Description of Espielia columellata gen. and sp. nov. (Rugosa) from the Sierra del Castillo Unit (upper Viséan, Córdoba, SW Spain)

The Brigantian rugose coral Espielia columellata gen. and sp. nov. from the Viséan (Carboniferous) Sierra del Castillo Unit (Córdoba, SW Spain) is described in detail. This phaceloid coral has thick wall and septa, one to three rows of regular dissepiments, thick amygdalophylloid columella, typically aulophylloid tabularium, basically fibrous microstructure, and non-parricidal peripheral increase. It is similar to Cionodendron Benson and Smith, 1923, but differs in the shape of the columella, the structure of the tabularium and in having thicker septa. The genera Rylstonia and Carruthersella have similar structures, but they are solitary and possess well developed cardinal fossulae. The new genus is placed in the subfamily Amygdalophyllinae because of the structure of its tabularium and columella.