Pliensbachian corals from the Western Tethys Author Vasseur, Raphaël Université de Lorraine, CNRS, lab. GeoRessources, UMR 7359, BP 70239, F- 54506 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy cedex (France) raphaelvasseur@wanadoo.fr Author Lathuilière, Bernard Université de Lorraine, CNRS, lab. GeoRessources, UMR 7359, BP 70239, F- 54506 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy cedex (France) bernard.lathuiliere@univ-lorraine.fr text Geodiversitas 2021 2021-11-23 43 22 1187 1291 journal article 10.5252/geodiversitas2021v43a22 1638-9395 5764379 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6D1643AD-66A5-4678-9397-CE08E610D641 Araiophyllum liasicum Beauvais, 1986 ( Fig. 8 ) Araiophyllum liasicum Beauvais, 1986: 55 , pl. 12, fig. 3. — Vasseur 2018: 124-125 , fig. 3.8. TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype MNHN .F. A32023 ( Beauvais 1986: 55 , pl. 12, fig. 3). TYPE HORIZON. — Pliensbachian . TYPE LOCALITY. — Jebel Bou Dahar, High Atlas of Morocco . STUDIED SAMPLE. — Holotype : MNHN .F. A32023 . GEOGRAPHIC AND STRATIGRAPHIC RANGES. — Pliensbachian of Jebel Bou Dahar ( Morocco ). DESCRIPTION (modified after Beauvais 1986 ) Phaceloid colony with subcylindrical corallites multiplying by fissiparous intracalicular budding. The external part of the corallites is covered by an epitheca s.l. that reveals some regularly granulated costae. The calicular plateau has been observed on a very few corallites because of a very poor preservation but it shows the characteristic aspect described by Cuif (1975) for the genus: a hemispherical shape corresponding to a particular orientation of trabecular axes. Radial elements are totally porous, maybe a few less than in Upper Jurassic microsolenids. However, pores appear more abundant in the axial zone than in the periphery in transverse section because of the orientation of trabecular axes. Moniliform distal edge. Pennulae are numerous. Synapticulae abundant. Endotheca not observed. Weak, parietal papillose columella. Calicular diameter: 4 to 12 mm – Number of septa: 92 to 120 – Septal density: 12 per 2 mm – Trabecular density: 4 to 5 per 1 mm . SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES This species appears very close to the genus Dermoseris Koby, 1887 that shows as Araiophyllum subhemispheric calices. Araiophyllum liasicum differs from A. triasicum by the bigger size of the corallites, closer to the dimensions of the Upper Jurassic genus Dermoseris . The more significant difference between the two genera would be the different microstructure of pennulae between Araiophyllum and Dermoseris : despite the low number of observations, it seems the latter shows regular granulations on the curved edges of pennulae and a more regular alternating disposition (see Cuif 1975 ).