Tropiphyllum ornatum Cuif, 1975

Roniewicz, Ewa, 2011, Early Norian (Triassic) corals from the Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria, and the intra-Norian faunal turnover, Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 56 (2), pp. 401-428 : 420-422

Tropiphyllum ornatum Cuif, 1975

Fig. 7E.

1975 Tropiphyllum ornatum Cuif, 1975 ; Cuif 1975c: 92, text−fig. 12, pl. 11: 1–3.

Material.—Specimen GBA 2009/019/10, with thin section. Measurements (in mm):

doi:10.4202/app.2009.0092

Description.—Radial elements wavy, densely packed, differentiated into four size orders. The S1 septa approaching the axis, the S2 septa up to four−fifths the length of the S1 septa, the S3 septa markedly shorter, the S4 septa very thin, and variable in length. The internal septal borders set off rare trabecular processes that form a small papillar columella. Dissepiments numerous. Menianes subhorizontal, with alternating position on septal faces.

Remarks.—This coral probably represents an earlier ontogenetic stage than that of the type from the Taurus Mountains in Turkey ( Cuif 1975c). Smaller numbers of septa at a larger diameter differentiate this taxon from the phaceloid Gillastraea delicata Melnikova, 1983 (adults 7–11 mm with 140– 150 septa; corallites at early stages 2.4–4.0 mm, with 40 septa) with which it might be misidentified.

Stratigraphic and geographic range.— Austria: Northern Calcareous Alps, Dachstein Plateau: north of Feisterscharte, lower Norian, Epigondolella quadrata conodont Zone. Turkey: Taurus Mountains.