Peristerniinae Tryon, 1880

Harzhauser, Mathias, Landau, Bernard M. & Vermeij, Geerat J., 2024, The Dolicholatiridae and Fasciolariidae (Gastropoda, Buccinoidea) of the Miocene Paratethys Sea, Zootaxa 5470 (1), pp. 1-92 : 16-17

Subfamily Peristerniinae Tryon, 1880

Diagnosis. “ Teleoconch from about 12 mm to more than 120 mm in length, fusiform, solid; aperture relatively narrow, its length:breadth typically between 2.0 and 3.0; inner lip usually with adapical parietal denticle and with two to four abapical folds, including large fold at entrance to siphonal canal; inner side of outer lip of adults usually lirate; central cord well expressed; edge of central sector of outer lip usually convex.” ( Vermeij & Snyder 2006: 414).

“ The most distinctively peristerniine feature is the adapical sinus on the outer lip.” ( Snyder et al. 2012: 56).

Genus Cryptoneolatirus nov. gen.

Type species. Fasciolaria bellardii Hörnes, 1854 ; Badenian (Middle Miocene), Romania .

Diagnosis. Medium-sized, moderately broad fusiform shell with conical spire and moderately long siphonal canal, characterized by the disappearance of axial sculpture early in ontogeny, early teleoconch with three prominent spiral cords swollen over close-set axial ribs, later whorls with weak, narrow, flattened spiral cords most evident below suture, base strongly constricted, columella with two faint folds, broad parietal fold, outer lip with few delicate lirae inside.

Description. As for type species.

Etymology. Combination of Crypto - (Ancient Greek for hidden) and Neolatirus , referring to the genus, with which the genus was confused so far.

Included species. Only the type species is known.

Stratigraphic and geographic range. Badenian (Middle Miocene) of the Central Paratethys Sea.

Paleoenvironment. Unknown; probably middle to outer neritic environments.

Discussion. Cryptoneolatirus nov.gen. was confused with Neolatirus Bellardi, 1884 .Both genera are monotypic, and both are characterized by the fading of sculpture early during ontogeny. Despite this similarity and a comparable outline, the type species of the two differ strongly in the sculpture of the early teleoconch whorls. Neolatirus recticauda (Fuchs in Karrer, 1877) develops wide-spaced axial ribs crossed by several primary and secondary primary cords, whilst Cryptoneolatirus has three beaded spiral cords overrunning more numerous ribs. In addition, Cryptoneolatirus has fewer and weaker columellar folds (2 vs. 3) and has a low, broad parietal fold. Therefore, the superficial similarity between them is due to convergence rather than a close phylogenetic relationship. We are not aware of any comparable extant fasciolariid genera.