Smithicyathus smithi ( Różkowska, 1953 )

Wrzołek, Tomasz, 2007, A revision of the Devonian rugosan phillipsastreid genus Smithicyathus, Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 52 (3), pp. 609-632 : 622-626

Smithicyathus smithi ( Różkowska, 1953)

Figs. 9, 10 .

1953 Pachyphyllum smithi sp. nov.; Różkowska 1953: 40, figs. 22, 23, pl. 5: 1–3.

non 1967 Pseudoacervularia cf. smithi Różkowska 1953 ; Pickett 1967: 52, 53, pl. 1: 3–5 (possibly close to Phillipsastrea hennahi ranciae Coen−Aubert, 1987 ).

1978 Medusaephyllum? smithi ( Różkowska, 1953) ; Birenheide 1978: 117.

1993 Phillipsastrea lacunosa smithi ( Różkowska, 1953) ; Wrzołek 1993: 297, figs. 3.1, 3.2, 3.5, 3.6, 4.1–4.5.

2003 Phillipsastrea smithi ( Różkowska, 1953) ; Fedorowski 2003: 105, pl. 48: 4.

Type material, type location: The holotype of Różkowska (1953, see synonymy above; UAM A61−3 = UAM Tc 4/11), from the Upper

Frasnian of Bolechowice (presumably the Panek quarry, set B, backreef limestones).

Remarks.—In the collection of Różkowska in Poznań, as the holotype labeled are the two colony fragments from “Bolechowice”, numbered 310 and designated as UAM 310A and UAM 310B in Table 2 of the present paper. The two fragments are somewhat different from each other, but they may be derived from the same colony, and it is quite possible, in light of their numerical data that also the illustration of Różkowska (1953: pl. 5: 1–3) is from the same specimen. As of the 3 quarries in close vicinity of the village of Bolechowice only Panek is with S. smithi and was accessible for sampling in late forties–early fifties of 20 th century (when Różkowska gathered her collection), therefore I am fairly sure that the original sampling location of S. smithi for Różkowska is at Panek quarry.

Material.—45 colonies with transverse and longitudinal sections measured, as listed in Table 2 and in Appendix 2 (column “e”). The known material is, with exception for a single colony, from the Holy Cross Mountains, from the following locations (points 1–5 below). (1) The holotype: ( UAMA 61−3), from Panek quarry, set B, in Bolechowice; for documentation purposes as the holotype listed are also unnumbered specimens from Różkowska 1953 collection (labelled 310A and 310B). (2) Topotypic material: besides the holotype from Panek are also the colonies GIUS 384P01, 27A, 27B, 28, 32, 39, 43, 49, 50, 51, 53, 55A, 55B, 56, 58, 61, 66, 69, 74, 97, 104a, 104b, 107, 112, 153, 158, 161, 162, 165a, 165b, 167, 168, 174A, 175, 176, 177A, 179, 180A. (3) Single colony from road cutting in Kowala: GIUS 376KD 12. (4) Single colony from Zgórsko quarry in Bolechowice: GIUS 382 ZS14. (5) Single fragmentary colony from Psie Górki (set F) in Kielce: GIUS 401PG 35B. Outside of the Holy Cross Mountains S. smithi is so far known from Lublin area, Korczmin 2 borehole, depth 1951 m (unnumbered UAM specimen from Różkowska 1980 collection).

Emended diagnosis.—Massive (astreoid) Smithicyathus with marked septal expansion partly masking the horseshoe dissepiments, and with slight tendency towards reduction of septal blades at corallite periphery. Smaller diameter of corallites (and tabularium) distinguish this species from the Canadian S. cinctus .

Variability.—Appendix 2 (column “e”) presents the variability ranges. Results of the quintile analysis (for the massive colonies, with S. cinctus and S. lubliniensis included) is given in Table 2. As it becomes obvious Smithicyathus smithi is numerically distinct from S. cinctus and S. lubliniensis . Within the studied material two other colonies, as numerically outstanding ( GIUS 384P101 and GIUS 382ZS 05), are described as S. cf. smithi below.

Among more than 40 colonies classified as S. smithi , the two from Panek represent polymorphic characteristics. The colony P104 ( GIUS 384P104; see Fig. 9C) is with local degradation of intercorallite walls and without septa in these local areas. The two morphs within this colony were measured separately (listed as P104a and P104b in Table 2), and besides the above mentioned peculiarities both seem to represent quite typical S. smithi . Possibly some environmental factors were responsible for these local alterations. The other colony is

Fig. 8. Upper Frasnian phaceloid tetracorals from Panek quarry, set B. A. Smithicyathus lacunosus ( Gürich, 1896) , GIUS 384P166, a dimorphic colony, with Ą some corallites with short septa (measured as P166a) and the other with long septa (P166b), in longitudinal sections long septa can be traced as appearing and disappearing in the same corallite (A 1 transverse, A 2 longitudinal section). B, C. Smithicyathus cf. lacunosus ( Gürich, 1896) : B. GIUS 384P147a, with relatively thin septa and numerous peripheral dissepiments (B 1 transverse, B 2 longitudinal section). C. GIUS 384P173, a dimorphic colony, with larger (P173a)

and smaller (P173b) corallites side by side, both morphotypes with relatively thin septa (C 1 transverse, C 2 longitudinal section). Scale bar 4 mm for all items.

