Marcelohelia caribbiensis, Löser, 2013

Löser, Hannes, 2013, Revision of the family Felixaraeidae (Scleractinia; Cretaceous), Geodiversitas 35 (4), pp. 747-765 : 755-756

Marcelohelia caribbiensis n. sp.

( Fig. 2 A-D; Table 1)

Dermosmiliopsis orbignyi – Baron-Szabo et al. 2006: 1041, fig. 5.8 (v). — Baron-Szabo 2008: 194, pl. 20: 2 (v). Non Dermosmiliopsis orbignyi Alloiteau, 1952 .

Dermosmiliopsis tenuicostata – Baron-Szabo 2008: 195, pl. 20: 3 (as sample number #535) (v). Non Rhabdophyllia tenuicosta Reuss, 1854 .

TYPE MATERIAL. — IGM 8724 (holotype).

DIAGNOSIS. — Marcelohelia n. gen. with a approximate calicular diameter of 10-15 mm and 96 radial elements.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — IGM 8724, USNM #353; four thin sections.

ETYMOLOGY. — After the distribution area, the Caribbean.

TYPE LOCALITY. — Arroyo de la Atarjea near Cárdenas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

TYPE HORIZON. — Upper Cárdenas Fm (Maastrichtian).

OCCURRENCE. — Maastrichtian of Mexico (San Luis Potosi) Cárdenas, Arroyo de la Atarjea ( IGM 8724). Early/Late Maastrichtian boundary of Jamaica (Westmoreland) Jerusalem Mt Inlier ( USNM #353).

DIMENSIONS. — See Table 1.

DESCRIPTION

Phaceloid colony. Calicular outline circular to elliptical, diameter c. 10 × 15 mm, centres slightly depressed, margins elevated. Radial elements irregularly perforated.Radial elements in cross-section externally thick, becoming thinner towards the centre. Maximum septal thickness 400 µm. Symmetry of radial elements radial and regularly hexameral. Cycles of radial elements regular. Nine cycles (s = 96). Septal cycles differ in length and thickness.First three septal cycles reach to the centre of the calice, further cycles are shorter.Radial elements occasionally connected to each other, upper border with large regular granules. Septal lateral face with thick granulae, inner margin smooth. Some radial elements may be attached to the columella. Costae present, nonconfluent, surface granulated. Synapticulae abundant. Columella poorly defined, probably lamellar.Endotheca absent. Wall absent. Epitheca present. Coenosteum absent. Budding intracalicinal, marginal.

REMARKS

This material was assigned by Baron-Szabo et al. (2006) and Baron-Szabo (2008) to Dermosmiliopsis orbignyi Alloiteau, 1952 . Dermosmiliopsis has perforate radial elements but the radial elements are thin and are almost uniform in thickness (based on a thin section from holotype MNHN.F.R10961 of the type species of Dermosmiliopsis , Dermosmiliopsis orbignyi Alloiteau, 1952 ). It is unknown whether Dermosmiliopsis is a pennular or nonpennular coral. If it is pennular, it is closely related to (if not synonymous with) Latomeandra . If it is non-pennular, it is closely related to Haplaraea . The small trabeculae and the strong ornamented lateral faces rather suggest a non-pennular type. Under no circumstances does the material illustrated by Baron-Szabo (2008) belong to this genus.

Figures

FIG. 2. — A-D, Marcelohelia caribbiensis n. gen.,n. sp., holotype (IGM 8724);A, transversal thin section; B, colony surface;C, transversal thin section, detail; D, longitudinal thin section; E, F, Marcelohelia sp. (USNM #411); E, transversal thin section; F, longitudinal thin section; G, Brachycaulia jacobi Beauvais, 1982, holotype (MNHN.F.R10975), transversal thin section; H, I, Paracycloseris elizabethae Wells,1934;H, holotype (USNM I-74489),oral view;I, USNM J71-128b,transversal thin section.Scale bars:A,B, D-I,10 mm;C, 3 mm.