Melanopsis fossilis

Melanopsis fossilis is an extinct species of sea snail, a freshwater gastropod mollusk in the family Melanopsidae.[1]

Melanopsis fossilis
Shell of Melanopsis fossilis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Superfamily: Cerithioidea
Family: Melanopsidae
Genus: Melanopsis
Species:
M. fossilis
Binomial name
Melanopsis fossilis
(Gmelin, 1791)
Synonyms[1]
  • † Buccinum fossile Gmelin, 1791 superseded combination
  • † Lyrcaea fossilis (Gmelin, 1791) superseded combination (Lyrcea [sic] is considered a junior synonym of Melanopsis)
  • † Melanopsis capulus Handmann, 1882 junior subjective synonym
  • † Melanopsis fossilis var. accedens Handmann, 1887 junior subjective synonym
  • † Melanopsis fossilis var. proclivis Handmann, 1887 junior subjective synonym
  • † Melanopsis fossilis var. propinqua Handmann, 1887 junior subjective synonym
  • † Melanopsis impressa martiniana A. Férussac, 1823 junior objective synonym
  • † Melanopsis martiniana A. Férussac, 1823 junior objective synonym
  • † Melanopsis martiniana turriculata Pallary, 1916
  • † Melanopsis spiralis Handmann, 1882 junior subjective synonym

Nomenclature

The taxon was first mentioned in the Catalogus by Walch (1768, p. 121, pl. C. II.*, figs 1-5), yet without name. Martini (1777, p. 203, pl. 94, figs 912-914) described and illustrated the species as Pyrum fossile monstrosum f. amorphon and referred to Walch's work. Martini's work is, however, not available according to Op. 184 of the Code. Gmelin (1791, p. 3485) referred to Martini's work, described the species and was the first to assign a valid name to the taxon ("Buccinum fossile").

Férussac (1823), who was the first to combine the species with Melanopsis, listed the records by Walch, Martini as well as Gmelin but apparently did not consider fossile a valid name and introduced Melanopsis martiniana as new name. That name is an objective synonym and thus permanently invalid (see also Pallary, 1916, p. 81).

Papp (1953) designated the specimen illustrated by Martini (1777, pl. 94, figs 913) as lectotype. Since Gmelin referred to the same specimens when describing the species, this designation is valid (see also Art. 74.5).

The last summary of the status of M. fossilis was provided by Fischer (1996), but his conclusions were unfortunately based on misinterpretations and nomenclatural errors. He was unaware of the fact that Melanopsis martiniana is an objective synonym of M. fossilis. Moreover, he considered the outcrops near Siegendorf as "Locus typicus restrictus", a term not existing in nomenclature.[1]

Subspecies
  • † Melanopsis fossilis coaequata Handmann, 1887
  • † Melanopsis fossilis fossilis (Gmelin, 1791)
  • † Melanopsis fossilis handmanniana W. Fischer, 1996

Distribution

Fossils of this marine species were found in Miocene strata in Moravia, Tsjech Republic; also in Hungary.

References
  1. MolluscaBase eds. (2023). MolluscaBase. Melanopsis fossilis (Gmelin, 1791) †. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=821990 on 2023-08-12
  • de Férussac (A.E.J.P.F.) d'Audebart, 1823 - Histoire Naturelle Générale et particulière des Mollusques Terrestres et Fluviatiles, tant des espèces que l’on trouve aujourd’hui, que des dépouilles fossiles de celles qui n’existent plus, classées d’après les caractères essentiels que présentent ces animaux et leurs coquilles, livraison 21, p. publié le 27 septembre
  • de Férussac (A.E.J.P.F.) d'Audebart, 1826 - Monographie der lebendigen und versteinerten Gattungen der Sippe Melanopsis, nebst geolog. bemersungen von Ferussac (gelesen 1822). Isis. Encyclopädische Zeitschrift, vorzüglich für Naturgeschichte, vergleichende Anatomie und Physiologie, t. 1, p. 41-50
  • Deshayes (G.-P.), 1851 - Histoire Naturelle Générale et particulière des Mollusques Terrestres et Fluviatiles tant des espèces que l’on trouve aujourd’hui, que des dépouilles fossiles de celles qui n’existent plus, classées d’après les caractères essentiels que présentent ces animaux et leurs coquilles, livraison 42, p. 1-22, (23-24)
  • Pallary (P.), 1916 - Observations relatives à la nomenclature des Melanopsis fossiles. Bulletin de la Société d’Histoire naturelle d’Afrique du Nord, t. 7, vol. 3, p. 70-87
  • Pallary (P.), 1920 - Deuxième note sur la nomenclature des Melanopsis fossiles. Bulletin de la Société d’Histoire naturelle d’Afrique du Nord, t. 11, vol. 7, p. 104-119
  • Fischer, W. (1996). Beiträge zur Kenntnis der rezenten und fossilen Melanopsidea V. Melanopsis handmanniana nov. nomen und Melanopsis fossilis (Gmelin 1790) (Gastropoda, Prosobranchia). Club Conchylia Informationen. 28 (1/2), 25-38
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