Marcelohelia, Löser, 2013

Löser, Hannes, 2013, Revision of the family Felixaraeidae (Scleractinia; Cretaceous), Geodiversitas 35 (4), pp. 747-765 : 754-755

Genus Marcelohelia n. gen.

TYPE SPECIES. — Marcelohelia caribbiensis n. sp.

DIAGNOSIS. — Phaceloid colony. Radial elements composed of large trabeculae, subregularly perforated, with a regular radial symmetry.

ETYMOLOGY. — After Marcel Beauvais, eminent specialist of Late Cretaceous corals, who established the family Felixaraeidae .

RANGE. — Maastrichtian.

DISTRIBUTION. — Western Atlantic.

DESCRIPTION

Phaceloid colony with large calices. Radial elements subregularly perforated. Microstructure of large trabeculae. Radial elements in cross-section externally thick, becoming thinner towards the centre. Symmetry of radial elements radial and regularly hexameral. Cycles of radial elements regular. Septal cycles differ in length and thickness.Radial elements occasionally connected to each other, upper border with large regular granules. Septal lateral face with thick granulae, inner margin smooth. Some radial elements may be attached to the columella. Costae present. Synapticulae present, abundant. Columella poorly defined, probably lamellar.Endotheca absent. Wall absent. Epitheca present. Budding intracalicinal, marginal.

COMPARISON

The new genus compares well to Felixaraea and Pseudofavia , but differs from these genera and all other genera of the family by its phaceloid growth form.

SPECIES

The type species and a species that is reported here in open nomenclature.