Mediterranean Neogene Sthenorytis: taxonomic and nomenclatural status of Brocchi's (1814) Turbo retusus and Turbo trochiformis (Gastropoda Epitoniidae)

The taxonomic and nomenclatural status of the two earliest established Mediterranean Sthenorytis species: Turbo retusus Brocchi 1814 and Turbo trochiformis Brocchi 1814, was re-examined. The identity of Turbo retusus remains uncertain because there are no specimens with certain type status or topotypes on which to designate a neotype. In fact, we agree with de Boury (1890) that Brocchi had no specimens of this species and that he described it on the basis of Monti's (1746) figure, the specimen of which has been lost. The identity of Turbo trochiformis was clarified, designating the only existing historical topotype as neotype.