Corals

The area around Louisville, KY (Jefferson & Oldham Co., KY and Clark Co., IN) are one of the richest Silurian and Devonian coral localities in the world. Many occur as silicified (quartz-replaced) showing exceptional external detail. Photos of many fossils will be posted to show general features for identification.

Erwin C. Stumm’s Silurian and Devonian Corals of the Falls of the Ohio GSA Memoir 93, 1964, is the primary reference.

Kentucky Fossil Corals monograph (William Davis, Kentucky Geological Survey, 1887) is another good resource with fine photographs. (No half tone dots!)

Key to abbreviations:

r) = colonial rugose, (h) = horn coral type rugose, (t) = tabulate (honeycomb) (tb) = branching, (H) = Heliolitid coral (Silurian only)

Preservation: C = Calcified, Ph = Phosphatic, P = Pyritized, S =Silicified, 1= w/o, matrix, 2 = w/ matrix

Symbols key:

* Can get large # Specimens are NOT in the sale inventory at this time.

Photos are above the name of the species.

UPPER ORDOVICIAN CORALS                   Location                Preservation

Calapoecia huronensis (Billings) (t)*                               KY,IN                    C,1

Cyathophylloides stellata (Hall) (r) – a colonial coral that can get very large resembling the more common Foerstephyllum, but has septa in the corallites – required for rugose corals. Older texts call it Favostina. IN, KY – C,1

Foerstephyllum vacuum (Foerste) (t)* – very common in the Upper Ordovician in coral biostromes. Has thin-walled, empty corallites. One of the largest tabulates up two three feet (1 M) across and over 300 pounds. Often coated with tiny calcite crystals (see photo), and they can be dissolved out into large vugs with calcite, dolomite, celestine and a few other minerals. Especially common in Kentucky and southeastern Indiana – C,1

Grewingkia canadensis (Billings) (h) – is the most abundant Ordovician horn coral in the region. It varies in size from a couple to 15 cm. It’s often bored with the trace fossil Trypanites. KY,IN – C,1

Protarea richmondensis Foerste (t) – an encrusting species, usually on brachiopods. Upper Ordovician. IN, KY, OH – C,2 (on brachiopods)

MIDDLE SILURIAN CORALS                       Location                Preservation

Silurian corals from the Louisville Limestone (Wenlockian), Middle Silurian, unless otherwise noted.

Anisophyllum trifurcatum Hall# – a rare, small coral with a distinctive cardinal and alar septa. IN, KY – C,S,1,2

Alveolites fibrosus Davis – has long-angle, shingle-like corallites        

Alveolites louisvillensis  Davis – Jefferson & Oldham Co., KY – S,1

Alveolites undosus Miller – Jefferson & Oldham Co., KY – S,1

Arachnophyllum mammillare (Owen)# (r) – a curious form of Arachnophyllum, this was one of the first species described, yet it is rare here.

Arachnophyllum pentagonum (Goldfuss) * – Jefferson & Oldham Co., KY – S,1

Arachnophyllum separatum (Ulrich) – Jefferson & Oldham Co., KY – S,1

Arachnophyllum sinemurum Davis# – a rare species with exceptionally large corallites for the genus. Jefferson & Oldham Co., KY – S,1

Arachnophyllum striatum (d’Orbigny) * – the most abundant species, pentagonal corallites have layers otherwise similar to A. pentagonum. Jefferson & Oldham Co., KY – S,1

Astrocerium venustum Hall – has tiny spines in the corallite chambers, only visible with a microscope. Jefferson & Oldham Co., KY – S,1

Coenites aculeata (Davis) (t) – flat interconnected branches with larger corallites than C. reticulata. Found in the upper Waldron Shale and Louisville Limestone. Clark Co., IN, Jefferson & Oldham Co., KY – C,S,2

Coenites reticulata (Hall) – reticulate (net-like) growth habit. Resembles a bryozoan because corallites are tiny. Rare in upper Waldron in Clark Co., IN. Silicified found in KY – C,S,2

Coenites ordinata (Davis) – flat interconnected branches with larger corralites than C. reticulata. Found in the upper Waldron Shale and Louisville Limestone. Clark Co., IN, Jefferson & Oldham Co., KY – C,S,2

