B. M. Landau & L. T. Groves 
Cypraeidae from the early Miocene of northem Venezuela 
anterior third weakly dilated; siphonal canal deep, 
abaxially asymmetrical and abapically orthogonally 
truncated, flanked on either side by flattened spatulate 
horizontal expansions produced from the abapical tips 
of the inner and outer lips; exhalant channel deeper, 
limited by parallel lips; about 4 mm width weakly 
concave channel between terminal ridge and first 
columellar tooth, followed by 13-14 stout, short 
columellar teeth, extending a short distance onto the 
ventrum and into the aperture; terminal ridge obsolète, 
merged into smooth abapical edge of fossula; fossula 
small, concave, smooth; labral teeth heavy, 14-16 in 
number, evenly distributed. Ventral and dorsal zones 
spotted, marginal callus lighter coloured with larger 
ocellated spots. 
Shell formula. 39.4 (76.9 - 58.2) 16: 15 
specimen 
collection number 
length 
width 
height 
LT 
CT 
BL coll. 1; (Figs 5-6) 
47.2 
36.9 
26.9 
14 
14 
BL coll. 2; (Figs 1-4) 
49.7 
37.1 
29.8 
14 
14 
BL coll. 3; (Figs 7-8) 
44.6 
34 
25.2 
15 
14 
BL coll. 4 
42.9 
33.3 
25.2 
14 
13 
BL coll. 5 
37.8 
30 
21.5 
14 
# 
BL coll. 6 
37.1 
29.1 
20.4 
16 
14 
BL coll. 7 
32.7 
24.7 
20.5 
# 
# 
BL coll. 8 
32 
24.5 
19.1 
13 
11 
(Figs 9-12) 
LACMIP 13648 
30.4 
23.3 
17.7 
16 
13 
Table 1. Dimensions and number of teeth; Muracypraea hyaena (Schilder, 1939). 
Discussion. Muracypraea hyaena (Schilder, 1939) 
(holotype; Figs 13-14) was described from younger 
late Miocene beds in the Urumaco area, Falcôn Dept., 
Venezuela (Sânchez-Villagra & Aguilera, 2006). The 
holotype is in very poor condition, but the general 
shape, strength of the dorsal hump, disposition of the 
teeth, and colour markings are consistent. There is 
some variability as to the presence or absence of 
tubercles on the dorsal hump; the tubercles usually 
présent only in fully grown specimens, although our 
largest specimen (Figs 1-4) is devoid of tubercles and 
the smallest (Figs 9-12) has well developed little 
tubercles. 
Perilliat (1992) figured a fairly well preserved 
specimen identified as Siphocypraea (Muracvpaea) 
sp. cf. S. (M.) angustirima hyaena Schilder from the 
middle Miocene Ferrotepec Formation, Michoacân, 
Southern Mexico. This specimen is indeed a 
Muracypraea somewhat similar to M. hyaena but has 
coarser dentition and has a more produced anterior. 
The Ferrotepec Formation shell is more likely an 
undescribed species. 
Geological and geographical distribution. 
Lower Miocene: Cantaure Formation, Venezuela. 
Middle Miocene: Urumaco, Venezuela (Schilder, 
1939). 
Muracypraea woodringi n. sp. 
Figs 21-28 
1951 Cypraea cf. C. henekeni Sowerby - Marks, p. 
376. 
1959 Cypraea (Muracypraea) henekeni Sowerby - 
Woodring, p. 194, pl. 32, figs 1,4, 6, 9. 
1964 Siphocypraea (Muracypraea) henekeni 
(Sowerby) - Olsson, p. I 76, pl. 31, figs 3-3a. 
1993 Cypraea (Muracypraea) henekeni Sowerby- 
Pit&Pit, p. 3, pl. l.fig. 7. 
1997 Muracypraea “henekeni” (Sowerby, 1850) — 
Groves, p. 152, pl. 1, figs 4-6. 
Figures 1-14 
1-4. Muracypraea hyaena (Schilder, 1939) NHMW 2010/0036/0024 (NMMW; ex BL coll. no. 2), length 47.7 
mm. lower shell bed, 1 km Southwest of Casa Cantaure, about 10 km west of Pueblo Nuevo, Paraguanâ 
Falcon Stale ' Venezuela; 5-6. Muracypraea hyaena (Schilder, 1939) NHMW 2010/0036/0025 
MM f „ e *' B X L C0lL no - len § th 47 - 2 mm - lower shel1 bed , 1 km Southwest of Casa Cantaure, about 10 km 
i'q r o ?\iu'viu? -in PcnmsL1 ' a - Fa ' cbn State, Venezuela; 7-8. Muracypraea hyaena (Schilder, 
fr ,, " 1 J6/0026 (NMMW; ex. BL coll.no. 3), length 44.6 mm. lower shell bed, 1 km Southwest 
r asa antaure, about 10 km west of Pueblo Nuevo. Paraguanâ Peninsula, Falcôn State. Venezuela; 9-12. 
she iThTe hyüena (Schllder ’ ,939) LACMIP '3648 (LACMIP coll.; ex BL coll.). length 30.4 mm. lower 
State S0L ‘ 1 ^ st ° ( asa Cantaure, about 10 km west of Pueblo Nuevo, Paraguanâ Peninsula, Falcôn 
31 0 mm nï .^cypraea hyaena (Schilder, 1939) Holotype NMB H11272 (NMB coll.), length 
.0 mm. Urumaco area, Falcôn Dept., Venezuela, Urumaco Formation, early late Miocene. 
4 
