Cladophyllia stewartae Wells, 1944

Baron-Szabo, Rosemarie C., 2008, Dendrophylliina, Caryophylliina, Fungiina, Microsolenina, and Stylinina, Zootaxa 1952, pp. 1-244 : 203-204

Cladophyllia stewartae Wells, 1944

Pl. 21, figs 7a–c

1982 Cladophyllia stewartae Wells, 1944 : Kuzmicheva, p. 103, pl. 1, fig. 4.

1990 Cladophyllia stewartae Wells, 1944 : Morycowa & Roniewicz, p. 168.

v2000 Cladophyllia stewartae Wells, 1944 : Baron-Szabo, p. 110, pl. 4, fig. 3, pl. 6, fig. 3.

2002 Cladophyllia stewartae, Wells 1944 : Löser et al., p. 145 (older synonyms are cited therein). v2002 Cladophyllia stewartae Wells, 1944 : Baron-Szabo, p. 181, pl. 126, fig. 1.

Dimensions. d= 3–4 mm, juvenile up to 2.5 mm; s=24 (+s).

Description. Phaceloid corallum; corallites diameter 3 mm on average; budding is due to ‘septal division’ (sensu Morycowa & Roniewicz, 1990) and extracalicinal; costosepta compact, straight, with lateral surfaces that are covered by sharply pointed or rounded granules, arranged in 3 complete cycles in 6 systems. Frequently, the beginning of a fourth cycle is present. Septa of the first two cycles reach the centre of the calice, where their inner ends may fuse. A trabecular, styliform, or sublamellar columella can be free or joined with oldest septa. Septa of the third cycle are distinctly thinner, reaching about three-quarters the length of the oldest ones. Youngest septa are very small and thorn-like. Anastomosis can be observed frequently. The wall is septothecal. Endotheca is made of tabulate dissepiments in the axial part of the corallite. In the peripheral region of the calice large vesicular dissepiments occur. Septal microstructure consists of simple minitrabeculae, forming dark axial lines.

Remarks. In having extracalicinal gemmation and slightly exsert septa the specimens described from the Maastrichtian of the UEA/ Oman border region by Baron-Szabo (2000) show characteristics of the genus Stylosmilia . However, in some corallites budding due to ‘septal division’ seems to be present, indicating that the specimens belong to the genus Cladophyllia .

Type locality of species. Barremian-Aptian of Venezuela .

Distribution. Barremian-Aptian of Venezuela, Aptian of Spain, Tibet, and central Uzbekistan, Albian- Cenomanian of Mexico, Middle-Upper Maastrichtian of the UAE / Oman border region.