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

Abstract

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 Neuquén Basin, west-central Argentina. Columastraeid corals (superfamily Cladocoroidea, that corresponds partly to the suborder Faviina) are represented by six species of the genus Eocolumastrea Löser 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 carbonate-siliciclastic sedimentary facies, such as the Bisbee Basin.