Calamophylliopsis phaceloida ( Beauvais, 1986 )

Vasseur, Raphaël & Lathuilière, Bernard, 2021, Pliensbachian corals from the Western Tethys, Geodiversitas 43 (22), pp. 1187-1291 : 1217-1221

Calamophylliopsis phaceloida ( Beauvais, 1986)

( Fig. 20 )

Rhabdophyllia? phaceloida Beauvais, 1986: 43 , pl. 8, fig. 6; pl. 10, fig. 1 and pl. 11, fig. 3.

Calamophylliopsis phaceloida – Vasseur 2018: 140-141, fig. 3.14.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: MNHN.F.R11627 ( Beauvais 1986: 43, pl. 8, fig. 6; pl. 10, fig. 1. TYPE HORIZON. — Upper Carixian ( Pliensbachian ). TYPE LOCALITY. — Jebel Tekerma, Morocco. STUDIED SAMPLES. — 22 specimens: Holotype, MNHN.F.R11627; MNHN.F.A32006, CPUNMA0504 E5-1,MA0504E5-2, MA0504E7, MA0704E2-1, MA0704E3-4, MA0704E3-5, MA0704E3-6, MA0704E3-7, MA0704E3-8, MA0704E3-9, MA0704E4-3, MA0704E4-4, MA0704E4-5, MA0704E4-6, MA0704E4-7, MA0704E4-8, MA0704E4-9, MA0704E5-2,3. GEOGRAPHIC AND STRATIGRAPHIC RANGES. — Pliensbachian of Jebel Tekerma - Massaoua, Koudiat Ech Chehem (both in Middle Atlas of Morocco).

DESCRIPTION

Phaceloid colony with subcylindrical corallites often distorted by intracalicular budding. Radial elements are subcompact, straight or curved, free septa often in zigzag. We observe a wavy mid-septal line that impact septal morphology of young septa when they are not yet thickened by stereome deposits. The septal trabeculae dissociate from the distal and sometimes inner edges and in some calices project in the axis of the corallite, forming a papillose columella. Endotheca made of dissepiments that seem sometimes tabular and sometimes vesicular. No synapticulae observed. Epitheca s.l. present.

Calicular diameter: 3 to 14 mm – Number of septa: 24 to 95 – Septal density: 3 to 8 for 2 mm.

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

Differs from the genus Phacelophyllia Beauvais, 1986 by the lack of pennular ornamentation and a weaker papillose columella sometimes even absent.

REMARKS

Beauvais (1986) attributed doubtfully this taxon to the genus Rhabdophyllia Milne Edwards & Haime, 1851 because of the apparent lack of epitheca and synapticulae. However, a deeper investigation of the type material (badly preserved) revealed some vestiges of epitheca in some parts of the specimen. In addition, the taxon described here has no costae and an abundant endotheca, contrary to the type species of the genus Rhabdophyllia phillipsi Milne Edwards & Haime, 1851 . The specimens described here strongly vary in the dimensions of their calices and septal densities. As all the intermediates have been observed, we are not able to discriminate them into different species and must assign these variations to an important intraspecific variability.

Figures

FIG. 20. — Calamophylliopsis phaceloida (Beauvais,1986):A, distal view of the holotype MNHN.F.R11627; B, longitudinal section in the specimen CPUN MA0504E5-1; C, Distal view of one calice of the holotype MNHN.F.R11627; D, distal view of one calice of the specimen CPUN MA0504E7; E, transverse thin section in the specimen CPUN MA0504E5-1; F, Distal view of the specimen CPUN MA0504E7; G, transverse thin section in the holotype MNHN.F.R11627; H, transverse thin section in one corallum of the holotype MNHN.F.R11627. Scale bars: A, 5 cm; B, 5 mm; C, D, 2 mm; E, G, 4 mm; F, 6 mm; H, 1 mm.