On some Ordovician Scleractinia-like corals from the South Tien-Shan

Morphological features of corals from the genus Sumsarophyllum Lavrusevitch, Tjanshanophyllia gen. n., as observed in the Ordovician of the South Tien-Shan, hardly allow a rugosan diagnosis. They display numerous septal cycles with perforated septa having a chain-like (bead-like) structure. The absence of epitheca is also characteristic in some cases. The study of morphology of the corals investigated makes it possible to regard them as the most ancient representatives of scleractinian order Fungiida Verril, as its new family Tjanshanophylliidae. The new genus, with Tjanshanophyllia apekini sp. n. as its type species, is described.