Corals from the Upper Viséan of the southern Azrou-Khenifra Basin (Carboniferous, Central Moroccan Meseta)

This is the first taxonomic treatment of coral faunas from upper Viséan shallow-water limestones of the southern Azrou-Khenifra Basin (eastern central Morocco). Corals recovered during reconnaissance work represent 8 genera and 11 species of rugose corals, 1 heterocoral species, and 3 tabulate coral taxa. The fauna is tentatively attributed to the late Asbian. Siphonodendron scaleberense is described from Northern Africa for the first time. Facies differentiations clearly control the coral distribution in the stratotype of the Bou-Rifi Formation near Sidi-Lamine. In the Tabaïnout Ridge, the massive build-up facies is almost devoid of corals except for specialised forms such as ?Sutherlandia. Bioclastic and oncolitic limestone facies below and above the build-up facies contain coral faunas, which differ in their compositions. The fauna of the Azrou-Khenifra Basin is part of the West European-North African faunal province.