Abstract
The Upper Chesterian Pitkin Formation of the Ozark Dome region contains a large and diverse, yet highly endemic, coral fauna consisting of 10 genera of rugose corals and three of tabulate corals. Coral distribution within the formation is affected by stratigraphic, paleoecologic, and possibly paleogeographic controls. Although it is impossible at this time to fully evaluate the importance of stratigraphic controls on the coral distribution, the occurrence of two types of carbonate bioherms within the formation provides substantial paleoecologic control on the distribution of certain corals. Despite the high endemism and facies restriction, the coral fauna has proven to be biostratigraphically sensitive, correlating with middle and upper Chesterian coral zones in the Western Interior Province of North America. Among the Pitkin corals herein described are the new genera: Lesliella n. gen. (L. amplexa n. sp., type species) and Parvaxon n. gen. (P. minutum n. sp., type species). Other newly described species are: Amplexizaphrentis browni n. sp., Barytichisma clubinei n. sp., B. ozarkana n. sp., and Leonardophyllum arkansanum n. sp., which represents the first reported occurrence of the genus in strata below the Pennsylvanian boundary.
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