Coenites verticillatus (Winchell & Marcy) – corals grow in thin plates with a vertical column. Corallites are thin slits. Clark Co., IN, Jefferson & Oldham Co., KY – S,1,2

Cystihalysites nexus (Davis) – has the largest corallites of any halysitid coral in our area. Clark Co., IN, Jefferson & Oldham Co., KY – S,2

Cystiphyllum niagarense (Hall)# – an uncommon species in the Louisville Ls., Clark Co., IN, Jefferson & Oldham Co., KY – S,1

Dalmanophyllum herzeri (Hall) (h) – an uncommon horn coral with a flattened axial boss in the center of the calyx. Rarely found in the Waldron Shale in Clark Co., Indiana  IN,KY – C,S,1,2

Ditoecholasma fanninganum (h) – Narrow, cylindrical corals, Brownsport Group. TN – C,1

Dokophyllum intertrium (Hall) – is unusual in that it has talons – struts – that served as buttresses like the roots of a mangrove tree. Stubs are all you see on the coral exterior. Also found in the Waldron Shale in Clark Co., IN. IN, KY- C,S,1,2

Duncanella borealis (Nicholson) (h) – Common small horn coral in Waldron Shale of Indiana and the Brownsport Group of west Tennessee, IN, TN – C,1

Enterolasma waynese Simpson (h) -Common in Brownsport Group and the Birdsong Shale (Lwr Devonian) in Decatur Co., TN – C,1,2

Entelophyllum eruciforme (Davis) (r)* – One of 3 species of genus found in Louisville. Resembles the Devonian Acinophyllum in form though not internal structure. Good colonies are locally common but rarely found. KY – S,1

Entelophyllum strictum (Edwards & Haime)# – similar to E. eruciforme with larger diameter corallites. I’ve only found colony fragments. KY – S,1,2

Favosites beechensis Amsden (t) – Small colonial coral in the Brownsport Group. Decatur Co., TN – C,1

Favosites clavatulus Amsden – A small branching coral in the Brownsport Group. Decatur Co., TN – C,1

Favosites cristatus Davis – common in the Louisville Ls. but also occurs in the upper Waldron Shale in Clark Co., Indiana

Favosites discoideus (Roemer) – the most most massive of the Silurian tabulate corals. Very common in the Waldron Shale in Clark Co., Indiana.

Favosites discus Davis – has distinctive round corallites; grows in a low discoidal shape.

Favosites favosus (Goldfuss)# – Similar to F. discoideus, corallites has a wrinkly edge between corallites. KY – S,1

Favosites forbesi var. occidentalis (Hall) – a Waldron Shale species. Usually round or biscuit-shaped, often growing on crinoid columns.

Favosites niagarensis Hall – corallites slightly larger than Astrocerium venustum, no septal spines. KY- S,1

Favosites spinigerus (Hall) – Small, irregular form colony with corallites of varying sizes. IN -C,1

Halysites catenularia (Linne) (t) – Louisville Limestone, KY – S,1,2

Halysites louisvillensis Stumm – small corallites in a chain pattern with long loops and small autocorallites. Louisville Limestone, KY – S,1,2

Heliolites romingeri Stumm – the most common species of Heliolites in our area. It’s also the most recently named of the genus. Occurs in hemispherical to flat colonies. KY – S,1

Heliolites spongosus Foerste – normally found in the Brownsport Group of west Tennessee, I found it in Oldham County, KY. Its corallites are the largest of any species in our area. KY – S,1

Heliolites subtubulatus (McCoy) – a common heliolitid coral, a Silurian index fossil in North America. KY – S,1

Kodonophyllum vadum (Hall)# – a small, uncommon coral in the Louisville Limestone. KY – S,1

Plasmophyllum niagarense (Hall) (h) – Listed as Lamprophyllum in Stumm, 1964, reassigned to this genus. Upper Waldron shale and Louisville Limestone, IN KY – C, S,1, 2

Propora papillata (Rominger) – related to Heliolites but has protruding corallites with “rays.” KY – S,1,2

Propora puella (Davis) – has small corallites than P. papillata. KY – S,1,2

Quepora huronensis (Teichert) – Louisville Limestone, IN, KY – C,S,1,2 See Fossil of the month: Quepora (uky.edu) for more details between this and Halysites.

