Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Cornulites
Cornulite worm tubes found in the Kope Formation. These small creatures existed in the Ordovician Period. Typically, I find them attached to brachiopod shells specifically in the ridges. So it was change to find them by themselves in the gravel I was screening for scolecodonts. Fossils found in Carroll County, Kentucky.
With the striations on the side they almost look like a horn coral. I've never seen one up this close.
ReplyDeleteI agree they do look like small horn corals but I am pretty sure they are cornulites. There are no septa at the open end of the horn shape.
ReplyDeleteThe striations are hardly detectable without a microscope.
YEP ! Very good shots, Michael ! No confusion is possible with Tentaculites either.
ReplyDeleteInteresting! Usually, in this area they are epibionts... somewhat uncommon to find them solitary.
ReplyDeleteI have been working an outcrop in which they are prolific, and came across this rather unusual association with a trilobite:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30726183@N05/3215510026/
I have also found colonies of the critters encrusting firmgrounds.
Too, I have found other unusual associations at this outcrop:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30726183@N05/4143439508/in/photostream/
Cheers, Solius.
I guess it is possible these creatures were attached to a brachiopod or rock. The fossil broke free over time and got washed into the sediment.
ReplyDeleteA new one will be shown soon that has a bryozoan attached to it.