Lower Cretaceous corals from the Agrio Formation, Neuqu=en Basin, west-central Argentina: Family Columastraeidae

This contribution presents the second part of the results of an ongoing systematic revision of the coral fauna from mixed carbonate-siliciclastic sedimentary facies of the Agrio Formation (upper Valanginian-upper Hauterivian) of the Neuque = n Basin, west-central Argentina. Columastraeid corals (superfamily Cladocoroidea, that corresponds partly to the suborder Faviina) are represented by six species of the genus Eocolumastrea Lo & euro;ser and Zell, 2015, namely E. gortanii, E. magna, E. neuquensis, E. octaviae, E. cf. octaviae and E. sp. 2. Records of the species are close or match with their first appearances worldwide. The studied corals correspond to mostly ramose and secondarily massive colonies, that are here interpreted as capable of thriving in mixed carbonate-siliciclastic environments and settling on soft substrates and able to resist moderate turbidity, sedimentation, and storm influence. Correlation with other columastraeid Lower Cretaceous coral faunas shows affinity with those also recorded in mixed carbonatesiliciclastic sedimentary facies, such as the Bisbee Basin. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study on columastraeid corals from the Agrio Formation in west-central Argentina reveals a diverse species composition and environmental adaptability, showing affinity with similar faunas in other mixed carbonate-siliciclastic sedimentary facies.