Streptelasma radicans Hall (h) – is a common horn coral and larger than Ducanella. Waldron Shale,  IN – C,1,2

Streptelasma? subvesiculare (Hall) – Louisville Limestone, KY – S,1

Strombodes shumardi (Edwards & Haime)# – cylindrical with repetitive flaring along coral wall; uncommon. KY – C,S,1,2

Thecia major Rominger (t) * – Favosites-like, larger corallites than T. minor. Louisville Limestone, though rare in upper Waldron Shale in Clark Co., Indiana. IN – C,1; KY – S,1

Thecia minor Rominger – small star-like corallites. Usually in flat discoidal colonies. Louisville Ls., KY – S,1

Tryplasma mitella (Hall)# – has a small simple cup. Not common as T. prava; Louisville Ls. KY – S,1, 2

Tryplasma prava (Hall) – small, conical to cylindrical with rejuvenesces. Also in Waldron Shale in Clark Co., IN.  IN, KY – C,S,1, 2

Zaphrentis celator daytonensis (h)  – Brassfield Formation, Lower Silurian, Oldham Co., KY – C,1

Key to types: (r) = rugose, (h) = horn coral type rugose, (t) = tabulate (honeycomb) (tb) = branching  * gets large

MIDDLE DEVONIAN CORALS                        

Devonian corals in the Louisville, KY – Clark Co., IN area are the most diverse of any location in the western hemisphere. Jeffersonville Limestone is overlain by the thin Speed Limestone, Sellersburg or North Vernon Limestone and capped by the Beechwood Limestone. The basal Jeffersonville (Lower Coral Zone) is Emsian age = Lower Devonian. The rest of the Jeffersonville Limestone and Speed Limestone are Eifelian age = Middle Devonian. The Sellersburg – including the Beechwood – are Givetian age = Middle Devonian.

Symbols key:

* Can get large

# Specimens are NOT in the sale inventory at this time.

Acinophyllum mclareni Fagerstrom (r)* – usually weathers in single tubs or small clusters. Jeffersonville Ls. Coral Zone. KY – C,S,1,2

Acinophyllum stokesi (Milne-Edwards & Haime) * – usually weathers in single tubs or small clusters. Internal structure slightly different than A. mclareni. Jeffersonville Ls. Coral Zone. KY – C,S,1,2

Acrophyllum clarki Davis (h) – rare coral in the Beechwood Ls. but distinctive structure in the center of the calyx (visible in photo). IN – S,1

Acrophyllum ellipticum Davis# – large, uncommon, oval coral in the lower Coral Zone (upper Emsian), Jeffersonville Ls. IN, KY – C,S,1

Acrophyllum oneidaense (Billings)# – a cylindrical coral with axial boss in calyx. Coral Zone of the Jeffersonville Ls. IN, KY – C,S,1

Acrophyllum rugosum Greene                                      KY                          S,1

Aemuliophyllum exiguum (Billings)# – an index fossil for the upper Emsian (Lower Devonian). This small coral occurs in the lower Coral Zone of the Jeffersonville Ls. IN, KY – C,1,2

Alveolites asperus Davis# (tb) – One of the rarer species. Corallites have a protruding lower lip giving it a rough texture. KY – S,1

Alveolites constans Davis* – Less common and having slightly smaller corallites than Alveolites mordax. Mound-shaped. KY – S,1

Alveolites goldfussi Edwards & Haime – curved corallites typical for genus. Most common species of the Givetian in region. Beechwood Limestone, IN, KY, MI, NY & ON

Alveolites minimus Davis – has the smallest corallites of the Jeffersonville Ls. species. KY – S,1

Alveolites mordax Davis * – Largest massive species both in size and corallite width in the region. KY,IN – S,1

Alveolites squamosus Davis# – a rare species in the Jeffersonville Ls. Coral Zone. The corallites give the colony a ragged texture. KY – C,S,1,2

Alveolites winchellana (Miller) – has mid-size branches and diamond-shaped corallites. In the Coral Zone of the Jeffersonville Ls. IN,KY – S,1,2

