Affinities of Faksephyllia to other phaceloid-dendroid and select solitary caryophylliine genera

The genus Faksephyllia shows affinities to seven colonial genera of the Caryophylliidae and several genera of other caryophylliine families that form various phaceloid-dendroid types of branching, especially to the Holocene genus Solenosmilia DUNCAN, 1873, and Lophelia MILNE EDWARDS & HAIME, 1849, the latter of which has been recorded since the (?Paleocene) Eocene (Tab. 1 and 2). The following list includes only caryophylliine genera forming branching types that are similar to the kinds seen in Faksephyllia . In addition, solitary genera are included to which specimens now interpreted to be juvenile forms of Faksephyllia were assigned ( Caryophyllia, Gardineria) or with which fragments of Faksephyllia might be confounded ( Parasmilia)(for details see Tab. 2): PLATE 2.

Figs. 1 –15 Faksephyllia faxoensis (BECK, in LYELL, 1837)

Figs. 1 –3, 5 ICPUIBK WIM 6/12; Lower Oligocene of Austria (Häring Formation [Werlberg Member], located

between the townships of Kundl and Wörgl, Tyrol)

Fig. 1: cross view of colony, thin section; scale bar: 5.5 mm.

Fig. 2: close-up of Fig. 1; scale bar: 3 mm.

Fig. 3: close-up of Fig. 1; scale bar: 2.5 mm.

Fig. 5: close-up of Fig. 1; scale bar: 2.7 mm.

Figs. 4, 6 Topotype, PAL-ERL. m 68, BERNECKER & WEIDLICH coll.; Middle Danian of Denmark (Fakse limestone)

Fig. 4: close-up of Fig. 6; photograph courtesy BERNECKER & WEIDLICH; scale bar: 1.2 mm. Fig. 6: cross view of colony, thin section; scale bar: 2.8 mm.

Fig. 7 MMH 12,674, lateral view of juvenile specimen; Lower Danian of Denmark (Kangilia area, Greenland); based

on the illustration in FLORIS (1972, Pl. 4, Fig. 7); scale bar: 4 mm.

Fig. 8 MGU N 185/214, oblique cross/lateral view of juvenile specimen; Danian of Kazakhstan (Mangyshlak); based

on the illustration in KUZMICHEVA (1987, Pl. 24, Fig. 8); scale bar: 3 mm.

Figs. 9–10 MGU N 185/213, juvenile specimen; Danian of Kazakhstan (Mangyshlak)

Fig. 9: cross view of corallum; based on the illustration in KUZMICHEVA (1987, Pl. 24, Fig. 7a); scale bar: 3 mm.

Fig. 10: lateral view of corallum; based on the illustration in KUZMICHEVA (1987, Pl. 24, Fig. 7b); scale bar: 3 mm.

Figs. 11–13 MNHN M00800; Lower Oligocene of Italy (Castelgomberto), MICHELIN coll. (labeled as Lithodendron

[ Cladocora] fusinieri Catullo])

Fig. 11: upper surface of colony; scale bar: 7 mm.

Fig. 12: close-up of Fig. 11; scale bar: 2.5 mm.

Fig. 13: close-up of Fig. 11; scale bar: 3.5 mm.

Figs. 14–15 GIK KbE-36b; TRAGELEHN coll.: Paleocene of Austria (Kambühel limestone, Styria) Fig. 14: close-up of Fig. 15; scale bar: 3 mm.

Fig. 15: cross view of colony, thin section; scale bar: 9 mm.

Caryophyllia LAMARCK, 1801.

Coenosmilia POURTALÈS, 1874.

Gardineria VAUGHAN, 1907.

Goniocorella YABE & EGUCHI, 1932 . Haplophyllia POURTALÈS, 1868. Hoplangia GOSSE, 1860 .

Lophelia MILNE EDWARDS & HAIME, 1849 . Parasmilia MILNE EDWARDS & HAIME, 1848. Pourtalosmilia DUNCAN, 1884 .

Rhizosmilia CAIRNS, 1978.

Solenosmilia DUNCAN, 1873.

Caryophylliid genera forming Stratigraphic range

various phaceloid-dendroid types Pal Eo Oligo Mio Plio Pleist Holo

Faksephyllia Floris, 1972 ?

Lophelia Milne Edwards & Haime,?

1849

Goniocorella Yabe & Eguchi, 1932 Coenosmilia Pourtalès, 1874

Hoplangia Gosse,

1860

Pourtalosmilia Duncan, 1884

Rhizosmilia Cairns,

1978

Solenosmilia Duncan,

1873