Araiophyllum liasicum Beauvais, 1986

Vasseur, Raphaël & Lathuilière, Bernard, 2021, Pliensbachian corals from the Western Tethys, Geodiversitas 43 (22), pp. 1187-1291 : 1203

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5252/geodiversitas2021v43a22
publication LSID	urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6D1643AD-66A5-4678-9397-CE08E610D641
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5764411
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A287A2-4851-3120-9AAD-630FFE70F83C
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Araiophyllum liasicum Beauvais, 1986
status

Treatment

( Fig. 8 View FIG )

Araiophyllum liasicum Beauvais, 1986: 55 , pl. 12, fig. 3. — Vasseur 2018: 124-125, fig. 3.8.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype MNHN.F. A32023 View Materials ( Beauvais 1986: 55, pl. 12, fig. 3). TYPE HORIZON. — Pliensbachian . TYPE LOCALITY. — Jebel Bou Dahar, High Atlas of Morocco. STUDIED SAMPLE. — Holotype: MNHN.F. A32023 View Materials . GEOGRAPHIC AND STRATIGRAPHIC RANGES. — Pliensbachian of Jebel Bou Dahar ( Morocco).

DESCRIPTION (modified after Beauvais 1986) Phaceloid colony with subcylindrical corallites multiplying by fissiparous intracalicular budding. The external part of the corallites is covered by an epitheca s.l. that reveals some regularly granulated costae. The calicular plateau has been observed on a very few corallites because of a very poor preservation but it shows the characteristic aspect described by Cuif (1975) for the genus: a hemispherical shape corresponding to a particular orientation of trabecular axes. Radial elements are totally porous, maybe a few less than in Upper Jurassic microsolenids. However, pores appear more abundant in the axial zone than in the periphery in transverse section because of the orientation of trabecular axes. Moniliform distal edge. Pennulae are numerous. Synapticulae abundant. Endotheca not observed. Weak, parietal papillose columella.

Calicular diameter: 4 to 12 mm – Number of septa: 92 to 120 – Septal density: 12 per 2 mm – Trabecular density: 4 to 5 per 1 mm.

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

This species appears very close to the genus Dermoseris Koby, 1887 that shows as Araiophyllum subhemispheric calices. Araiophyllum liasicum differs from A. triasicum by the bigger size of the corallites, closer to the dimensions of the Upper Jurassic genus Dermoseris .

The more significant difference between the two genera would be the different microstructure of pennulae between Araiophyllum and Dermoseris : despite the low number of observations, it seems the latter shows regular granulations on the curved edges of pennulae and a more regular alternating disposition (see Cuif 1975).