Siderosmilia

Beauvais, 1986, p.50

Siderastraeidae by Beauvais 1986 , Coryphyllidae by Turnsek and Kosir 2000. I place Siderosmilia with doubts in the synonymy of the genus Thecosmilia, family of Montlivaldiidae.

Type Species

Siderosmilia toarciensis Beauvais 1986, p. 50, pl. 13 fig. 2; Original Designation

Type Specimen: Holotype; MNHN R11637; Verified; Dry Preserved

Type Locality: Upper Toarcian (Lower Jurassic) from Moulay Idriss (Morocco)

The holotype is a small nicely preserved colony in which an excellent transverse section was realised.

Description

Phaceloid corallum with corallites isolated and subcircular or grouped in series of 2-4 calices linked with valley septa. Subequal costae partly covered by a wrinkled epitheca. Intracalicular marginal increase with rejuvenescence. Radial elements are compact, non pennular costo-septa free, non confluent to confluent, bicuneiform, mostly curved but also straight, unequal. Distal edge with acute regularly spaced teeth, inner edge with small teeth, lateral faces with acute granules often prominent in symmetry on both faces of the septum. No pali. Microstructure of well centred trabecules. Radial symmetry and bilateral symmetry marked by curvature of septa and elongation of the fossa. Endotheca of thin and moderately numerous dissepiments. No columella but a small fossa. Synapticules possibly present in the construction of the wall.

Comparisons

Margarosmilia lacks the lamellar linkage. Siderosmilia is very close of Thecosmilia, perhaps a particularity to produce spinose septal granules radiating in multiples directions when it is more strictly oriented perpendicularly to the septal plan in typical montlivaltids.

Remarks

3 nominal species known in Jurassic.

This page has been in preparation since 20-Aug-2009 07:42

This version was contributed by Bernard Lathuilière on 20-Oct-2012 08:23.

Page authors are: Bernard Lathuilière. Please contact the editor if you would like to contribute to the diagnosis of this taxon.

The editor is: Bernard Lathuilière