Proleptophyllia calix, Vasseur & Lathuilière, 2021

Vasseur, Raphaël & Lathuilière, Bernard, 2021, Pliensbachian corals from the Western Tethys, Geodiversitas 43 (22), pp. 1187-1291 : 1221-1222

Proleptophyllia calix n. sp.

( Fig. 22 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:16F8AE10-40AB-4315-99A0-591CD18F4A31

Proleptophyllia sp. 3 – Vasseur 2018: 312-313, fig. 3.83.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: CPUN AM16162-4; paratype: CPUN CDAm12. STUDIED SAMPLES. — Four specimens: CPUN CDAm12, CPUN AM16162-4, lot CPUN AM16179-3.

ETYMOLOGY. — From the latin name calix , that designates a bowl; refers to the bowl-like shape of the corallum with a very deep and large fossa.

TYPE HORIZON. — Pliensbachian . TYPE LOCALITY. — Amellagou , Morocco. GEOGRAPHIC AND STRATIGRAPHIC RANGES. — Pliensbachian of Amellagou ( High Atlas of Morocco).

DESCRIPTION

Solitary, bowl shaped corallum with rounded calicular edges. Lower face is covered by an epitheca s.l. and seems to be pedunculate.The calice is subcircular in outline, strongly infundibuliform, with a large fossa in the axial zone in which septa plunge. Radial elements are exsert, straight, subcompact, free or joined costosepta of which perforate distal ornamentation reveals a pennular growth pattern with meniana subsequently embedded by stereome deposits. These deposits sometimes also unit two or three neighbouring septa, making difficult the appreciation of the number and density of septa in the specimen. Distal edge with regular round teeth.Trabeculae are externally subvertical and tend to lie down in the internal part of septa, but do not produce a papillose columella. No wall observed. Synapticulae present and possibly dissepiments too. Calicular diameter: 20 to 25 mm – Number of septa: approximately 128 – Septal density: 5 to 7 per 2 mm.

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

This species differs from the other Proleptophyllia by the bowl shaped aspect of the corallum and the axial fossa very large and deep.

Figures

FIG. 22. — Proleptophyllia calix n. sp.: A, lateral view of the specimen CPUN CDAm12;B, distal view of the specimen CPUN AM16162-4 (polished calicular edge); C, lateral view of the specimen CPUN AM16162-4 (polished calicular edge); D, proximal view of the specimen CPUN AM16162-4 (polished calicular edge); E, detail in transverse polished section of the pennular septal structure of the specimen CPUN AM16162-4; F, polished longitudinal section of the specimen CPUN CDAm12. Scale bars: A, B, C, D, 1 cm; E, 1 mm; F, 4 mm.