Triassic Scleractinian Corals in China: A Review of Present Knowledge

Abstract

Scleractinian corals appeared during the Anisian period of the Triassic after the end‐Permian mass extinction, which in Triassic were distinct from the Jurassic‐Cretaceous scleractinian corals. The study on Triassic scleractinian coral fauna as a separate field is significant for exploring the development and evolution of modern corals and investigating environmental changes since the Mesozoic. The first Triassic coral in China was reported in 1925, and since then, nearly 25 articles dealing with taxonomy and 17 papers about fossil reports on Triassic scleractinian corals in China have been published, which refer to 60 genera and 312 species, 49 localities and 25 strata. In this paper, the history, taxonomy, localities, stratigraphic distribution, current research, and existing knowledge gaps of the Triassic scleractinian corals in China are reviewed. More specifically, the research findings of the Triassic scleractinain coral in China since 1925 are discussed; the species of the Triassic scleractian coral fossil reported in China, has been examined and its synonyms have been sorted out; the geographical distributions of the Middle and Late Triassic scleractinian corals in China are systematically treated; the Triassic coral biostratigraphy in China has been improved; and the stratigraphic ranges of existing genera and species are provided. The above conclusions are presented in the form of complete figures. At the same time, we analyzed shortcomings in current research and identified productive future research directions of the Triassic scleractinian corals in China.

New Paleomagnetic Results From Middle Jurassic Limestones of the Qiangtang Terrane, Tibet: Constraints on the Evolution of the Bangong‐Nujiang Ocean

“…According to the paleontological evidence, the Triassic coral fauna in the Qiangtang terrane are similar to those of the Songpan‐Ganzi terrane (Bo, Wang, et al, ; Bo, Yao, et al, ). This indicates that the Qiangtang terrane was close to the Songpan‐Ganzi terrane during the Triassic, which resulted in the migration and exchange of the benthonic organisms (Bo, Yao, et al, ). Hence, the paleolongitude of the Qiangtang terrane may be consistent with that of the Songpan‐Ganzi terrane, which became separated from the South China Block by the Longmenshan fault zone to the east.…”

The Neogondolella constricta (Mosher and Clark, 1965) group in the Middle Triassic of North America: speciation and distribution

“…constricta ; Lehrmann et al, fig. 6.9, 6.10.non 2017 Neogondolella constricta ; Bo et al, fig. 4.1–4.4.2019 Neogondolella constricta ; Zhang et al, fig.…”

Variation of symbiodiniaceae in broadcaster acropora humilis and brooder pocillopora damicornis corals

“…Reef corals rely on their symbiotic relationship with unicellular algae called zooxanthellae, which belong to family Symbiodiniaceae (Goulet, 2006;LaJeunesse et al, 2018). A paleontological evidence has confirmed that corals and Symbiodiniaceae emerged since the mid-Triassic period (Jingfang et al, 2017;Wang et al, 2020). The relationship between corals and zooxanthellae is mutualistic, that is, both partners benefit from the association (Harrison & Wallace, 1990;Lajeunesse & Trench, 2000).…”