as typical S. polygona.
Both shells differ from S. polygona by being broader, much larger and solid, with blunt
apex, broad and blunt radial ribs and narrow interspaces. In addition, the length/height
ratio is much larger in S. irregularis and the knobbly ribs are unknown in S. polygona. In
the available specimen the interior is covered by sediment. Based on these differences,
we propose to separate Siphonaria irregularis as distinct species.
D i str i but ion : Proto-Mediterranean Sea: Burdigalian of the Turin Hills (Termofourà
Formation and Sciolze) (ferrero-Mortara et al. 1984).
Siphonaria vasconiensis Michelin, 1831
(Fig. 3a–e)
?1829 Patella alta de serres: 129, pl. 4, fig. 2. (non Patella miniata var. alta Brauer, 1878).
*1831b S.[iphonaria] Vasconiensis MicHeLin: 32, pl. 32, 2 text-figs.
1852 [Siphonaria] Vasconiensis MicHeLin – d’orBigny: 93.
1932 Siphonaria vasconiensis MicHeLin – Peyrot: 214, no. 1417, pl. 12, figs 24, 28, 30, 32–33, 41–42.
2001 Siphonaria vasconiensis MicHeLin, 1831 – Lozouet et al.: 84, pl. 37, figs 9a–9b.
M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d : 1 specimen from Letkés in Hungary (NHMW 2015/0390/0003),
1 specimen from Le Houga, Gers, France, Langhian; International Fossil Shell Museum,
no. 11578, 1 specimen from St-Paul-lès-Dax in France, illustrated in Peyrot (1932, pl.
12 figs 30, 41, 42) (MHNBx 2014.35.15.45; picture: Laurent cHarLes, Muséum d’His-
toire Naturelle de Bordeaux).
D e s c r i p t i o n : Large, solid, high, cap-shaped shell with broad ovoid base (length/
width ratio: ~1.2); and convex surface. Maximum diameter ranging around 50 mm;
apical angle 100–120°. Apex in near-central position; pointed in well-preserved spec-
imens but usually eroded. Siphonal groove marked by a slight lateral expansion of the
margin. Sculpture consisting of numerous more or less wrinkled radial ribs. Secondary
and tertiary ribs develop partly from bifurcations or are isolated ribs between the pri-
mary ribs. Towards the margins, the ribs become rather uniform in larger specimens.
Interspaces smooth and of about the same width as the ribs. Interior with well-devel-
oped muscle scars; siphonal groove very shallow and indistinct; margin smooth to
weakly undulate.
124 Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, Serie A, 119
Discussion: Siphonaria vasconiensis is the largest Siphonaria in the circum-Tethyan
Miocene. As is typical for Siphonaria, its sculpture is quite variable. Early Miocene shells
described by Peyrot (1932) and Lozouet et al. (2001) have broad primary and secondary
ribs with narrow interspaces. The same morphology is also recorded from the Langhian
(Peyrot 1932). The Langhian shells from France and Hungary, described herein, differ
in the broader interspaces and the differentiated primary and secondary ribs (Fig. 3c).
The drawing of the Burdigalian holotype by MicHeLin (1831b; herein Fig. 3a) is some-
what idealized but seems to represent an intermediate phenotype. Therefore, considering
the vast conchological variability seen in extant Siphonaria species, as documented by
dayrat et al. (2014) and güLLer et al. (2015), we consider the observed differences to
reflect intraspecific variability. Although this species is large and solid, it had not been
recorded so far from the Proto-Mediterranean Sea and the Paratethys. friedBerg (1928)
illustrated a large limpet of 45 mm diameter from the Middle Miocene of Poland, which
he erroneously identified as Diodora italica (defrance, 1820), but which lacks the typi-
cal fissurellid foramen. Outline and sculpture are similar to Siphonaria vasconiensis, but
the shell is filled with sediment and it is unclear if the prominent concentric growth lines
Fig. 3. Siphonaria vasconiensis MicHeLin, 1831. a1–a2: re-illustration of the lost syntypes illus-
trated in MicHeLin (1831); St-Paul-lès-Dax?, France, Burdigalian. b1–b2: specimen from Le
Houga, Gers, France, Langhian; International Fossil Shell Museum, no. 11578.c1–c3: NHMW
2015/0390/0003, Letkés, Hungary, Badenian (Langhian). d: re-illustration from Peyrot (1932,
pl. 12, gs 28, 33), Manciet, France, Langhian. e1–e2: specimen from Paul-lès-Dax, France, Bur-
digalian, illustrated in Peyrot (1932, pl. 12 gs 30, 41, 42) (MHNBx 2014.35.15.45; photograph:
Laurent cHarLes, Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de Bordeaux).
