CONULARIA SP FROM THE PYRENEES - FURTHER SUPPORT FOR SCYPHOZOAN AFFINITIES OF THE CONULARIDA

Several specimens of Conularia from the mid-Carboniferous Culm Formati on of the Pyrenees occur as clusters with a large central specimen and several smaller divergent individuals that may be buds from the large r central specimen. Other individual and clustered specimens exhibit c omplex polygonal cross-sections that are inferred to have resulted fro m longitudinal fission of a precursor pyramid into two or more descend ant individuals. Apparent budding and transverse fission (strobilation ) of conulariids have been report ed previously, but we have found no earlier record of longitudinal fission. The existence of this addition al mode of asexual increase in conulariids further supports their affi nities with the scyphozoan Cnidaria.