ON PENTAMPLEXUSSCHINDEWOLF, 1940 (ANTHOZOA,RUGOSA) AND ITS POSSIBLE RELATIVES AND ANALOGUES

Abstract: Three ampleximorphic taxa are revised and their most important characters are discussed in terms of possible or apparent relationships. Re‐interpretation of its early ontogeny allows the assignment of Pentamplexus Schindewolf, 1940 to the family Polycoeliidae de Fromentel, 1861. Stereolasma variabilis Vojnovsky‐Krieger, 1934 is established as the type species of Vojnovskytes gen. nov. It resembles the family Polycoeliidae in some characters and the Antiphyllidae Ilina, 1970 or the Laccophyllidae Grabau, 1928 in others. Thus, its family status is not established. Revision of the type material of Fasciculophyllum tripus Schindewolf, 1952 allows its inclusion within the new genus Silesamplus, probably related to the family Laccophyllidae Grabau, 1928 . Amplexoid morphology is further shown to be inadequate for the establishment of relationships on the family or subfamily level. Early ontogeny is most important in that respect, but biform vs normal morphology in the tabularium and free vs contratingent development of minor septa must also be considered, where appropriate.