Nebularia Swainson, 1840

Harzhauser, Mathias & Landau, Bernard, 2021, The Mitridae (Gastropoda: Neogastropoda) of the Miocene Paratethys Sea, Zootaxa 4983 (3), pp. 1-72 : 46

Genus Nebularia Swainson, 1840

Type species. Mitra contracta Swainson, 1820 ; subsequent designation by Herrmannsen (1847: 110). Present-day, Indo-West Pacific.

Diagnosis. “ Shell small to large (15–150 mm), fusiform to elongate-fusiform. Protoconch pointed, narrowly conical, of three or more slightly convex, smooth and glossy whorls. Teleoconch whorls usually flattened in outline, with orthoconoid or acuminate spire. Sculpture variable, from indistinct to strong and deep groves separating flattened or rounded, sometimes undulating cords. Siphonal canal robust, short to moderately long, sometimes with distinct fasciole, giving siphonal canal a recurved appearance. Aperture elongate, its outer lip often thickened in its adapical portion. Margin of outer lip smooth or bearing fine denticles throughout its length. Inner lip with four to five delicate folds of subequal strength ” ( Fedosov et al., 2018: 62).

Discussion. The placement of the Paratethyan Nebularia soliphila nov. sp. in Nebularia is based on the short aperture, gradate spire, solid outer lip and prominent, twisted fasciole, which exclude placement in the genus Cancilla Swainson, 1840 . Moreover, Cancilla is a deep water genus, whereas Nebularia is found in intertidal and shallow sublittoral environments ( Fedosov et al. 2018). The extant Nebularia incompta [ Lightfoot, 1786], from the presentday Indo-West Pacific, is almost identical to Nebularia soliphila nov. sp., but with more numerous spiral cords.

Present-day distribution. Indo-West Pacific ( Fedosov et al. 2018).