A revision of the Miocene Cerithiopsidae, Newtoniellidae and Triphoridae (Triphoroidea, Gastropoda) of the Central Paratethys Sea

A diversity of 78 species of molluscs belonging to the superfamily Triphoroidea J.E. Gray, 1847, from the Middle Miocene of the Paratethys Sea, is documented and discussed. Of these, 27 are new to science. Another 23 have been discussed in open nomenclature due to poor preservation but are considered ‘good’ species. The genera listed here belonging to the family Cerithiopsidae are: Horologica, Joculator, Marshallopsis and Synthopsis; additionally, we record species belonging to the family Newtoniellidae and to the genus Retilaskeya B.A. Marshall, 1978. The Triphoridae genera Iniforis, Mastonia, and Strobiligera are first documented from the Paratethyan Miocene.

The genus Ataxocerithium Tate, 1894 is recorded here as seven species, indicating a previously unrecognized diversity in this family. The maximum diversity in Triphoroidea occurred during the Early/Middle Badenian, corresponding to the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum. The spread of coral reefs appears to have increased the availability of habitat for the sponges on which triphorids feed. The subsequent decline reflects the climatic deterioration and loss of coral habitats during the Miocene climate transition in the Serravallian.

Cerithiopsis columnaeformis sp. nov., Cerithiopsis gemini sp. nov., Cerithiopsis paratethyca sp. nov., Cerithiopsis s.l. bifida sp. nov., Cerithiopsis s.l. lima sp. nov., Cerithiopsis s.l. pimentai sp. nov., Cerithiopsis s.l. alexnuetzeli sp. nov., Cerithiopsis s.l. supressa sp. nov., Cerithiopsis s.l. nanocancellata sp. nov., Clathropsis dira sp. nov., Horologica elektra sp. nov., Horologica meganodulosa sp. nov., Horologica morus sp. nov., Horologica perugiai sp. nov., Joculator ellipticus sp. nov., Joculator philippei sp. nov., Joculator pustulosus sp. nov., Marshallopsis jansseni sp. nov., Marshallopsis vasilyani sp. nov., Synthopsis pachygaster sp. nov., [Cerithiopsidae], Ataxocerithium palotasae sp. nov., Ataxocerithium ireki sp. nov. and ‘Retilaskeya’ pulchra sp. nov. [Newtoniellidae], Iniforis vindobonensis sp. nov., Monophorus balteatus sp. nov., Strobiligera cecalupoi sp. nov. and Strobiligera sabellii sp. nov. [Triphoridae] are described as new species.

Cerithiopsis austriaca Sieber, 1937 is placed in the Terebridae genus Granuliterebra Oyama, 1961, which is the first record of this genus from the European Neogene. Cerithiopsis opaca Boettger, 1902 is placed in the Epitoniidae genus Papuliscala de Boury, 1911.