Some genera and species of dissepimented solitary Rugosa (Anthozoa) from the Pennsylvanian (Carboniferous) and Cisuralian (Permian) of North America. Part 2. Dibunophylloides Fomichev, 1953

Abstract

Species that earlier authors included in Dibunophyllum Thomson and Nicholson, 1876 are re-identified here as belonging to Dibunophylloides Fomichev, 1953 and specimens from the Missourian (Pennsylvanian) deposits of the Glass Mountains (SW Texas, USA) are described. Species described previously in adequate detail and specimens from our collection display great morphological diversity. This and the lack of data on intraspecific variability for most species described so far resulted in the introduction here of six new species (Dibunophylloides differentialis, D. parcus, D. colligatus, D. similis, D. infirmis and D. complexus). An additional species is identified as Dibunophylloides cf. valeriae (Newell, 1935) and four species are left in open nomenclature. Stressful extrinsic conditions, documented by common rejuvenations and possibly variegated micro-environmental niches on the one hand and close relationships of specimens on the other hand are suggested as responsible for the large morphological variability and repetitions of some skeletal features across species. Dibunophylloides supplements a group of genera suggested by Fedorowski (2023) as having originated in the Paleotethyan superprovince before migrating to the North American superprovince. Paleobiogeography, including that based on rugose corals) provides an important tool for tectonic and paleoenvironmental reconstructions. However, coral taxonomy may be hampered by the great variability displayed by many taxa.