Proleptophyllia subphaceloida, Vasseur & Lathuilière, 2021

Vasseur, Raphaël & Lathuilière, Bernard, 2021, Pliensbachian corals from the Western Tethys, Geodiversitas 43 (22), pp. 1187-1291 : 1228

Proleptophyllia subphaceloida n. sp.

( Fig. 27 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:1435D426-AE6F-4B9B-B296-4D50127DD756

Proleptophyllia sp. 2 – Vasseur 2018: 309-310, fig. 3.82.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype CPUN AM16180-2. STUDIED SAMPLE. — CPUN AM16180-2. ETYMOLOGY. — Refers to the phaceloid form of the corallum. TYPE HORIZON. — Pliensbachian . TYPE LOCALITY. — Amellagou , 31°57’33”N, 5°2’7”W, Morocco. GEOGRAPHIC AND STRATIGRAPHIC RANGES. — Pliensbachian of Amellagou ( High Atlas of Morocco).

REMARKS

In this case of incipient phaceloid form, the papillose columella is larger and better defined in the clearly phaceloid genus Phacelophyllia Beauvais, 1986 .

DESCRIPTION

Subphaceloid corallum made of two calices growing from a bigger parent corallite probably by a rejuvenescence process. External face is covered by an epitheca s.l. with concentric wrinkles. The calice is subcircular to elliptic in outline, convex, with an elliptic small fossa in the axial zone in which septa plunge. Radial elements are straight, subcompact, free costosepta that are thin and numerous, and of which fenestrate distal ornamentation reveals a pennular growth pattern with meniana subsequently embedded by stereome deposits. Distal edge not observed but probably with homogeneous round teeth due to the architecture of the radial elements. No columella. Wall parathecal. Synapticulae present. Endotheca made of vesicular dissepiments. Bilateral symmetry appears by the elongation of the fossa.

Calicular diameter: 23 to 31 mm – Number of septa: approximately 170 – Septal density: 5 per 2 mm.

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

Very close to P. granulum (Fromentel & Ferry, 1866) , this taxon differs from the latter by the fact that it is the only known colonial form of Proleptophyllia . In addition, its calices are slightly bigger and the fossa seems to be less marked.

Figures

FIG. 27. — Proleptophyllia subphaceloida n. sp.: A, proximal-lateral view of the specimen CPUN AM16180-2; B, detail of one of the calices of the specimen CPUN AM16180-2; C, lateral view of one of the corallites of the specimen CPUN AM16180-2; D, detail in transverse thin section of the septal structure of the specimen CPUN AM16180-2; E, transverse distal thin section of one corallite of the specimen CPUN AM16180-2. Scale bars: A, 3 cm; B, 5 mm; C, 2 cm; D, 1 mm; E, 4 mm.