Crassimurex (Pliocrassimurex) hirtus Merle, Pacaud, Ledon & Goret, 2024, n. subgen., n. sp.

Crassimurex (Pliocrassimurex) hirtus n. subgen., n. sp. (Figs 21 A-F; 28C-E) urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: D443EA04-13CB-4AC7-8082-87A2DD4CF2D2 TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype. Spain • Llobregat Basin, Molins del Rei; Yellow and grey clays of Molins del Rei (quarry Anna); Pliocene (Zanclean); MNHN.F.A77751 (MNHN coll.),H: 28 mm (Figs 21A,B; 28E). Paratypes. Spain • 2 spm; same as for the holotype; MNHN.F.A77752 (MNHN coll.) (Figs 21C, D; 28D, MNHN.F.A77753 (MNHN coll.) (Figs 21E, F; 28C). ETYMOLOGY. — From the Latin adjective hirtus meaning bristly, because of the cord spines of the species; gender masculine. TYPE HORIZON. — Yellow and grey clays of Molins del Rei (quarry Anna). TYPE LOCALITY. — Spain, Llobregat Basin, Pliocene (Zanclean; see Salvany & Aguirre 2020), Molins del Rei (quarry Anna). DISTRIBUTION. — Only known from the type locality. DESCRIPTION Protoconch not preserved. Teleoconch up to 28 mm in height (holotype), up to 7.6 mm in width, biconic in profile, composed of six whorls. Moderately low spire with carinate whorls. Last whorl up to 76% of total length. Apical angle 68°. Spiral sculpture with marked primary cords. First whorl: not preserved; from second to fourth whorl: presence of P1 and P2, P2 close to abapical suture; fifth whorl: appearance of IP; sixth whorl: appearance of abis infrasutural ramp. P1 to P5 and s1 to s3 on convex part of whorl; P6, ADP, MP and ABP on siphonal canal. Axial sculpture with high, sublamellose varices. On second whorl: 9-10 varices; on third whorl: ten varices; from fourth whorl to fifth whorl: 8-10 varices; on sixth whorl: eight varices. On spire, short cord spines on P1-P2; P1 delimiting periphery. On last whorl, short cord spines on IP, P1-P6, ADP, MP, ABP, but more developed on P1, P2 and P3; P2 delimiting periphery. Ovate aperture up to 31% of diameter and up to 74% of length of last whorl (including siphonal canal). Columellar lip, smooth, adherent. Parietal lip smooth, adherent. Outer lip lacking internal denticles. Pseudoumbilicus moderately large. Siphonal canal open, up to 41% of aperture length, slightly dorsally recurved. Aragonitic microstructure. COMMENTS By its shape and its sculpture, C. (Pliocrassimurex) hirtus n. subgen., n. sp. resembles members of Crassimurex Merle, 1990. However, until now, Crassimurex was not known in the Pliocene and seemed extinct after the Middle Miocene. Crassimurex is currently represented by two subgenera, Crassimurex (s.s.): early Eocene to middle Eocene, France, and Crassimurex (Eopaziella): late Eocene to Middle Miocene (Europe). Therefore, the discovery of a species of Crassimurex in the Early Pliocene of Spain is surprising and extends the stratigraphic range of the genus. Crassimurex (Pliocrassimurex) differs from Crassimurex (s.s.) and C. (Eopaziella) by having a more obtuse shoulder angle. In C. (Pliocrassimurex), P2 delimits the periphery on the last whorl, whereas in Crassimurex (s.s.) and C. (Eopaziella), P1 delimits the periphery. Crassimurex (s.s.) 1990 can share cord spines with C. (Pliocrassimurex), as seen in the type species C. (s.s.) calcitrapa (Lamarck, 1803) (Fig. 21G, H), but it differs by having varices which are not axially aligned. Crassimurex (Eopaziella) resembles C. (Pliocrassimurex) by having varices axially aligned but differs in lacking cord spines (see Merle et al. 2011: 178, fig. 62, pl. 144).