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The key role of skeletal microstructure in recognizing high-rank scleractinian taxa in the stratigraphical record

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 July 2017

Ewa Roniewicz*
Affiliation:
Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Żwirki i Wigury 93, 02 594 Warsaw, Poland
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Abstract

Skeleton microstructure of Recent scleractinians proves to be a valuable suprageneric taxonomical criterion, and the same has been stated with respect to Mesezoic corals where skeletonal preservation is aragonite. In paleontological practice, septal microstructure is decisive in discrimination of taxa among homeomorphic genera of different families. Similarities of microstructural features of some Recent and fossil corals encompass the genera in common taxa of higher ranks and allow for reconstruction of their presumed phylogeny.

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Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 by The Paleontological Society 

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