Lepidochitona kieli Dell'Angelo, Sosso & Taviani, 2025, sp. nov.

Lepidochitona kieli sp. nov. Fig. 126 Type material. Holotype MSNG 62665, intermediate valve, width 5.5 mm (Figs 126A–E). Paratype 1: MSNG 62666, tail valve, width 2.1 (Figs 126K–L). Paratype 2: MNHN.F.A98478, intermediate valve, width 3 mm (Figs 126F–H). Type locality. Varovtsi (Ukraine). Type stage. Middle Miocene. Etymology: The species is named after Steffen Kiel in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the taxonomy and biogeography of fossil molluscs. Material examined. Middle Miocene: Eastern Paratethys: Ukraine: Varovtsi: type material plus 8 valves (BD 950, Figs 126I–J). Maximum width of the valves: 1.8 / 5.5/ 2.1 mm. Diagnosis. Head valve semicircular, intermediate valves broadly rectangular, moderately elevated, semicarinate, apex strongly protruded, tail valve semicircular, mucro in anterior position. Tegmentum uniformly covered with flat granules, irregularly arranged, elliptical in CA, AMA, more roundish and smaller in HV, LA, PMA. Articulamentum with apophyses wide, triangular, teeth massive, one slit in intermediate valves Description. Head valve semicircular, posterior margin widely V-shaped, without presence of radial depressions. Intermediate valves broadly rectangular (W/L = 2.40–2.79), moderately elevated (H/W = 0.36–0.47), semicarinate in anterior profile, anterior margin almost straight, side margins rounded, posterior margin almost straight, with strongly protruded apex, lateral areas slightly raised, not distinctly separated from central area.Tail valve semicircular (W/L = 1.95), anterior margin slightly concave, mucro in anterior position. Tegmentum uniformly covered with flat granules, irregularly arranged, elliptical up to 125 µm long in CA and AMA, more roundish and smaller in HV, LA, PMA. Each granule with a subcentral megalaesthete and up to 10 micraesthetes irregularly disposed. Articulamentum with apophyses wide, triangular, one slit in intermediate valves, teeth massive, slightly roughened on outside, eaves spongy. Remarks. Some intermediate valves from Varovtsi (Ukraine) display morphological characteristics to justify the establishment of a new species. Comparisons. The closest species is Lepidochitona lepida (Reuss, 1860), from which L. kieli sp. nov. differs mainly for the different sculpture, with larger elliptical granules (up to 125 µm long) most closely spaced, vs granules more roundish and smaller (up to 80 µm long), and a different structure of aesthetes. Distribution. Middle Miocene. Central Paratethys (Langhian-Serravallian): Eastern Paratehys: Ukraine: Varovtsi (this study).