Page 4 - Micali_Geiger_2015
P. 4
706 Pasquale Micali & Daniel L. Geiger
in the same sample, we could exclude the pos- outcrop represents an epibathyal fauna dated to
sibility that the Sin. semicostata specimens were lower Pleistocene with additional material from the
juvenile Sci. costata. In particular Sin. semicostata upper Pliocene and more littoral assemblages, re-
differs from Sci. costata by the much more de- ferred to lower Pleistocene, with cold (or boreal)
pressed overall shape, the adapically angulated and guests. More recent works (Ruggiero & Raia, 2014;
flat shoulder as opposed to being horizontally ori- La Pema & Vazzana, 2014; Vazzana et al., 2014)
ented, the stronger and fewer axial ribs, and the deal with the Calabrian (lower Pleistocene) fauna
wide umbilicus in Sin. semicostata. Sinezona semi- and reported the presence of cold guests, such as
costata is much smaller (to 0.67 mm) and the teleo- Pseudamussium peslutrae (Linnaeus, 1771) = P.
conch II consists of about 0.3-0. 5 whorl compared semptemradiatum (O.F. Muller, 1776). The Recent
to up to 1.125 teleoconch II whorls in Sci. costata records of A. eximia are from the Mediterranean
growing to 1.7 mm. adjacent northeastern Atlantic, with a single record
from the Mediterranean Sea (off Malaga). The new
records are all from the North Atlantic. It appears
Anatoma Woodward, 1859 that A. eximia should also be considered a cold
Type species: Scissurella crispata Fleming, 1828 guest at the type locality.
(M: misidentified; SD: Geiger, 2012) The new records of A. tenuisculpta are both
from the North Atlantic as well as the Mediter-
Anatoma crispata (Fleming, 1828) ranean (Sicily).
Remarks. The species is commonly, but mis-
takenly, indicated as part of the Mediterranean Anatoma eximia (Seguenza, 1880)
malacofauna (see Geiger, 2012 for comprehensive Anatoma tenuisculpta (Seguenza, 1880)
chresonymy). Geiger (2012) questioned some of his
own earlier identifications of those Mediterranean Remarks. The publication date for those two
occurrences, which were made prior to the revision taxa was erroneously indicated as 1877 by Geiger
by Hoisaeter & Geiger (2011), but was unable to (2012), which, however, was the date of acceptance
re-evaluate that material prior to publication. Re- of the manuscript. Serge Gofas (pers. comm.)
examination of material from USNM has confirmed kindly pointed out that error.
”
the earlier suspicion. The following A. “ crispata
lots were re-identified as:
DISCUSSION
Anatoma aspera (Philippi, 1844): USNM
181621, 181630, 181631, 181600, 181616, 181623,
Despite the Mediterranean Sea being one of the
181620.
best-studied bodies ofwater on the planet, including
Anatoma eximia (Seguenza, 1880): USNM
its malacofauna (e.g., Parenzan, 1970; Sabelli et al.,
181597, 181601,181598, 181599.
Anatoma tenuisculpta (Seguenza, 1880): USNM 1990; Barash & Danin, 1992; Cossignani et al.,
1992; Giannuzzi-Savelli et al., 1994, 1997, 1999,
83386, 126631, 181592.
2001, 2003, 2014; Ardovini & Cossignani, 1999;
The A. aspera records confirm the known distri- Doneddu & Trainito, 2005; Cossignani & Ardovini,
bution of the species, with one additional locality 2011; Gofas et al., 2011; Scuderi & Terlizzi, 2012)
from Crete Island, representing one of the eastern- new discoveries can still be made. Those are not
most locations. necessarily restricted to minute molluscs; the
Anatoma eximia was re-surrected by Geiger re-discovery of the abalone species Haliotis
(2012) as a valid species. It was described from stomatiaeformis (= H. ncglecta ) at Malta island, is
fossil material from Gallina (near Reggio Calabria, a particularly striking example (Geiger, 1998;
Italy). The depositional environment of Gallina is Geiger & Owen, 2001), as well as the cone species
well described by DelFAngelo et al. (1998: 139): known from that general area Conus vayssierei
(
the levels described by Seguenza show sign of Pallary, 1906; Conus desidiosus A. Adams, 1853;
gravitational flow and canalization of debris. The Conusfumigatus Hwass in Bruguiere, 1792).