Podosmilia horologium, Vasseur & Lathuilière, 2021

Vasseur, Raphaël & Lathuilière, Bernard, 2021, Pliensbachian corals from the Western Tethys, Geodiversitas 43 (22), pp. 1187-1291 : 1260-1263

Podosmilia horologium n. gen., n. sp.

( Fig. 51 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9698B647-E3F3-493E-AFB9-33F7DFE0F9AB

Archaeosmilia ? sp. 1 – Beauvais 1986: 13, pl. 1, fig. 1, pl. 15, fig. 4 and txt-fig. 5.

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

Nov. gen. 3 sp. 1 – Vasseur 2018: 267-268, fig. 3.66.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype no. AM16177-3.

STUDIED SAMPLES. — 16 specimens: CPUN 1703 A2- 1,2210E 2,2303A1- 1, 2303A1-9, AM16160-4, AM16177-3, MA0504E7-15, PFPyr6-2, PFPyr6-3, PFPyr6-4, PFPyr6-5, PFPyr6-6, PFPyr6-12, PFPyr6-13, PFPyr6-14, PFPyr6-15 (collections CPUN), MNHN.F.R11597.

ETYMOLOGY. — From latin, horologium (clock) refers to the very regular hexameral symmetry of the septal apparatus at the distal edge of the corallum suggesting a time clock.

TYPE HORIZON. — Pliensbachian .

TYPE LOCALITY. — Amellagou , 31°57’21”N, 5°2’16”W, Morocco.

GEOGRAPHIC AND STRATIGRAPHIC RANGES. — Pliensbachian of Morocco ( Beni Tadjit , Koudiat Ech Chehem and Amellagou ) and Pyrenees (close to the Estivère pass).

DESCRIPTION

Solitary, conical corallum, circular to elliptical in outline. Septal apparatus very regular in most of the specimens, made of free, compact, straight septa organized in 4 or 5 size orders corresponding to the successive ontogenic cycles of a strictly hexameral development. A superimposed bilateral symmetry appears in depth. In fact, S1 and S2 septa produce podoid bulges at their inner edges and 4 S1 come close to the axis of the elongated lumen, which reveals a bilateral symmetry defined in transverse section by the prolongation of the 2 other S1. The orientation of the podoid tips of the S1 and S2 septa follow this bilateral symmetry, producing a very characteristic pattern.No columella. Endotheca made of rare vesicular dissepiments. Synapticulae absent. Wall parathecal. An epitheca s. l. wrap the corallum.

Calicular diameter: 11 to 35 mm – Number of septa: 64 (6 × 8) to 96 (6 × 16).

REMARKS

We include under this taxon the specimen MNHN.F.R11597 identified and figured in Beauvais 1986 as Epismiliopsis sp.

Figures

FIG. 51. — Podosmilia horologium n. gen.,n. sp.: A, lateral view of the specimen MNHN.F.R11597; B, distal view in natural section of the specimen CPUN AM16177- 3; C, transverse thin section of the specimen CPUN 2210E2; D, distal view of the specimen CPUN 2703A7; E, distal view of the specimen MNHN.F.R11597; F, detail in transverse thin section of the characteristic pattern produced by the septal bulges in depth (specimen CPUN AM16177-3); G, deep transverse section in sample CPUN PFPyr6-2; H, deep transverse thin section in sample CPUN AM16177-3. Scale bars: A, B, C, E, H, 5 mm; D, G, 1 cm; F, 2 mm.