31 



229 



27. Amfihelia, Becki, n. sp. 



Table IV. Figs. 26—32. 



Oculina 1867. .Johnstrup: Om Faxekalken ved Annetorp i Skaane. Oversigt o. d. K. D. Vid. 



Selsk. Forhandl, f. 1866. S. 9. 

 Oculina sp. 1888. Lundgreen: List of the fossil faunas of Sweden. III. Mesozoic, p. 7. 



In Hennig's^) revision of the corals in the Danien deposits in Skaane in which he 

 likewise mentions the forms from Faxe, we read in his introduction: "By Oculina sp. was 

 meant a Lnbopsammia or Dendrophyllia species which a secondary deposit of lime has given 

 small calyx-like protuberances scattered over the stem." 



In this Hennig was mistaken. In the material from the Mineralogicai Museum in 

 Copenhagen examined by Hennig there is a very easily recognized and characteristic coral 

 form, which for many years has borne the label, "Ocuhna." However, after an examination 

 was made of the recently acquired and well-preserved material (Ravn's Naese) we find that 

 it is rightly determined only in so far as it belongs to the species, Amfihelia, closely related 

 to Oculina. In honor of the man who more than half a century ago studied these corals, 

 and in many instances in spite of the insufficient material then at hand had the correct 

 conception of them, I am giving this form his name and calling it Amfihelia Becki. 



The coral forms ramifying colonies of considerable extension. The stems do not increase 

 particularly in size, older and younger stems being of practically the same size. Ramification 

 occurs by gemmation, a new individual growing out from the edge of the calyx of the term- 

 inal individual. This new individual grows a little in length and under the edge of its calyx 

 another new individual in turn grows forth. Irregularities sometimes occur, 2 or 3 individuals 

 growing out of one calyx edge. Where two branches are contiguous, they continue to grow 

 close together, forming a kind of net-work. 



The calyx is not deep. The theca is solid, thickly coated with a granulated epithecum. 

 The costae protrude but slightly like rows of prickles. 



The septa hardly extend beyond the edge of the calyx; in the upper parts of the calyx 

 they protrude but slightly beyond the theca; at the bottom of the calyx they touch the rather 

 conspicuous, fasciculate columella. In certain of the calyces there appear to be formations 

 at the inner end of the septa which seem to indicate pali. The septal edge is whole. 



The septa are almost constantly present to the number of 27 (3 cycles, 3 ordines), of 

 which the 2 first ordines reach the center, while the septa of the third ordo have, as a rule, 

 no connection with the columella. A lengthwise cut through the stems shows that close 

 under the calyx very compact endothecal formations are found which make the stems massive 

 like those in other Oculina forms. 



Locality: Danien: Younger Danien. Coral chalk. Faxe, Limhamn. 



A. Hennig: Faunan i Skånes yngre Krita. III. Korallerne. Anhang till K. Sv. Vet. Akad. Hand- 

 lingar. Bd. 24. Afd. IV. No. 8. 1899. S. 5. 