HarzHauser et al.: The false limpet Siphonaria in the Miocene of Europe 125
in the interspaces between the radial ribs are a conchological or a taphonomic feature.
As already pointed out by Peyrot (1932) the huge, cap-shaped, French Miocene shell
described by de serres (1829) as Patella alta might also correspond to Siphonaria vas-
coniensis. This name would have priority over Siphonaria vasconiensis, but Patella alta
is preoccupied by P. alta Brauer, 1878.
The whereabouts of the specimens illustrated by Peyrot (1932, pl. 12, figs 28, 29, 32, 33)
is unknown (pers. comm. Laurent cHarLes, Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de Bordeaux).
D i s t r i b u t i o n : northeastern Atlantic: Chattian (St-Etienne-d’Orthe), Aquitanian
(Saucats), Burdigalian (St-Paul-lès-Dax, Mérignac) and Langhian (Manciet, Le Houga)
of the Aquitaine and the Midi-Pyrénées (Peyrot 1932; Lozouet et al. 2001; http://www.
fossilshells.nl/). Paratethys: Badenian (Langhian) of Letkés in Hungary. An additional
occurrence from the Ottnangian (Burdigalian) of Upper Austria was described as cf.
vasconiensis by HarzHauser et al. (2015) but the preservation does not allow a clear
identification.
Siphonaria vulcanica nov. spe.
(Pl. 1, Figs 8–10)
Typ e m a t e r i a l : Holotype: Pl. 1, Fig. 8, NHMW 2015/0390/0001, length 22.1 mm,
width: 20.3 mm, height: 8.0 mm. Paratype: Pl. 2, Fig. 9, NHMW 2015/0390/0002,
length: 24.5 mm, width: 19.3 mm, height: 6.5 mm.
A d d i t i o n a l m a t e r i a l : 1 fragmentary specimen consisting only of the apical part
(collection Anton BreitenBerger), length 18.2 mm, width: 14.4 mm, height: 5.1 mm.
S t r a t u m t y p i c u m : fossil-rich marly sand with coral blocks and andesite boulders
of the Sámsonháza Formation (csePregHy-Meznerics 1956; császár 1997). Middle
Miocene, early Badenian (Langhian) (koVács & Vicián 2013).
Typ e l oca lit y: Letkés at the western part of the Börzsöny Mts. (Hungary); the local-
ity was detected and shown to A.B. by Zoltán Vicián; a description is given by koVács
& Vicián 2013.
N a me: Referring to the volcanic andesite boulders to which the specimens might have
been attached to.
D i agn o s is: Medium sized, medium-low (length/height ratio: 2.8–3.7) Siphonaria of
ovate outline with nodulose, raised radial ribs protruding from edge, terminating in spiny
projections.
D e s c r i p t i o n : Medium sized shells with subcircular to slightly elongate base and
central apex. Shell low to moderately low. Sculpture comprising 10 strongly raised pri-
mary radial ribs with convex tops and nodulose surface. One or rarely two secondary or
tertiary ribs are intercalated between each pair of primary ribs raising the number of ribs
126 Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, Serie A, 119
to 23 in the holotype and 21 in the paratype. Primary and secondary radial ribs terminate
in strongly protruding, internally deeply grooved and slightly recurved spines. Internal
radial grooves fade out in the apical region; grooves corresponding to primary ribs are
more pronounced. Muscle scars very weak; siphonal groove very shallow, only slightly
deeper than the furrows of the other primary ribs; externally coinciding with a primary
radial rib.
D is cu ssi on : Holotype and paratype differ in the coarser sculpture of the paratype and
the lower shell height. Internal features and the number of primary radial ribs, the mode
of rib intercalation and the morphology of the spiny projections, however, are identical
and therefore we consider both specimens to represent the same species. Siphonaria vul-
canica is reminiscent of the early Miocene S. irregularis in sculpture and size but differs
in the more spiny projections, the much higher and narrower ribs, the higher shell and
especially in the deep radial grooves in the interior. The early Miocene S. polygona is
smaller and differs in its elongate outline, much more pronounced muscle scars and the
lack of internal grooves.
