| Abstract: | Coralla of the solitary coral Talfania calicula gen. et sp. nov. from the Upper Ordovician (Ashgill Series; Katian Stage) of Llanddowror, South Wales, UK, are often coiled around crinoid columnals, suggesting a premortem association between some of the corals and living crinoids. Irregularities within the deepest part of the open calice imply infestation of T. calicula by parasitic worms. Talfania calicula is distinguished from contemporaneous rugose corals by its lack of septa within the calice and its systematic position within Zoantharia is unresolved. Pitted calical grooves are interpreted as attachment scars of desmocytes connecting the soft tissues to the exoskeleton. Coral and crinoid remains in the assemblage are bored by postmortem microendoliths. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
