Discussion on Permian ruguse coral Liangshanophyllum in China

The classified relationship between the genera Waagenophyllum and Liangshanophyllum has been controversial since Liangshanoplyllum was first described and established as a subgenus by Tseng (1949). Some researchers regard Liang-shanophyllum as a genus or a synonym of Waagenophyllum. Based on the previous studies, Liangshanophyllum differs from Waagenophyllum in having a small and simplex axial column, wider tabularium and more horizontal tabulae. The diameter of corallite and the size of axial column of 29 species (include 1 subspecies)of Liangshanophyllum and 21 species of Waagenophyllum were calculated in this paper. The relationship between ratio of axial column diameter to corallite diameter and percentage of the species of Liangshanophyllum and Waagenophyllum are shown as below: Liangshanophyl-lum: ≥1/3, 4 species (occupying 14%); 1/3-1/4 (include 1/4), 11 species (occupying 38%); 1/4-1/5 (include 1/5), 7 species (occupying 24%), <1/5, 7 species ( occupying 24%); Waagenophyllum: ≥1/3, 4 species (occupying 18%); 1/3–1/4 (include 1/4), 10 species (occupying 45%); 1/4–1/5 (include 1/5), 5 species (occupying 23%), <1/5, 3 species (occupying 14%). The ratio of axial column diameter to corallite diameter of W. minutum is 1/5–1/3. It calculates once in 1/3–1/4 and 1/4–1/5. The result shows that there is no obvious difference between the ratio of axial column diameter to corallite diameter of the species belonging to Liangshanophyllum and Waagenophyllum. Qualitative analysis of the complexity of axial structure and tabularium width also shows that the species of Liang-shanophyllum and Waagenophyllum have no difference higher than genus level. Clinotabulae and horizontal tabulae alter-nately developed in some species such as Liangshanophyllum interomurum. So the development of horizontal tabulae should be considered as intraspecific variation. On this basis, combined with other research results, such as cladistic analysis of some species of Waagenophyllum, this paper suggests that Liangshanoplyllum is a synonym of Waagenophyllum.

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