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We describe a previously unknown niche for hard corals in the small, bowl-shaped, solitary scleractinian, Deltocyathoides orientalis (Family Turbinoliidae), on soft-bottom substrates. Observational experiments were used to clarify how the sea floor niche is exploited by turbinoliids. Deltocyathoides orientalis is adapted to an infaunal mode of life and exhibits behaviours associated with automobility that include burrowing into sediments, vertical movement through sediments to escape burial, and recovery of an upright position after being overturned. These behaviours were achieved through repeated expansion and contraction of their peripheral soft tissues, which constitute a unique muscle-membrane system. Histological analysis showed that these muscle arrangements were associated with deeply incised inter-costal spaces characteristic of turbinoliid corals. The oldest known turbinoliid, Bothrophoria ornata, which occurred in the Cretaceous (Campanian), also possessed a small, conical skeleton with highly developed costae. An infaunal mode of life became available to turbinoliids due to the acquisition of automobility through the muscle-membrane system at least 80 million years ago. The newly discovered active burrowing strategies described herein provide new insights into the use of an unattached mode of life by corals inhabiting soft-bottom substrates throughout the Phanerozoic.

Dendrophyllid Scleractinia exhibit a variety of colonial morphologies, formed under the strict constraints on (1) budding sites, (2) orientations of the directive septa of offsets, (3) inclination of budding direction, and (4) those constraints in every generation. Dendrophyllia cribrosa exhibits a sympodial dendroid form, characteristically large coralla, and occasional fusions of adjacent branches within the same colony. Adjacent corallites are bound and supported by coenosteum skeleton. This study examined the inner skeletal structures at the junctions of fused branches using a non-destructive microfocus X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging approach, and considered the reasons for the large colonial sizes and their adaptive significance. Three-dimensional reconstructions of two-dimensional X-ray CT images reveal that individual corallites are not directly connected in fused parts. Additionally, no completely buried individuals were found within fused skeleton. When adjacent branches approach one another, constituent corallites change their growth directions to avoid collisions between the branches. The adjacent branches fuse without a reduction in the number of constituent corallites, leading to the establishment of reticular and rigid colonial structures. In addition, a nearly even distribution of individuals on the colony surface facilitates efficient intake of nutrients. Thus, the growth of large D. cribrosa colonies involves avoidance of collision between constituent individuals, the reinforcement of colonial structure, and efficient uptake of nutrients. These observations provide insights on the dynamics of interrelationships between colony-making mechanisms and the adaptive strategies required under habitat conditions such as specific current activities.

The Lower Carboniferous (Visean) succession of the Um Bogma Formation at Gabal Nukhul, west-central Sinai is subdivided into lower, middle and upper members. Integrating field observations and microfacies analysis led to the recognition of six microfacies as follows: wackestone/packstone, packstone/grainstone, grainstone, bafflestone, calcareous quartz arenite and paleokarst breccia....

Five sections, namely the Shipao section of Xilin, the Wuzhuan section of Donglan, the Shanglao section of Napo, the Lingma section of Wuming and the Longtang section of Pingxiang, of the Permian-Triassic sequence were microbiostratigraphically examined in the western Guangxi, China. These sections are composed mainly of shallow marine sediments in the Jiangnan Terrane which are almost the same lithofacies as those on the Yangzi Platform....

Five sections, namely the Shipao section of Xilin, the Wuzhuan section of Donglan, the Shanglao section of Napo, the Lingma section of Wuming and the Longtang section of Pingxiang, of the Permian-Triassic sequence were microbiostratigraphically examined in the western Guangxi, China. These sections are composed mainly of shallow marine sediments in the Jiangnan Terrane which are almost the same lithofacies as those on the Yangzi Platform....

The Lower Carboniferous (Visean) succession of the Um Bogma Formation at Gabal Nukhul, west-central Sinai is subdivided into lower, middle and upper members. Integrating field observations and microfacies analysis led to the recognition of six microfacies as follows: wackestone/packstone, packstone/grainstone, grainstone, bafflestone, calcareous quartz arenite and paleokarst breccia....

Three sections of chert-clastics sequence in the Qinfang Terrane, Guangxi, South China were lithostratigraphically and biostratigraphically examined. Nine radiolarian zones of Early to Late Permian age were distinguished in the chert sequences. These radiolarian zones are correlated with those defined in the Permian chert sequences of Southwest Japan....

Three sections of chert-clastics sequence in the Qinfang Terrane, Guangxi, South China were lithostratigraphically and biostratigraphically examined. Nine radiolarian zones of Early to Late Permian age were distinguished in the chert sequences. These radiolarian zones are correlated with those defined in the Permian chert sequences of Southwest Japan....

Late Permian (Wujiapingian - early Changxingian) radiolarians were detected from the Chituao section, Laibin, Guangxi, China. The radiolarian assemblages have several species similar to those from Southwest Japan....

Late Permian (Wujiapingian - early Changxingian) radiolarians were detected from the Chituao section, Laibin, Guangxi, China. The radiolarian assemblages have several species similar to those from Southwest Japan....

This paper mainly concerns the systematic palaeontology of some Middle to Upper Permian corals from the Abadeh and Julfa regions, Iran. The fauna consists of 35 species of 15 genera belonging to eight families. Two different kinds of faunas are clearly distinguished. One is from the Middle Permian and is characterised by such typically Tethyan elements as waagenophyllids and by several species of Ufimia and micheliniids. It is followed by an Upper Permian fauna, terminal phylogenetic representatives of the Rugosa, composed mostly of solitary corals (Pentaphyllum). The Permian fauna corresponds well to that of the Transcaucasus, USSR, reported by Iljina (1962, 1965a). Many of the Middle Permian corals are known from South China, whereas Upper Permian corals indicate high endemism. Each species of Pentaphyllum shows a wide range of morphological variation, phylogenetically irrespective of Scleractinia. Inter- and intraspecific variability as well as ontogenetic changes are especially documented to clarify the distinctness of each species.

Four species of rugose corals including two new species, Pilophiyllum keimorii and Phaulactis variabilis are described from the upper Ludlovian Öved-Ramsåsa Group of Scania, southern Sweden. An attempt is made at re-classifying and synonymizing genera belonging to the Streptelasmatidae, Lykophyllidae and Kyphophyllidae.

Corals belonging to genera Michelinia, Waagenophyllum, Ipciphylum, Aridophyllum, Wentzelloides and Yatsengia are described from Kampong Awah Quarry, Pahang. A Yatsengia is described from Bukit Biwah, Trengganu. The former occurrence denotes Yabeina Zone, while the latter Neoschwagerina Zone. All corals indicate Tethyan elements.