Aulacophyllum conigerum Davis (h) – an uncommon horn coral in the Beechwood Ls. IN -S,1

Aulacophyllum mutabile Davis# – oddly thickened around the cardinal septum creating a siphonal tube, otherwise resembling A. sulcatum. Jeffersonville Ls. above coral zone. IN- S,1

Aulacophyllum perlamellosum (Hall) – has the most septa of the species in our area. Varies in size. Jeffersonville Ls. above coral zone. KY,IN – S,1

Aulacophyllum pinnatum Hall – one of the least common species of this genus in our area. Jeffersonville Ls., above coral zone. KY,IN – S,1

Aulacophyllum sulcatum (d’Orbigny) – the most common species of the genus in region. Jeffersonville Ls., above coral zone. KY,IN – S,1

Aulocystis auloporoidea (Davis) (t) – Corallites run parallel before splitting off. Associated with but less common than A. frutectosa. Sellersburg Limestone. Clark Co., IN – S,1,2

Aulocystis fascicularis (Davis) is the smallest auloporid coral in the Coral Zone of the Jeffersonville Ls. Listed as Drymopora by Davis and Stumm, but further research indicates it’s Aulocystis. KY – S,2

Aulocystis frutectosa (Davis) grew in a bush-like form and is found in the upper Sellersburg Limestone. Clark Co., IN – S,1

Aulocystis incrustans (Davis) – species used hard substrates like horn corals, Jeffersonville Ls.  IN, KY – S,2

Aulocystis jacksoni (Hall) has the largest diameter corallites of auloporids in the Beechwood Ls. IN, S,1

Aulocystis procumbens Davis – A large encrusting auloporid coral in the Jeffersonville Limestone. KY – S,2

Aulocystis nobilis (Billings) – Large auloporoid in the coral zone of the Jeffersonville Limestone. KY,IN – S,1,2

Aulocystis transitorius Stumm – Usually encrusts other fossils. Speed and Sellersburg Limestones.  IN – S,2

Aulopora edithana Davis# – a small encrusting species. IN – S,2

Aulopora microbuccinata (Watkins) – is more common in Ohio’s Silica Shale but can be found in the Beechwood Limestone of similar age. IN – S,2; OH – C,2

Aulopora tubiporoides (Yandell & Shumard) – an anastomotic colonial coral forming little bushes. Coral Zone, Jeffersonville Ls. 

Aulopora winchelli                                       MI                           C,1

Bethanyphyllum arctifossa (Hall) (h) – an uncommon species with many septa, Jeffersonville Limestone. Clark Co., IN – S,1

Bethanyphyllum nanum (Davis) –  Septa have a wavy edge, coral varies in size. Beechwood Limestone, Clark Co., IN – S,1

Bethanyphyllum pocillum (Davis) – Jeffersonville Limestone, Givetian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – S,1

Bethanyphyllum robustum (Hall)# – an uncommon coral in the Beechwood Ls., Clark Co., IN – S,1

Bethanyphyllum validum (Hall)# – the only species of this genus from the Coral Zone in the Jeffersonville Ls., Clark Co., IN – S,1

Blothrophyllum bellicinctum Greene# (h) – an uncommon species probably not Tabulophyllum. Needs further study. IN, KY – S,1

Blothrophyllum romingeri Stumm – a giant of horn corals reaching almost 0.5M in situ. Weathered its in smaller pieces. IN, KY – S,1

Bordenia knappi Hall (h) – an index fossil for the Speed Limestone, basal Givetian, Middle Devonian. Grows in a wide variety of shapes and has a variety of basal structures depending on original attachment texture. IN – S,1

“Breviphrentis” halli (Edwards & Haime) (h) – Formerly Heterophrentis, not considered a valid genus by William A. Oliver, Jr., a Devonian rugosa coral expert. Beechwood Limestone, Givetian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – S,1

“Breviphrentis?” nitida (Hall) – Coral Zone, Jeffersonville Ls., Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

“Breviphrentis?” planima (Hall) -Formerly Siphonophrentis in Stumm, 1964. Placed in this genus by Oliver (see comment above). Jeffersonville Ls., Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

“Breviphrentis” sp. (sometimes detail makes species ID difficult to impossible)

Bucanophyllum ohiense (Nicholson)# – narrow tip, funnel-shaped coral with dissepimentaria like Cystiphylloides. Jeffersonville Ls. – IN,KY -S,1

Chonostegites tabulatus (Edwards & Haime) – resembles Syringopora but without gaps between corallites. This species is found in the B. gregarius zone of the Jeffersonville Ls. and often encrusts horn corals, snails and clams.

