La Venta: proximal outer ramp Coral Faunas, Iberian Chain (Cretaceous of Spain)

Where: Spain (40.1° N, 0.2° E: paleocoordinates 28.6° N, 8.8° E)

• coordinate estimated from map

• outcrop-level geographic resolution

When: Benassal Formation, Late/Upper Aptian (122.5 - 112.0 Ma)

• The succession studied belongs to the depositional sequence K.1.9 in which precise biozones were defined with orbitolines..., El Palasiet succession

• bed-level stratigraphic resolution

Environment/lithology: deep subtidal ramp; lithified wackestone

• The corals occurring in this level have exclusively sheet-like and lamellar forms. The coral colonies are a few millimetres in height and range from a few centimetres to 40 cm in width. Although the corals are found in growth position, they are locally found perpendicular to the substrate surface, indicating either

•a pre-existing topography or that the corals were partially overturned. The coral association is species poor, although it is the richest level of the sheetstone facies. It mainly presents species unique to this level. Stromatolites, up to 5 cm thick, are abundant and encrust the upper surfaces of the corals.

• This is about 7-10 m thick and is characterized by wackestones-packstones with corals, sponge spicules, calcispheres and foraminifers

Size class: macrofossils

Primary reference: S. Tomás, H. Löser, and R. Salas. 2008. Low-light and nutrient-rich coral assemblages in an Upper Aptian carbonate platform of the southern Maestrat Basin (Iberian Chain, eastern Spain). Cretaceous Research 29:509-534 [W. Kiessling/A. Girndt/M. Nimke]more details

Purpose of describing collection: paleoecologic analysis

PaleoDB collection 82689: authorized by Wolfgang Kiessling, entered by Antje Girndt on 31.07.2008

Creative Commons license: CC BY (attribution)

Taxonomic list

Anthozoa
 Helioporacea - Helioporidae
 Scleractinia - Haplaraeidae
"Actinaraeopsis sp." = Camptodocis
"Actinaraeopsis sp." = Camptodocis Dietrich 1926 stony coral
 Scleractinia - Faviidae
Ksiazkiewiczia sp. Morycowa 1976 stony coral
 Scleractinia - Microsolenidae
Microsolena cf. agariciformis Etallon 1859 stony coral
 Scleractinia - Latomeandridae
Dimorphastrea toucasi Fromentel 1886 stony coral