Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Devonian Horn Coral - Tabulophyllum zaphrentiforme

Here is a small horn coral (1.5 cm diameter and 4.5 cm length) that is called Tabulophyllum zaphreniforme (Davis). It is found in the Beechwood Member, North Vernon Limestone, Givetian Stage, and was found in Louisville, Kentucky (central Jefferson County), USA.

This horn coral was known by several other names: Amplexus yandelli Rominger 1876 and Blothrophyllum zaphrentiforme Davis 1887.  E.C. Stumm describes it in Silurian and Devonian Corals of the Falls of the Ohio on page 50, "Coralla simple; subcylindrical to narrowly ceratoid with typical rejuvenation seen where epitheca has been removed.  Calyx with steeply sloping walls. Septa 60-74; major extending almost to axis and probably amplexoid; minor short peripheral ridges."

See Plate 102 of the Blothrophyllum zaphrentiforme figures 8-15 in Kentucky Fossil Corals A Monograph of the Fossil Corals of the Silurian and Devonian Rocks of Kentucky by William J. Davis.

It lived in the Middle Devonian Period (397-385 million years ago) in a shallow tropical sea that covered the area of Jefferson County.  Also see this image at the Indiana Memories Database.



13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Coooool this helped for my 7th grade project today will tell my friends and post facebookst on

Michael Popp said...

GREAT! I am glad it helped you out.

Have a good summer!

Anonymous said...

I'm a unicorn

Anonymous said...

I am a unicorn

Anonymous said...

What exactly is a tabulophyllum?

Michael Popp said...

It is an extinct coral animal. Not sure about the exact meaning of that name.

Anonymous said...

Thank you this helped for slides that I had to do on types of fossils

Unknown said...

What is the type of species that made itm

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Random Australian Kid said...

Thanks mate! Comming from Australia!

Anonymous said...

What is it's special features?

Anonymous said...

Hey, do they live in water? and are they consumers? Are they symmetrical, and do they have a shell? These are some questions I have, thanks!

Anonymous said...

THIS HELPED SO MUCH I GOT A 0% ON MY TEST