P165 ( GIUS 384P165; see Fig. 10 ); in the first transverse−sec− of the Holy Cross Phillipsastreidae ( Różkowska, 1953: fig. tion which was available for measurements ( Fig. 10A 1 ) coral− 40). Also Wrzołek (1993) considered S. smithi and S. lacunolites are small and with relatively thin septa. This resulted in sus as subspecies of Pachyphyllum lacunosum Gürich, 1896 . very high atypicality index (see P165a in Table 2). Re−investi− The other authors do not recognize such a close affinity: gation and additional sectioning revealed the prevalence of Birenheide (1978) distinguished Medusaephyllum? smithi and larger corallites, with thicker septa in the new transverse−sec− Frechastraea? lacunosa —he knew the species only from iltions ( Fig. 10A 2 , measured as P165b), with typical appearance lustrations of Różkowska (1953) and did not recognize the and low atypicality index ( Table 2). This bimodality is inter− presence of horseshoe dissepiments in the latter species; Różpreted as juvenile vs. adult corallites displayed in various por− kowska (1980: table 1) changed her earlier opinion and listed tions of one colony. It is noteworthy that the juvenile charac− the two species as Phillipsastrea smithi (Różkowska) and teristics are only seen in a very restricted area, not much larger Smithicyathus lacunosus (Gürich) ; this distinction was rethan the one presented in Fig. 10A 1 . peated by McLean (1994b) and by Fedorowski (2003). In my Discussion.—Massive Smithicyathus smithi (Różkowska, opinion S. smithi ( Różkowska, 1953) is related to S. lacunosus 1953) is most closely related to phaceloid S. lacunosus ( Gürich, 1896) in a similar way as S. cinctus ( Smith, 1945) is ( Gürich, 1896). This point of view has been underlined by related to Smithicyathus mcleani sp. nov.. In both cases there Różkowska (1953) at her presentation of supposed phylogeny is a pair of massive and phaceloid species, with some interme−

Ą diate material present, so there may be some doubts as for presence of two, and not one species, but no doubt at all as for the congeneric status of the Holy Cross and Canadian pairs of massive and phaceloid morphotype.

The species is known only from the Holy Cross Mountains. The Harz material ( Pickett 1967, see synonymy above) has long septa in the tabularium (numerical data in Appendix 3, column “p”) and is probably close to Phillipsastrea ranciae Coen−Aubert, 1987 .

Morphologically and morphometrically close to S. smithi ( Różkowska, 1953) are S. cinctus ( Smith, 1945) and S. lubliniensis Różkowska, 1980 . The former species is with septa strongly reduced at corallites’ peripheries, with larger corallites ( DIC and TM parameters). In quintile analysis of massive Smithicyathus atypicality index of colonies of S. lubliniensis (two colonies studied) is in 9–10 range ( Table 2); in comparison to S. smithi , S. lubliniensis is with thinner septa (smaller IN 1, IN2, D1 and D2 values) and more frequent and complete tabulae. Otherwise it could be classified as a colony of S. smithi with atypically thin septa and a rather large tabularium diameter and number of septa.

Another similar species is S.? belkovskiense from the Frasnian of New Siberian islands in Northern Siberia (Appendix 2, column “j”, see also below), reported as cerioid, but possibly astreoid and also morphometrically close to S. smithi . Review of numerical data (Appendix 2, compare columns “e” and “j”) demonstrates the specimen of Siberia is numerically indistinguishable from the Holy Cross S. smithi .

Paleoecology.—This species occurs in fewer locations than its phaceloid counterpart, S. lacunosus . As it seems it is of broadly similar ecological preferences to the latter species, i.e. it occurs mainly in back−reef settings, where it can be numerically abundant. In fore−reef settings it is rare.

Stratigraphic and geographic range.—Upper Frasnian of the Holy Cross Mountains, southeastern Euramerican shelf: Panek quarry (41 colonies) and Zgórsko quarry (1 colony) at Bolechowice; Psie Górki F (1 colony) in Kielce, Kowala road cutting (1 colony) in Kowala. In the subsurface of the Lublin area, it is recorded in the Upper Frasnian Modryń Fm. of the Korczmin 2 borehole, depth 1951m (1 colony).

Figures

Fig. 10. Effect of corallite age for corallite morphology and thus classification, in Smithicyathus smithi (Różkowska, 1953), Upper Frasnian, Panek quarry, set B, colony GIUS 384P165. A, B. Transverse sections. A. Group of very small, evidently juvenile corallites with thin skeletal elements (measured as P165a). B. Large and thick−septate, adult corallites from another section (measured as P165b). C. Longitudinal section. Scale bar 4 mm for all items.

Fig. 1. Geography of the Devonian World, after Scotese and McKerrow (1990: fig. 15) with locations, yielding material for the present study. Locations with Smithicyathus: A, Western Canada; B, Holy Cross Mountains (see Figs. 2, 3); C, Lublin area; D, Moravia.Locations with dubious Smithicyathus: E, New Siberian Islands; F, NE Siberia. Additional locations with comparative material: G, New Mexico; H, Harz Mountains; I, Urals; J, Kuzbass; K, South China.

Fig. 2. Schematical geological map of the Devonian outcrop (shaded) in the Holy Cross Mountains, central Poland (after Dzik 2002: fig. 1A), with the main marine Devonian facies belts marked and with indicated coral−bearing sites mentioned in this paper: G, Grabina; JB, environs of Jaźwica quarry; KD, Kowala road cutting; KK, Kowala quarry; M, Miedzianka; P, Panek; PG, Psie Górki; SW, Sobiekurów; W, Wietrznia; ZS, Zgórsko.