A New Genus and Species of Rugosa Coral from the Late Visean Mobarak Formation in the Vali-Abad Section (Central Alborz, N Iran)

The rugose coral Marzanophyllum chalusense gen. and sp. nov. from late Visean (early Carboniferous) in the Vali-Abad section (Central Alborz, N Iran) is described in detail. This solitary coral has thick wall and thick septa with no dissepiment. The genus Zaphrentoides has similar structure, but it possesses well developed cardinal septum. The new genus is placed in the Subfamily Zaphrentoidinae because of the fossula shape, structure of its septa and incompleted tabulae. This small and undissepimented solitary rugose coral belongs to Cyathaxonia fauna. They are found at oolitic limestone level. The corals of member C of the Mobarak Formation have endemic character and based on the accompanied fauna and stratigraphic position they are attributed to late Visean.