Coryphyllia bicuneiformis, Vasseur & Lathuilière, 2021

Vasseur, Raphaël & Lathuilière, Bernard, 2021, Pliensbachian corals from the Western Tethys, Geodiversitas 43 (22), pp. 1187-1291 : 1211

Coryphyllia bicuneiformis n. sp.

( Fig. 14 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:602A63AE-18E5-4E44-89D2-7754DE3EC605

Coryphyllia sp. 2 – Vasseur 2018: 154-155, fig. 3.20.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: CPUN CDAm4; paratypes: CPUN AM16162-1, CPUN AM16184-3, CPUN AM16188-12, CPUN CDAm3,15, CPUN MA0504E7-12. STUDIED SAMPLES. — Seven specimens: CPUN AM16162-1, CPUN AM16184-3, CPUN AM16188-12, CPUN CDAm3, CDAm4, CDAm15, CPUN MA0504E7-12. ETYMOLOGY. — Refers to the strongly bicuneiform aspect of major septa. TYPE HORIZON. — Pliensbachian . TYPE LOCALITY. — Amellagou, High Atlas of Morocco. GEOGRAPHIC AND STRATIGRAPHIC RANGES. — Pliensbachian of Amellagou and Koudiat Ech Chehem ( Morocco).

DESCRIPTION

Solitary coral cylindrical to conical, elliptical in outline. Radial elements are straight or curved, free, compact, bicu- neiform costosepta with often rhopaloid inner edges. The septal apparatus is quite regular, organized in 3 distinct size orders. Lateral faces are smooth or finely granulated and there are some vestiges of a wavy mid-septal line. Endotheca made of numerous vesicular dissepiments distributed in all the interseptal space. No columella but a constricted, elongated fossa that defines a bilateral symmetry superimposed to the radial arrangement. No epitheca observed, possibly eroded.

Calicular diameter: 9 to 41 mm – Number of septa: 44 to 70 – Septal density: 3-4 per 2 mm.

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

Differs from Coryphyllia regularis by the apparent lack of epitheca, a reduced average diameter, more bicuneiform septa and a more elongated calice defining a stronger bilateral symmetry. Coryphyllia capillaria n. sp. described below shows higher values of septal densities and number of septa and also a septal apparatus made of less bicuneiform septa in which it is more difficult to distinguish the different size orders of septa.

Figures

FIG. 14. — Coryphyllia bicuneiformis n. sp.: A, distal view of the specimen CPUN CDAm4; B, lateral view of the specimen CPUN AM16162-1; C, lateral view of the specimen CPUN CDAm4; D, longitudinal thin section of the specimen CPUN CDAm4; E, transverse thin section of the specimen CPUN CDAm4. Scale bars: A, D, E, 5 mm; B, 1 cm; C, 6 mm.