Meandrophyllia textilis ( Goldfuss, 1826 )

Baron-Szabo, Rosemarie C., 2008, Dendrophylliina, Caryophylliina, Fungiina, Microsolenina, and Stylinina, Zootaxa 1952, pp. 1-244 : 122-123

Meandrophyllia textilis ( Goldfuss, 1826)

Pl. 10, figs 6a, b

v*1826 Astrea textilis nobis: Goldfuss, vol. 1, p. 68, pl. 23, figs 3a–b.

1850b Synastrea textilis: Milne Edwards & Haime , vol. 4, 3. ser., p. 156.

1850 Synastrea textilis: d‘Orbigny , vol. 2, p. 277.

1851a Thamnastrea textilis: Milne Edwards & Haime , p. 114.

1857 Thamnastraea textilis: Milne Edwards , vol. 2, p. 566.

1914 Thamnastraea textilis Goldfuss sp. 1826: Felix, pars 7, p. 199.

1925 Thamnastraea (c.f. Dimorphastraea ) textilis Goldfuss spec.: Umbgrove, p. 110.

1999 Fungiastrea ? textilis: Leloux , p. 193, fig. 2.

2002 Fungiastrea textilis ( Goldfuss 1826) : Löser et al., p. 317 (older synonyms cited therein).

2002 Fungiastrea textilis ( Goldfuss, 1826) : Baron-Szabo, p. 147.

Dimensions. d (max)=1.8– 2 mm; c-c (same and adjacent series)=2–3.5 mm; s/mm=8–10/2.

Description. Meandroid colony; corallites arranged in very short meandroid series, generally consisting of 2 or 3 corallite centres; series separated by tholiform collines; septa subequal.

Remarks. The taxonomic position of Astrea textilis Goldfuss has been discussed for nearly 2 centuries. Fungiastrea ), no wall between the corallites (typical of Thamnastrea, Fungiastrea , and Synastrea ), and very numerous synapticulae (typical of Synastrea ). However, as can be seen in the “positive image” of the holotype presented here (Pl. 10, fig. 6b), the specimen formerly described as Astrea textilis represents a meandroid colony that has rather perforated and costate septa, and corallites that are isolated or arranged in short meandroid series which are separated by an incomplete synapticulothecal wall. Therefore, the species Astrea textilis is here transferred to the genus Meandrophyllia d’Orbigny.

Type locality of species. Upper Maastrichtian of The Netherlands (St. Pietersberg) .

Distribution. Upper Maastrichtian of The Netherlands.