Cladopora acupicta (Davis) – a small branching coral with tiny corallites. Jeffersonville Ls., IN, KY – C,S1,2

Cladionophyllum cicatriciferum (Davis)# (h) – has stalk-like base, otherwise resembles Cystiphylloides; Coral Zone IN, KY – S,1

Cladopora imbricata Rominger (tb) – Coral Zone, Jeffersonville Ls., Middle Devonian, Jefferson Co., KY -S,1

Cladopora labiosa (Billings) – a common species in the Brevispirifer zone of the Jeffersonville Limestone, but with regional distribution in stratigraphic equivalents. IN,KY, MO           C,S,1,2

Cladopora sp. – From the Calloway Ls. in central Missouri.

Compressiphyllum davisana (Miller)# (h) – oval in cross section, it’s an index fossil for the lower Coral Zone, Emsian, Lower Devonian in age. IN, KY – C, S, 1

Craterophyllum magnificum (Billings)# – this “magnificent” coral is large with a shallow calyx from the Coral Zone of the Jeffersonville Ls. IN, KY – S,1

Cyathocylindrium opulens Oliver (r) * – a colonial rugose coral of the Coral Zone, Jeffersonville Ls. Often found in partial fragments weathered from large colonies. In part, the Hexagonaria ponderosa of Stumm. IN,KY – S,1

Cystiphylloides americanum (Edwards & Haime) (h) – is the most abundant and one of the most robust species in the Beechwood Ls.   IN, ON – C,S,1

Cystiphylloides americanum bellense             MI                          C,1

Cystiphylloides conifollis                                   ONT                       C,1,2

Cystiphylloides crassatum (Greene) – a rare discoidal form of Cystiphylloides found in the Beechwood Ls. IN – S,1

Cystiphylloides infundibuliformis (Greene) – Disseptimentaria make this genus different than most others in the Middle Devonian. Coral Zone, Jeffersonville Ls. Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

Cystiphylloides limbatum (Davis)# – a large species in the Coral Zone, Jeffersonville Ls. Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

Cystiphylloides nanum (Davis) – the smallest species of this genus in the area. Dominantly in the Coral Zone. IN, KY – S,1

Cystiphylloides plicatum (Hall)# – difficult to distinguish from C. infundibuliformis. Minor differences in internal structure.  Jeffersonville Ls. Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

Cystiphylloides potterense                                MI                          C,1

Cystiphylloides pustulatum (Hall) – has large disseptimentaria (look like bubbles) in the Jeffersonville Ls. above the Coral Zone.  IN,KY – S,1

Cystiphylloides sp.                                              IN,KY                    C,S,1,2

Enallophrentis concava (Hall) (h) – Formerly genus Heterophrentis. See explanation with Breviphrentis. A deep-calyx coral of the Beechwood Ls. Clark Co., IN – S,1

Enallophrentis? cyathiformis (Hall) – Jeffersonville Ls. Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY  S,1

Enallophrentis duplicata (Hall) – a common species. Jeffersonville Limestone, Eifelian, Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

Enallophrentis? foliata (Hall) – this Beechwood Ls. coral is Heterophrentis in Stumm. Oliver tentatively assigned it to Enallophrentis admitting more study was needed.  IN, KY – S,1

Enallophrentis inflata (Hall) – reminiscent of Siphonophrentis with a large calyx and conspicuous septa, but it rarely exceeds 15 cm in length. Jeffersonville Limestone, Eifelian, Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

Enallophrentis ovalis (Hall) – strongly oval calyx. Jeffersonville Limestone, Eifelian, Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

Enallophrentis simplex (Hall) – fairly deep calyx, listed as Heterophrentis is Stumm’s book. Beechwood Ls. IN,KY – S,1

