Eocomoseris minima (Beauvais, 1986), n. comb.

(Fig. 9)

Actinastraea minima Beauvais, 1986: 31, pl. 2, fig. 6 and pl. 6, fig. 6; 1982: 1964, pl. 1, fig. 3, nomen nudum.

Eocomoseris ramosa Melnikova, Roniewicz & Loeser, 1993: 5, pl. I, fig. 1-3. — Roniewicz 2011: 424, fig. 7F

? Actinastraea minima – Stanley & Beauvais 1994: 42, fig.6a-c.

Eocomoseris gurumdyensis Roniewicz, 2011: 422 .

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype: MNHN.F.R11620 (Beauvais 1986: 31, pl. 2, fig. 6 and pl. 6, fig. 6.). TYPE HORIZON. — Domerian (Upper Pliensbachian). TYPE LOCALITY. — Jebel Bou Dahar, Morocco. STUDIED SAMPLES. — Nine specimens:holotype, MNHN.F.R11620; paratypes, MNHN.F. A32016, MNHN.F.A32009. GEOGRAPHIC AND STRATIGRAPHIC RANGES. — Domerian of Jebel Bou Dahar (Morocco).

REMARK

The specimen described by Beauvais (1982) was published as a nomen nudum. In this paper dedicated to Canadian corals, the author considered a holotype from Menchikoff collections (Domerian of Morocco). Moreover, the Canadian specimen shows significant differences with the Moroccan holotype: no porosity of septa and well delimited corallites.

DESCRIPTION

Thamnasterioid, ramose colony with small calices. Radial elements are short, pennular, perforate septa of which trabecular structure appears as a few dots at the distal edge. A styliform, monotrabecular columella appear at the axis of some calices. Calicular diameter: approximately 1 mm – Number of septa: approximately 17.

REMARK

Even though we did not formally observed a pennular structure of septa (the samples are poorly preserved), we propose a generic reattribution to Eocomoseris . A longitudinal thin section or polished section would be desirable to compare the septal structure with those of E. gurumdyensis but the silicified nature of the type material of E. minima (Beauvais, 1986), n. comb. leaves little hope. After such a verification E. minima n. comb. could become a senior synonym of E. gurumdyensis Roniewicz, 2011 .

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

Differs from E. lamellata Melnikova, 1993 by the diameters of the calices and the number of septa and from the other species attributed to the genus by more distinct calices.