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ABSTRACT:Fedorowski, J. 2016. On the genus Bothrophyllum Trautschold, 1879 (Anthozoa, Rugosa). Acta Geologica Polonica, 66 (1), 1-41. Warszawa.The rugose coral genus Bothrophyllum Trautschold, 1879 is revised on the basis of data from the literature and the author's personal investigation of both topotypes of its type species B. conicum and related and/or similar taxa from other areas. The intraspecific variability of the type species, its neotype, the intra-generic framework and a new generic diagnosis are established. Many more than 100 taxa related and/or similar to Bothrophyllum were analyzed and the most important of them are discussed. Detailed analysis of the type species based on the neotype and supported by additional topotype specimens illustrated here, allows restriction of both the type species and the genus, and leads to the proposition that Bothrophyllum -like taxa with a shortened cardinal septum should be considered of subgeneric (not named) status. Detailed analysis of the specimens and species described and illustrated from the type site (Myachkovo Quarry, Moscow Basin) form the basis for further considerations. On the basis of that analysis and characters established for the type species, taxa from all other European, African, Asiatic and North American areas either named Bothrophyllum or bearing characters of that genus were analyzed. The supposed origin and discussion of the relationships conclude the paper. A list of synonyms and exclusions from Bothrophyllum and lists of species included, excluded, or possibly belonging to Bothrophyllum and Bothrophyllum-like corals with a shortened cardinal septum are presented.

Three ampleximorphic taxa are revised and their most important characters are discussed in terms of possible or apparent relationships. Re-interpretation of its early ontogeny allows the assignment of Pentamplexus Schindewolf, 1940 Grabau, 1928. Amplexoid morphology is further shown to be inadequate for the establishment of relationships on the family or subfamily level. Early ontogeny is most important in that respect, but biform vs normal morphology in the tabularium and free vs contratingent development of minor septa must also be considered, where appropriate.

A number of nondissepimented Viséan and Serpukhovian rugose coral species are morphologically linked to Zaphrentites Hudson, 1941 and Ufimia Stuckenberg, 1895. Separate taxonomic positions for these groups of species are suggested by differences in the microstructure of their septa and isolation in time and space of their types (Early Carboniferous of Western Europe vs. Middle Artinskian of the Ufa River area in Russia). The zaphrentoid early morphology, present in both lineages, is suggested to be the archetype for many Rugosa. Direct linking of the Early Carboniferous Ufimia-like corals to Zaphrentites suggests they evolved independently from Ufimia proper. Therefore they are assigned to the genus Zaphrufimia, newly introduced here. The probable derivation of this new genus suggests its relationship to the Stereolasmatina Hill, 1981, but not to the Plerophyllina Sokolov, 1960. Re-investigation of the lectotype of 'Zaphrentis' disjuncta Carruthers, 1910, from the Arnsbergian (Upper Serpukhovian) of Scotland, allowed 'Plerophyllum (Ufimia)' schwarzbachi Schindewolf, 1942, from both slightly older and equivalent strata of the Silesian Coal Basin to be placed in synonymy with that species. Three subspecies distinguished by Schindewolf (1952) are revised and re-described, using both the original collection and newly investigated specimens from the Lower Serpukhovian of the Czech Republic.

An elevated skeletal structure surrounding an empty axial area occurs in many unrelated taxa within the Rugosa. This structure, commonly termed the aulos, was first differentiated and described by Grabau in 1922. Most terms introduced by that author for individual morphotypes have not been accepted because the taxa he chose to illustrate the typical development do not correspond to his diagnoses. The morphogenetic study on some circumaxial structures in this paper points out differences in their origin, their predicted role in the physiology of the coral polyps. The study shows both the advantages and disadvantages of the use of these circumaxial structures in taxonomy. In addition to the term aulos, which was introduced by Smith in 1928, new terms i.e. circulotheca and columnotheca are here introduced for the circumaxial structures that also are newly proposed names, to allow distinguishing them from true axial structures.