Eridophyllum apertum (Hall) (h) – A generally simple species of the genus, rarely with buds. Jeffersonville Limestone, Eifelian, Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

Eridophyllum archiaci (Billings) (r) – a common species in the Beechwood Ls. though usually found fragmented.  IN,KY,ONT – C,S,1

Eridophyllum coagulatum (Davis) grows in radiating corallites in the Jeffersonville Limestone. IN, KY – S,1,2

Eridophyllum seriale Edwards & Haime – grows in massive colonies up to a meter across. Corallites usually weather out in masses of fragments. Jeffersonville Ls., IN – S,1,2

Eridophyllum subcaespitosum  – Arkona shale, Hungry Hollow area, Ontario – C,1,2

Favosites alpenensis (Winchell) – a common Devonian coral of the Traverse Group in Michigan.

Favosites biloculi Hall – grows in colonies up to a meter across in the Coral Zone, Jeffersonville Limestone, Eifelian, Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – C,S,1

Favosites clausus (Rominger) (tb) – Branching form, 5mm to 1cm thick stalks. Givetian, Middle Devonian, Beechwood Limestone (IN, KY), Traverse Group (MI), Arkona Shale (ONT) – C,S,1

Favosites clelandi Davis – Coral Zone, Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

Favosites conicus (Hall) – Birdsong Formation, Emsian, Lower Devonian, Decatur Co., TN –  C,1

Favosites foerstei – Birdsong Formation, Emsian, Lower Devonian, Decatur Co., TN –  C,1

Favosites hamiltonae Hall – the largest Favosites in the Beechwood Ls., Givetian, Middle Devonian, Beechwood Limestone (IN, KY, NY, etc.)

Favosites mammilatus Stumm & Tyler – a common coral in the Alpena area.

Favosites mundus Davis – corallites are dimorphic – large and small. From the upper part of the Jeffersonville Ls., Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – S,1

Favosites pirum Davis – resembles Favosites turbinatus but much more elongate. Jeffersonville Ls., Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1,2

Favosites placentus Rominger* – has small polygonal corallites. Colonies can reach 20 to 30 cm across. Beechwood Limestone, Givetian. Found in IN, KY, MI, NY ON

Favosites proximatus Stumm – Coral Zone, Jeffersonville Limestone, Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

Favosites ramulosus Davis – a small branching species usually found in single branches. IN,KY – C,S,1,2

Favosites sp. IN, MO                C,S,1,2

Favosites turbinatus Billings – a common species, often called a kneecap coral because the the side that rested in the mud has a patella-like shape.

Favosites (Emmonsia) arbuscula Hall – Beechwood Limestone, Givetian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN, Nelson Co., KY, New York – S,1

Favosites (Emmonsia) cymosa Davis – Jeffersonville Limestone, Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

Favosites (Emmonsia) emmonsii Rominger * – Coral Zone, Jeffersonville Limestone, Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – C,S,1,2

Favosites (Emmonsia) eximia Hall – one of two species of subgenus Emmonsia in the Beechwood Ls., Givetian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN, Nelson Co., KY – S,1

Favosites (Emmonsia) radiciformis Davis – Coral Zone, Jeffersonville Limestone, Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

Favosites (Emmonsia) ramosa (Rominger) – Coral Zone, Jeffersonville Limestone, Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

Favosites (Emmonsia) tuberosa Rominger – Coral Zone, Jeffersonville Limestone, Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

Hadrophyllum orbignyi Edwards & Haime (r) – the classic button coral from the Speed Ls.. Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – C,S,1,2

Heliophyllum agassizi Hall (h) – Jeffersonville Ls., Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN –  S,1

Heliophyllum alternatum Hall – Beechwood Ls. Clark Co., IN, Nelson Co., KY – S,1

Heliophyllum coalitum (Rominger)# (r) * – in part, Hexagonaria ponderosa in Stumm’s book. A rare coral. IN,KY – S,1

Heliophyllum denticulatum Hall# – a rare coral in the Jeffersonville Ls. IN – S,1

Heliophyllum ethelanum (Davis) – the smallest of the species in the Beechwood Ls. Clark Co., IN – S,1

Heliophyllum gurleyi Greene# – a shallow-cupped species that buds along the calyx periphery. Beechwood Ls. Clark Co., IN – S,1

