Proleptophyllia magna, Vasseur & Lathuilière, 2021

Vasseur, Raphaël & Lathuilière, Bernard, 2021, Pliensbachian corals from the Western Tethys, Geodiversitas 43 (22), pp. 1187-1291 : 1225

Proleptophyllia magna n. sp.

( Fig. 24 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F05F8D69-8714-480B-98B7-6878FA27B5ED

Proleptophyllia sp. 1 – Vasseur 2018: 306-307, fig. 3.81.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: CPUN AM16160-1. STUDIED SAMPLE. — CPUN AM16160-1. ETYMOLOGY. — Refers to the huge size of the corallum. TYPE HORIZON. — Pliensbachian . TYPE LOCALITY. — Amellagou , 31°57’0”N, 5°2’32”W, Morocco. GEOGRAPHIC AND STRATIGRAPHIC RANGES. — Pliensbachian of Amellagou ( High Atlas of Morocco).

DESCRIPTION

Solitary, discoid corallum. Pedunculate, the flat lower face is covered by a possible epitheca with concentric wrinkles. The calice seems circular to elliptic in outline (it is incomplete), convex, with a slightly elliptic small fossa in the axial zone in which septa plunge. Radial elements are straight, subcompact, free or joined costosepta that are thin and numerous and of which fenestrate 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 inclined in the internal part of septa, maybe forming a papillose parietal columella in depth but we did not observe it. No wall observed. Synapticulae present and possibly dissepiments too. Bilateral symmetry appears by the elongation of the fossa and perhaps that of the calice.

Calicular diameter: approximately 64 mm – Septal density: 8 to 10 per 2 mm – Number of septa:> 600?

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

Differs from other species of the same genus by the higher size of the calice and the higher number of septa.

Figures

FIG. 24. — Proleptophyllia magna n. sp.: A, distal view of the specimen CPUN AM16160-1; B, proximal view of the specimen CPUN AM16160-1; C, pennular septal structure of the specimen CPUN AM16160-1 in distal view (skeleton in dark); D, pennular septal structure of the specimen CPUN AM16160-1 in polished longitudinal section; E, longitudinal polished section of the specimen CPUN AM16160-1. Scale bars: A, B, 2 cm; C, D, 0.5 mm; E, 2 mm.