Coral
Mississippian
Osagean Series
Fern Glen Formation
Jefferson County, Missouri
Amplexus
sp.
Viewer Comments #1
Having a 90 degree bend in a rugose coral is fairly
common,
especially in large corals like the one in the photo. The coral grows
upward and becomes top-heavy, resulting in toppling over on its side,
then recovering by growing upwards again, producing the bend. This is
found in large caniniid corals of the Carboniferous, but can be seen
in almost any group of rugose corals that grew in energetic waters or
places where they could be disturbed by foraging animals.
Large caniniid corals are very common in the late
Pennsylvanian
Gunsight Formation of north-central Texas and specimens like yours
can be found commonly near Lake Brownwood. In some places, corals
with 3 bends in the corallite can be found, but they are usually
broken at the bend and not as attractive as the one illustrated in
this photo.
Dr. Tom Yancey
Viewer Comments #2
The coral is Amplexus sp., a genus of corals
fairly common
in the Mississippian of Missouri.
Dr. Bruce L. Stinchomb
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Fern
Glen Formation
Mississippian Fossils
of Missouri