Characters | D. dianthus (adult corallum) | L. pertusa (adult corallite) |
---|---|---|
Corallum/Corallite shape | Extremely variable. Typically trochoid with a subcylindrical pedicel, but also cylindrical, ceratoid, scolecoid | Variable, generally ceratoid, but also trochoid and subcilindrical; often curve. |
Calyx shape | Elliptical to circular | Circular to slightly elliptical, often irregular |
Corallum/Corallite length (Max size) | L: up to 20Â cm | L: exceptionally longer than 4Â cm |
Calicular diameter (Max size) | GCD: up to 9Â cm | GCD: up to 2Â cm |
Calicular fossa | Very narrow (Fw : LCD < 1:4) to large (1:3 < Fw : LCD < 1:2).Deep to very deep (Fd : LCD > > 2:3) | Generally narrow (1:4 < Fw : LCD < 1:3) to large (1:3 < Fw : LCD < 1:2). Deep to very deep (Fd : LCD > > 2:3) |
Columella | Rudimental, visible only in juvenile specimens | Rudimental, visible only in juvenile specimens |
Calicular margin | Flat to very jagged | Flat to very jagged |
Septa cycles | Up to 6 (incomplete) | Up to 4 (exceptionally few septa of cycle 5) |
Axial margin | Straight and continuous, undulated in the proximal zone (more evident in juvenile specimens) | Straight and continuous, undulated in the proximal zone |
Septal granulation | Typically cone-shaped, secondarily subcylindrical, rarely hemispherical; decreasing in size and density from proximal to distal corallum; locally coalescing to form irregular septal ridges | Typically cone-shaped, secondarily subcylindrical, rarely hemispherical; decreasing in size and density from proximal to distal corallum; locally coalescing to form irregular septal ridges |
Tabulae | Rare | Common |
Costae | Typically acute (dominant septa) in the distalmost third of the corallum; rarely absent | Acute (dominant septa) in the distalmost fourth of the corallum or absent |
Outer theca macro- and micromorphology | Diffuse conical to hemispherical granulation, seldom preferential along flat costae; denser and more raised in the basal part where furrows can be present | Diffuse granulation, seldom preferential along flat costae, denser and more raised in the proximal part |
Theca thickness : GCD | Variable; 0.01–0.36 (mostly 0.01–0.08) | Variable; 0.04–0.4 (mostly 0.06–0.14) |