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Article: The early record of halysitid tabulate corals, and morphometrics of Catenipora from the Ordovician of north‐central china

Papers in Palaeontology - Volume 4 Part 3 - Cover Image
Publication: Papers in Palaeontology
Volume: 4
Part: 3
Publication Date: August 2018
Page(s): 363 379
Author(s): Kun Liang, Robert J. Elias, and Dong‐Jin Lee
DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1111
Addition Information

How to Cite

LIANG, K., ELIAS, R.J., LEE, D. 2018. The early record of halysitid tabulate corals, and morphometrics of Catenipora from the Ordovician of north‐central china . Papers in Palaeontology, 4, 3, 363-379. DOI: /doi/10.1002/spp2.1111

Author Information

  • Kun Liang - CAS Key Laboratory of Economic Stratigraphy & Palaeogeography Nanjing Institute of Geology & Palaeontology Chinese Academy of Sciences Nanjing 210008 China
  • Kun Liang - Center for Excellence in Life & Paleoenvironment Chinese Academy of Sciences Nanjing 210008 China
  • Robert J. Elias - Department of Geological Sciences University of Manitoba Winnipeg Manitoba R3T 2N2 Canada
  • Dong‐Jin Lee - Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences Andong National University Andong 36729 Korea

Publication History

  • Issue published online: 03 August 2018
  • Manuscript Accepted: 09 January 2018
  • Manuscript Received: 04 November 2017

Funded By

National Science Foundation of China. Grant Numbers: 41402013, J1210006
Chinese Academy of Sciences. Grant Number: XDPB05
National Research Foundation of Korea. Grant Number: 2018R1A2B2005578

Online Version Hosted By

Wiley Online Library
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Abstract

Catenipora is one of the most common tabulate coral genera in the Upper Ordovician Jinghe and Beiguoshan formations on the southern margin of the Ordos Basin, north‐central China. We distinguish and identify the species of Catenipora using multivariate morphometric procedures. Cluster analysis based on morphological characters of coralla yields a dendrogram showing five morphospecies. The validity and distinctiveness of the morphospecies are evaluated by discriminant analysis and non‐metric multidimensional scaling. To identify the species represented by the morphospecies, type specimens of species that are morphologically similar from north‐central China (Sino‐Korean Block) and surrounding palaeocontinents are compared with the morphospecies by non‐metric multidimensional scaling and descriptive statistics. The results indicate that one morphospecies represents Cdaliangensis (Yu), another represents Csubovata Yu, and the others are new species herein named Ctongchuanensis, Cjingyangensis and Ctiewadianensis. Catenipora tongchuanensis from the middle of the Jinghe Formation (Sandbian; early Late Ordovician) is the earliest confirmed halysitid tabulate. Species of Catenipora in north‐central China (Sino‐Korean Block) show the highest morphological diversity (i.e. disparity) in terms of corallite size and shape, compared with other palaeocontinents in China. Species of Catenipora in North Qilian share more common components with those from north‐central China than any other palaeocontinent in China. The different morphological characteristics in terms of corallite shape and ranks in some Katian species of Catenipora from East Junggar, Mongolia, South China and Estonia suggest that some species may have originated separately during the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event, and that Catenipora is possibly polyphyletic.

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