<i>Sepia</i> from the Miocene of the Central Paratethys: new taxa and notes on late Cenozoic cuttlefish diversity

A new and locally abundant species of <i>Sepia</i>, <i>S. juliebarborarum</i> sp. nov., and single records of <i>S</i>. aff. <i>loerentheyi</i> and <i>S</i>. aff. <i>sanctacrucensis</i> from the upper Badenian of Slovakia and Austria, <i>S. mikuzi</i> sp. nov., <i>S.</i> aff. <i>mikuzi</i> sp. nov. and <i>Sepia</i> sp. from the middle Badenian of Slovenia, document a greater Miocene sepiid diversity in the Central Paratethys than previously recorded. In the present study, Miocene sepiids from the Central Paratethys are systematically revised and, in part, compared to other coeval taxa from elsewhere. Middle Miocene diversity in the Central Paratethys amounts to nine species, inclusive of four taxa retained in open nomenclature. Here we use the morphology of the dorsal shield and septal suture lines as key features for systematic assignment at the species level. Usage of the generic name <i>Sepia</i> for these Miocene sepiids is corroborated by uniquely preserved material of <i>S</i>. <i>vindobonensis</i> from the middle Badenian of Austria. This reveals only minor morphological differences during ontogeny from the Recent type species of <i>Sepia</i>, <i>S</i>. <i>officinalis</i>. The stratigraphical range of sepiids in the Central Paratethys is reinterpreted and shown to be early to late Badenian. Miocene <i>Sepia</i> diversity in the Central Paratethys is greater than previously supposed, which supports normal marine conditions and an open connection with the Mediterranean. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3B32BA47-EB28-4A75-95FE-6349C08BB5EA.