Rodinosmilia elegantula Beauvais, 1986

Vasseur, Raphaël & Lathuilière, Bernard, 2021, Pliensbachian corals from the Western Tethys, Geodiversitas 43 (22), pp. 1187-1291 : 1263-1266

Rodinosmilia elegantula Beauvais, 1986

( Fig. 53 )

Rodinosmilia elegantula Beauvais, 1986: 22 , pl. 4, fig. 2 and text-fig. 11-12. — Vasseur 2018: 322-323, fig. 3.87.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype MNHN.F.R11608, by original designation. TYPE HORIZON. — Domerian ( Upper Pliensbachian ). TYPE LOCALITY. — Bou Dahar, Beni Tadjit ( Morocco). STUDIED SAMPLES. — Seven specimens: holotype MNHN.F.R11608; CPUN AM16132-2, CPUN AM16178-12, CPUN AM16179-14, CPUN AM16188-1, CPUN AM16188-16, CPUN AM16188-30. GEOGRAPHIC AND STRATIGRAPHIC RANGES. — Pliensbachian of Amellagou and Bou Dahar ( Beni Tadjit ) in High Atlas of Morocco; Pliensbachian of Caloveto (Calabria, Italy).

DESCRIPTION

Solitary coral, ceratoid to subcylindrical, straight or slightly curved. Septa free, compact, usually straight although a few curved septa can be locally observed in some samples. The lumen of the calice is divided in equal lobes by the six main septa, conferring at the lumen a typical flower- like shape in transverse section characterized by a radial six-folded symmetry. Lateral faces of septa are smooth or finely granulated. The six first-order septa (S1) present smooth distal and inner edges whereas the septa of higher orders show wide spines regularly arranged and oriented downward along their inner edge and each of these septa is bevelled in the higher part of the calice, making their distal and inner edge in continuity, and disappearing in the very distal views. Four geometrical orders can be distinguished (S2, S3, S4 and S5) among the septa growing into the lobes formed by the S1 with the particularity for the ones closest to the S1 to grow directly on the lateral faces of these S1. Endotheca is present in the form of rare and irregularly distributed dissepiments. Synapticulae absent. The wall seems to be parathecal.

Calicular diameter: 8.2 to 19.1 mm – Number of septa: 82 to 97 (129 by extrapolation) – Septal density: 10 to 12 for 5 mm.

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

In comparison to Cretaceous genera Tiarasmilia Wells, 1932 and Hexasmilia Fromentel, 1870 , apophysal septa are not developed toward internal edge of septa.

Figures

FIG. 53. — Rodinosmilia elegantula. A, perspective view of the holotype MNHN.F.R11608; B, distal view of the specimen CPUN AM16188-1; C, transverse section of the specimen CPUN AM16188-30; D, transverse section of the specimen CPUN AM16188-1; E, drawing of septal apparatus of the specimen CPUN AM16188-1; F, detail of a single system in sample CPUN AM16188-1 septal apparatus. The different numbers correspond to the different size orders of septa that can be distinguished. Scale bars: A, 1 cm; B, D, 5 mm; C, 4 mm.