Astogeny, Ontogeny, and Microstructure of Michelinia rara sp. n. (Tabulata) from the Gzhelian of the Moscow Region

A new species of favositid of the genus Michelinia de Koninck, 1841 from the Gzhelian of the Moscow Basin is described. A combination of morphological features, such as the dimensions of corallites and connecting pores, the type of tabulae, and the structure of the septal apparatus, made it possible to establish a new species, Michelinia rara sp. nov. The features of astogeny in the initial stages of growth were studied and four of its stages were identified in the material studied. The astogeny of the genus Michelinia is generally more complex than that of some other favositids. This suggests a greater morphogenetic integration of polyps at the initial stages of growth.