Abstract
A new fossil coral collection enhances our understanding of scleractinian coral diversity during the origination of the Indo-Pacific biodiversity hotspot (Oligocene – earliest Miocene). The fossil corals were collected from Sarawak (Malaysia), Negros and Cebu (the Philippines). The oldest fossil specimens are from Cebu, found in the Calagasan Formation (late Oligocene – middle Chattian) and Butong Limestone (late Oligocene – late Chattian). The specimens from the Trankalan/Binaguiohan (Negros), Melinau and Subis Limestone (Sarawak) are all of early Miocene (Aquitanian) age. Forty-four morphospecies belonging to 30 genera were identified, and detailed taxonomic descriptions are provided. These data extend the temporal ranges of six coral genera (Acanthastrea, Astrea, Blastomussa, Coelastrea, Lobophyllia, Paramontastraea). By expanding our knowledge of scleractinian coral diversity and morphological variation in the Central Indo-Pacific, this new fossil collection provides important background for future studies of coral taxonomy, diversity and biogeography in the region.
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