Parallel Species in the Miocene of Florida and France, Part 2

In 1975, Dr. Emily Vokes named Dermomurex (?Viator) curviductus from the Miocene Chipola Formation of north Florida, on the basis of what seems to be only a handful of specimens from a single locality in the basal beds along Tenmile Creek. She figured two of these specimens (51.8 mm and 10.7 mm), and mentioned another unfigured paratype for which the body whorl is presumably approximately 23 mm in size (see p.156). In the FLMNH collections (which now house many of the Tulane type specimens), there are a total of 3 paratypes documented. In 1992, Dr. Vokes reported that no additional specimens had been collected by Tulane or its associates since 1975, and reassigned the species to the subgenus Dermomurex (Takia). In her writings, Dr. Vokes compared the Chipola species to “Murex” taurinensis Michelotti, 1841, from the Burdigalian of Italy and France (Peloua, Saucats). You can read a digital copy of Michelotti’s work, and view his holotype of D. (T.) taurinensis, in Google Books.