Spongiocoenia liasica ( Turnšek & Geyer, 1975 ) Vasseur & Lathuilière, 2021

Vasseur, Raphaël & Lathuilière, Bernard, 2021, Pliensbachian corals from the Western Tethys, Geodiversitas 43 (22), pp. 1187-1291 : 1238-1240

Spongiocoenia liasica ( Turnšek & Geyer, 1975) , n. comb.

( Fig. 34 )

Coccophyllum liasicum Turnšek & Geyer in Turnšek, Seyfried & Geyer,1975: 21, taf. 19.

pars Plagiosolenacis laffittei – Alloiteau 1957: 386, non pl. 12, fig. 2-3, MNHN.F. J08981 (some of the paratypes).

Nov. gen. 1 sp. 1 – Vasseur 2018: 263-264, fig. 3.64.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Coccophyllum liasicum , no. 55 from collection Seyfried housed in Departamento de Paleontología of the University of Granada ( UG), Spain. STUDIED SAMPLES. — Seven specimens: CPUN DA2905E1-5, CPUN DA3105E2-8, CPUN DA3105E3-3, CPUN AM16178-2, CPUN AM16178-11, CPUN AM16188-7, CPUNAM16188 -31. TYPE HORIZON. — Upper Sinemurian- Lower Pliensbachian . TYPE LOCALITY. — Zarcilla de Ramos (Murcia, Spain). GEOGRAPHIC AND STRATIGRAPHIC RANGES. — Pliensbachian and lowerToarcian (pre-TOAE, Polymorphum zone) of Dades Valley-Jebel Toksine and Pliensbachian of Amellagou ( High Atlas of Morocco).

DESCRIPTION

Small massive plocoid colony (8 to 30 mm) with well calibrated circular calices separated by a wide porous coenosteum. The free, straight and smooth septa sometimes look like small spines on the inner edge of the calice. During their growth, calices tend to modify their trajectory, giving a wavy aspect to the lumen in longitudinal sections. No columella nor endotheca. Wall porous, synapticulothecal. The budding seems to be extracalicular.

Calicular diameter: 0.4 to 1 mm – Distance between calices centers: 1.5 to 3 mm – Number of septa: 6 to 8.

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

Differs from Plagiosolenacis laffittei Alloiteau, 1957 and Paleomillepora liasica Gabilly & Lafuste, 1957 by the presence of welldeveloped septa.Differs also from Etallonasteria Roniewicz,1987 and Alveopora Blainville, 1830 by its smaller and more spaced calices and by the total lack of endothecal structures.In addition, the species under the genus Alveopora generally present a welldeveloped columella and teeth along the inner edges of septa.

Figures

FIG. 34. — Spongiocoenia liasica (Turnšek & Geyer, 1975), n. comb.: A, distal view of the specimen CPUN AM16178-2; B, distal view of the specimen CPUN AM16188-31; C, transverse thin section in the specimen CPUN DA3105E3-2; D, longitudinal thin section in the specimen CPUN DA3105E3-3; E, detail in distal view of the specimen CPUN AM16188-7; F, detail in longitudinal thin section of the specimen CPUN DA3105E3-3. Scale bars: A, D, 4 mm; B, 5 mm; C, 2 mm; E, 1 mm; F, 0.5 mm.