Superficially, the shells are reminiscent of some members of the fissurellid subfamily
Hemitominae kuroda, HaBe & oyaMa, 1971. Most Hemitominae differ from S. vul-
canica in their recurved apex and the deep excurrent groove on the interior (McLean
2011). Only in some species of Hemitoma swainson, 1840, Montfortulana HaBe, 1961
and Clypidina gray, 1847 is the apex not recurved and the groove may be weak. Repre-
sentatives of these genera, however, lack strongly protruding radial ribs.
D i s t r i b u t i o n : Paratethys Sea: only known from the Middle Miocene Badenian
(Langhian) of Letkés in Hungary.
Conclusions
The scant material of Miocene Siphonaria reveals the presence of at least 5 species
in the European Miocene. Siphonaria bisiphites and S. vasconiensis have been known
from the early to middle Miocene of the northeastern Atlantic since the early 19th cen-
tury. Due to their restricted distribution, these species could have been interpreted as
members of an Atlantic bioprovince. Both species, however, seem to have been widely
distributed in the circum-Tethyan region. The large Siphonaria vasconiensis is now also
documented from the middle Miocene of the Paratethys. No direct connection between
Paratethys and Atlantic existed at that time (PoPoV et al. 2004). Therefore, its occurrence
in the Paratethys indirectly indicates its presence also in the Proto-Mediterranean Sea,
although it was not detected there up to now. Similarly, S. bisiphites seems to have been
present in the Proto-Mediterranean Sea during early Miocene times, but was described
there as a separate species (S. variecostata). Two additional species occurred during the
early Miocene in the Proto-Mediterranean Sea (S. polygona, S. irregularis), which had
been lumped together so far in the literature. Finally, S. vulcanica is a new Paratethyan
species, known only from the early Badenian (Langhian) of Hungary at present.
HarzHauser et al.: The false limpet Siphonaria in the Miocene of Europe 127
Although a separation of Siphonaria species may be difficult based on conchological fea-
tures alone (dayrat et al. 2014), the few available specimens of each species described
herein suggest a quite reliable separation and no morphologic overlap. A clear evaluation
of intraspecific variability, however, would need additional material.
The rocky intertidal habitat of this genus is probably the main reason for the scarcity
of this genus in the fossil record. Therefore, the spotty data do not allow any biostrati-
graphic and biogeographic conclusions. In contrast, its presence in fossil assemblages is
a valuable indicator for the closeness of rocky intertidal paleo-environments.
Appendix
“Siphonaria tournoueri DollfuS & Dautzenberg, 1886”
[= Patelloidea? indet]
1886 Siphonaria Tournoueri doLLfus & dautzenBerg: 142 (nomen nudum; non Vasseur, 1881).
1938 Siphonaria (?) Tournoueri doLLfus et dautzenBerg (mss.) – Peyrot: 318 (non Vasseur, 1881).
D i s c u s s s i o n : In their contribution on the Miocene molluscs of the Touraine in
France, doLLfus & dautzenBerg (1886) mentioned Siphonaria tournoueri in a list
without any description or illustration. Therefore, Siphonaria tournoueri doLLfus &
dautzenBerg is a nomen nudum. Peyrot (1938) was the first to provide a description,
which would have made the name available. Siphonaria tournoueri, however, is preoc-
cupied by Vasseur (1881), who introduced the name for an Eocene species from France.
According to Peyrot (1938) the single available specimen lacks the characteristic mus-
cle scars of Siphonaria and therefore is more likely to be a patelloid gastropod.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Daniele orMezzano (Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Torino, Italy) for
providing pictures of the type material of sacco (1897). Bruno caHuzac (Université de Bor-
deaux) and Laurent cHarLes (Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle de Bordeaux) provided pictures of
the type material of the Peyrot collection. HesseL and Rudi HesseL (Utrecht), operators of the
International Fossil Shell Museum (http://www.fossilshells.nl/index.html), kindly provided pic-
tures of French material. This paper contributes to the FWF project P-23492-B17 “Stratigraphy
and paleoecology in the Oligo/Miocene of the Mediterranean”. Jean-Michel Pacaud (Muséum
National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris) and Alfréd duLai (Hungarian Natural History Museum)
helped with information on stratigraphy and collections. We are especially grateful to Zoltán
Vicián (Budapest) who shared his valuable knowledge on the Letkés outcrop and for his support
in the eld.
The paper proted greatly by the careful reviews of Serge gofas (University of Malaga) and an
anonymous reviewer.
128 Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, Serie A, 119
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