The Heliolitidae of Australia, with a Discussion of the Morphology and Systematic Position of the Family.

Abstract

In this paper the Australian Heliolitidae are described. Only three genera occur in Australia—Heliolites, Plasmopora, and Propora. Heliolites parvistella, so important in European, is unknown to Australia, where the commonest species is H.daintreei, of which the European species H. barrandei is shown to be a synonym. The genera of the Heliotitide are reviewed, and from their morphology and micro-structure it is decided that the family is best regarded as a section of the Zoantharia Madreporaria, distinct from the Rugosa, Hexacoralla and Tabulata, but of equal rank to these sections. This section we call the Heliolitida.