Faksephyllia

Affinities of Faksephyllia to other phaceloid-dendroid and select solitary caryophylliine genera

The genus Faksephyllia shows affinities to seven colonial genera of the Caryophylliidae and several genera of other caryophylliine families that form various phaceloid-dendroid types of branching, especially to the Holocene genus Solenosmilia DUNCAN, 1873, and Lophelia MILNE EDWARDS & HAIME, 1849, the latter of which has been recorded since the (?Paleocene) Eocene (Tab. 1 and 2). The following list includes only caryophylliine genera forming branching types that are similar to the kinds seen in Faksephyllia. In addition, solitary genera are included to which specimens now interpreted to be juvenile forms of Faksephyllia were assigned (Caryophyllia, Gardineria) or with which fragments of Faksephyllia might be confounded (Parasmilia)(for details see Tab. 2): PLATE 2.

Figs. 1 –15 Faksephyllia faxoensis (BECK, in LYELL, 1837)

Figs. 1 –3, 5 ICPUIBK WIM 6/12; Lower Oligocene of Austria (Häring Formation [Werlberg Member], located

between the townships of Kundl and Wörgl, Tyrol)

Fig. 1: cross view of colony, thin section; scale bar: 5.5 mm.

Fig. 2: close-up of Fig. 1; scale bar: 3 mm.

Fig. 3: close-up of Fig. 1; scale bar: 2.5 mm.

Fig. 5: close-up of Fig. 1; scale bar: 2.7 mm.

Figs. 4, 6 Topotype, PAL-ERL. m 68, BERNECKER & WEIDLICH coll.; Middle Danian of Denmark (Fakse limestone)

Fig. 4: close-up of Fig. 6; photograph courtesy BERNECKER & WEIDLICH; scale bar: 1.2 mm. Fig. 6: cross view of colony, thin section; scale bar: 2.8 mm.

Fig. 7 MMH 12,674, lateral view of juvenile specimen; Lower Danian of Denmark (Kangilia area, Greenland); based

on the illustration in FLORIS (1972, Pl. 4, Fig. 7); scale bar: 4 mm.

Fig. 8 MGU N 185/214, oblique cross/lateral view of juvenile specimen; Danian of Kazakhstan (Mangyshlak); based

on the illustration in KUZMICHEVA (1987, Pl. 24, Fig. 8); scale bar: 3 mm.

Figs. 9–10 MGU N 185/213, juvenile specimen; Danian of Kazakhstan (Mangyshlak)

Fig. 9: cross view of corallum; based on the illustration in KUZMICHEVA (1987, Pl. 24, Fig. 7a); scale bar: 3 mm.

Fig. 10: lateral view of corallum; based on the illustration in KUZMICHEVA (1987, Pl. 24, Fig. 7b); scale bar: 3 mm.

Figs. 11–13 MNHN M00800; Lower Oligocene of Italy (Castelgomberto), MICHELIN coll. (labeled as Lithodendron

[Cladocora] fusinieri Catullo])

Fig. 11: upper surface of colony; scale bar: 7 mm.

Fig. 12: close-up of Fig. 11; scale bar: 2.5 mm.

Fig. 13: close-up of Fig. 11; scale bar: 3.5 mm.

Figs. 14–15 GIK KbE-36b; TRAGELEHN coll.: Paleocene of Austria (Kambühel limestone, Styria) Fig. 14: close-up of Fig. 15; scale bar: 3 mm.

Fig. 15: cross view of colony, thin section; scale bar: 9 mm.

Caryophyllia LAMARCK, 1801.

Coenosmilia POURTALÈS, 1874.

Gardineria VAUGHAN, 1907.

Goniocorella YABE & EGUCHI, 1932. Haplophyllia POURTALÈS, 1868. Hoplangia GOSSE, 1860.

Lophelia MILNE EDWARDS & HAIME, 1849. Parasmilia MILNE EDWARDS & HAIME, 1848. Pourtalosmilia DUNCAN, 1884.

Rhizosmilia CAIRNS, 1978.

Solenosmilia DUNCAN, 1873.

Caryophylliid genera forming Stratigraphic range

various phaceloid-dendroid types Pal Eo Oligo Mio Plio Pleist Holo

Faksephyllia Floris, 1972?

Lophelia Milne Edwards & Haime,?

1849

Goniocorella Yabe & Eguchi, 1932 Coenosmilia Pourtalès, 1874

Hoplangia Gosse,

1860

Pourtalosmilia Duncan, 1884

Rhizosmilia Cairns,

1978

Solenosmilia Duncan,

1873