1002 1986 1986
Journal of Paleontology
Pilophyllia densitabulata Chen;Wang et al., p. 100, pl. 1, fig. 2a −c.
Pilophyllia crassothecata; Wang et al., pl. 2, figs. 4a− c, 7.
Holotype.—XACGS-G363, with one transverse section and one longitudinal section, middle Ningqiang Formation (middle Telychian), Erlangba, Ningqiang County, Shanxi Province.
Diagnosis.—Neopilophyllia n. gen. with large corallum size. Major septa generally short. Peripheral stereozone becoming wider in late growth stages. Cardinal fossula commonly pro- minent, less commonly indistinct. Tabulae mostly complete, with broad, subhorizontal central platform and downturned margins, generally closely spaced.
Description.—Coralla ceratoid to cylindrical, 30− 40mm in mature corallum diameter. Corallum height unknown. Growth lines coarse; interseptal ridges broad, flat. Calicular features unknown.
Marginarium a distinct peripheral stereozone, composed of
laterally contiguous, strongly dilated major and minor septa. Peripheral stereozone narrow in early stages, later becoming wider, to 24−36% of corallum radius. Major septa amplexoid, with length commonly < 50% of corallum radius, or rarely extending close to corallum axis, but never forming axial structure (e.g., Figs. 12.1, 13.3, 13.11, 14.3, 14.8). Minor septa generally extending a short distance beyond the stereozone. When present, cardinal septum much coarser and shorter than other major septa (e.g., Fig. 14.10). Cardinal fossula generally distinct (Figs. 13.1, 13.3, 13.7, 14.10), rarely indistinct (Fig. 12.1). Trabeculae coarse, wedge-shaped, of rhabdacanthine type (Figs. 12.2, 12.4, 12.5, 13.4−13.6, 13.9, 13.10, 14.4 −14.6, 14.8), generally coated by thin layer of lamellar tissues in early stages, less commonly in later stages. Tabulae mostly complete, rarely incomplete, generally
thin, less commonly thickened by thin stereome coating (Figs. 12.3, 13.2, 13.8, 14.2, 14.7), slightly to moderately arched, commonly with narrow downturned peripheral zone. Broad central zone generally subhorizontal or slightly concave. Tabular spacing generally 5 −8 in 5mm. Dissepiments absent.
Materials.—Apart from the holotype, an additional four sectioned specimens (XACGS-G364 and G365, NIGP 166952 and 166953) were examined in the present study, all from the same horizon and locality (middle Ningqiang Formation, mid- dle Telychian, Erlangba, Ningqiang County, Shanxi Province) as the holotype. Note that the former two specimens were originally designated as holotype and paratype, respectively, of Ningqiangophyllum crassothecatum breviseptatum.
Remarks.—Cao (1975) originally proposed two subspecies for Neopilophyllia crassothecata, named Ningqiangophyllum crassothecatus breviseptatum and Ningqiangophyllum cras- sothecatus angustum, both from the same horizon and locality as Neopilophyllia crassothecata. According to Cao (1975), the former subspecies differs from Ningqiangophyllum
crassothecatum only in having slightly shorter major septa and a well-developed cardinal fossula. Both features are more appro- priately regarded as intraspecific variability and thus this sub- species is recommended to be abandoned. The second subspecies, as noted in the discussion of Pilophyllia angusta above, is upgraded to specific level and transferred to the genus Pilophyllia primarily based on the nature of its septal microstructure. One specimen from the lower Ningqiang Formation
(middle Telychian) of Dazhuba, Ningqiang, was introduced as the species Pilophyllia densitabulata Chen by Wang et al. (1986). As originally stated, this species closely resembles Neopilophyllia crassothecata in most aspects, only differing in having thinner and more densely spaced tabulae, and in lacking a distinct cardinal fossula. These two features lie within intraspe- cific variability of N. crassothecata, as discussed above, and therefore P. densitabulata is regarded herein as its synonym. Neopilophyllia alternata, documented by Wang et al.
(1986), closely resembles N. crassothecata in having a wide peripheral stereozone and septal microstructure, but differs in having a much smaller corallum (23mm maximum diameter), and more closely spaced tabulae (11 −12 in 5 mm).
Neopilophyllia irregularis (Cao, 1975) Figure 15
v*1975 Ningqiangophyllum tenuiseptatum irregulare Cao, p. 185, pl. 37, fig. 2a− c.
non 1986 Pilophyllia tenuiseptata irregularis; Wang et al., pl. 2, fig. 2a−c.
Holotype.—XACGS-G361, with two transverse sections and one longitudinal section, middle Ningqiang Formation (middle Telychian), Erlangba (or Dazhongba), Ningqiang County, Shanxi Province.
Diagnosis.—Neopilophyllia n. gen. with thin, curved major septa of irregular lengths. Some major septa extending close to corallum axis. Tabulae complete, slightly arched, widely spaced.
Description.—Coralla solitary, cylindrical. Number of major septa 40 at 23mmcorallum diameter. Marginarium a narrow but distinct peripheral stereozone, composed of thick minor septa and thickened peripheral ends of major septa. Major septa amplexoid, somewhat pinnately arranged, thin, slightly curved, of irregular length. Some major septa extending to axial region in early stage, becoming somewhat withdrawn later. Minor septa generally extending a short distance beyond the stereo- zone. Cardinal septum short, in distinct cardinal fossula (Fig. 15.1, 15.3). Trabeculae wedge-shaped, thick, of rhabdacanthine type (Fig. 15.4 −15.6). Thin lamellar stereomes separating tra- beculae in the early stage, becoming thinner later. Tabulae complete, slightly arched (Fig. 15.2). Tabular spacing generally regular, with 4 tabulae in 5mm. Dissepiments absent. [Trans- lated from Cao (1975, p. 185), with revisions based on our observations.]
Materials.—Holotype only.
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