Epismiliopsis paraeudesi, Vasseur & Lathuilière, 2021

Vasseur, Raphaël & Lathuilière, Bernard, 2021, Pliensbachian corals from the Western Tethys, Geodiversitas 43 (22), pp. 1187-1291 : 1254-1255

Epismiliopsis paraeudesi n. sp.

( Fig. 47 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:125EE1E6-0C2D-43D5-9C26-4204D1037453

Epismiliopsis sp. – Beauvais 1986: 18, pl. 2, fig. 5.

Epismiliopsis sp. 1 – Vasseur 2018: 196-197, fig. 3.38.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: MNHN.F.R11596; paratypes: CPUN 2703 A3-5, CPUN 2303 A6-2, CPUN AM16188-11. STUDIED SAMPLES. — Six specimens: MNHN.F.R11596, CPUN 2303 A6-2, CPUN 2703 A1-4, CPUN 2703 A3-5, CPUN AM16179- 5, CPUN AM16188-2, CPUN AM16188-11. ETYMOLOGY. — Refers to our doubt concerning a possibility for the single specimen of E. eudesi to be a young stage of this taxon. TYPE HORIZON. — Pliensbachian . TYPE LOCALITY. — Beni Tadjit , Morocco. GEOGRAPHIC AND STRATIGRAPHIC RANGES. — Pliensbachian of Beni Tadjit and Amellagou ( Morocco).

DESCRIPTION

Solitary cylindroconical corallum sometimes showing piled up enlarged rings corresponding to starts and stops alternation in growth. Elliptical calice with flattened calicular platform showing a slightly deepened axial fossa. Radial elements compact, free, joining only in depth at the center, exsert, slightly bicuneiform to attenuated, generally straight costosepta, with lateral S1 curved. Distal edge festooned, lateral faces smooth. Distal inner edge with large well detached teeth. Radial hexameral symmetry. Bilateral symmetry marked by the elongated fossa and the curvature of lateral S1. Endotheca made of extended tabular dissepiments climbing along the wall. No synapticule. An epicostal epitheca s.l. covers the external part of the corallum.

Calicular diameter: 20 to 40 mm – Number of septa: approximately 60 to 70 – Septal density: 2-3 per 2 mm.

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

Differs from Epismiliopsis liasicus ( Fromentel & Ferry, 1865) by the absence of detached septal spines at the inner edge of septa, an elliptical calice and a lower number of radial elements. It differs also from E. eudesi ( Fromentel & Ferry, 1865) by its higher diameter and number of septa. However we cannot exclude that the holotype of E. eudesi (the only specimen known) could be a young stage of the same species.

Figures

FIG. 47. — Epismiliopsis paraeudesi n. sp.: A, slightly oblique lateral view of the specimen MNHN.F.R11596; B, transverse polished section of the specimen CPUN 2703A3-5; C, distal view of the specimen CPUN 2303A6-2; D, detail in distal view of the axial fossa of the specimen MNHN.F.R11596; E, polished longitudinal axial section (following the elongated fossa) of the specimen CPUN 2703A3-5; F, transverse polished section of the specimen CPUN AM16188-11. Scale bars: A, C, 1 cm; B, E, 5 mm; D, F, 4 mm.