Revision of the Genus Conophyllia d'Orbigny 1849 (Anthozoa, Scleractinia, Triassic) and Conophyllia from the Renacuo area of Gêrzê, Tibet

AbstractThere have been divergent opinions on whether Conophyllia develops synapticulae and dissepiments since its erection in 1849, with different views existing on the morphology of columella in Conophyllia. This paper presents a comprehensive review of Conophyllia, and revises the diagnosis according to new material from the Renacuo area of Gêrzê, Tibet. The revised diagnosis emphasises the following features: solitary coral; abundant radial elements subequal in thickness, lateral faces with granules and synapticulae; parietal, papillar or incompact columella, a few species lacking in columella; developed dissepiments. Individuals of Conophyllia have laminar septa of Triadophyllum type in earlier ontogenetic stages, while their septa in later ontogenetic stages are more fenestrate. The geological and geographical distribution of this genus is discussed, with five species of Conophyllia from the Renacuo area of Gêrzê, Tibet being described and illustrated, including one new species and two in open nomenclatue.