Heliophyllum halli Edwards & Haime – a ubiquitous horn coral in a variety of sizes and shapes. Heliophyllum has conspicuous yard-arm carinae – the lines crossing the septa. IN,KY, ONT – S,C,1,2

Heliophyllum halli bellense                               MI                          C,1

Heliophyllum incrassatum Hall – Jeffersonville Ls., Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – C,S,1

Heliophyllum latericrescens Hall – is noted for budding (multi-corallites) and is found in the Jeffersonville Ls., Eifelian, Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – C,S,1

Heliophyllum ingens (Davis)* (r) – a colonial form of Heliophyllum according to William A. Oliver, Jr. Assigned to Billingsastrea in Stumm. Beechwood & Boyle Ls. in Bardstown & central Kentucky. KY – S,1  

Heliophyllum tenuiseptatum Billings – a small species (not as small as H. ethelanum) in the Beechwood Limestone. IN – S,1

Heliophyllum venatum Hall – an abundant “classic” horn-shaped coral from the Jeffersonville Ls. Larger than Zaphrentis phrygia which looks similar. IN,KY – S,1

Heliophyllum verticale Hall – a large, long horn coral, the only species of Heliophyllum in the coral zone of the Jeffersonville Ls. Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1,2

Heliophyllum yandelli (Rominger) (r) – similar to H. ingens, but found in the Jeffersonville Ls., especially the Coral Zone. Jeffersonville Ls., Eifelian, Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – C,1

“Heterophrentis” rafinesqui (Edwards & Haime) – Jeffersonville Ls., Eifelian, Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY. A deep calyx coral that is in a genus that needs more investigation. (See note with H. terebrata. Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

“Heterophrentis” terebrata (Hall) – This genus was deemed invalid by William A. Oliver, Jr. as the genotype is too poorly preserved to be used in modern studies. This is one of the few that have not been reassigned to another genus (not Breviphrentis or Enallophrentis). IN – S,1

Hexagonaria anna (Whitfield) (r) – common in the Bell shale of Michigan. Occasionally shows regeneration growth after storm burial.  MI – C,1

Hexagonaria fusiformis Stumm & Tyler* – Genshaw Formation, Givetian, Middle Devonian, Presque Isle Co., MI – C,1

Iowaphyllum knotti (Davis)# – reported only from the Boyle Ls. in central KY, I have found 2 deeply weathered specimens in Louisville, KY – S,1

Kionelasma mammiferum (Hall)# – raised center of calyx. From the lower Coral Zone, Jeffersonville Ls., uncommon. Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

Lecfedites canadensis (Billings)# (t) – is a dimorphic coral having two sizes of corallites (polyp chambers). It’s in the lower coral zone, Emsian, Lower Devonian.

Odontophyllum convergens (Hall) (h) – is perhaps the flattest large horn coral in the area. Others in Stumm are variations of this species according to Oliver. Beechwood Ls., Givetian, Middle Devonian. Clark Co., IN – S,1

Phymatophyllum multiplicatum (Davis)# – a rare coral from the Coral Zone, Jeffersonville Ls. with a very shallow calyx. Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

Platyaxum fischeri (tb) – flattened fronds, from Hungry Hollow / Arkona Formation, Givetian, Middle Devonian, Arkona, ONT – C,1,2

Platyaxum foliatum Davis – Coral Zone, Emsian, Lower Devonian, Jefferson Co., KY – C,S,1

Platyaxum frondosum (Billings) – Beechwood Limestone, Givetian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN, Arkona, ONT – S,1, C,1,2

Pleurodictyum cylindricum (Michelin) (t) * – resembles a wasp nest in form. Coral Zone, Jeffersonville Ls., Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Jefferson Co., KY – C,S, 1, 2

Pleurodictyum insigne (Rominger) – Beechwood Limestone, Givetian, Middle Devonian, an uncommon species from the Bardstown, KY Devonian – S,1

Pleurodictyum planum (Davis) – Beechwood Limestone, Givetian, Middle Devonian, a thin-walled species common in the Bardstown, KY Devonian residuum. S,1

Pleurodictyum wardi (Davis)  – Beechwood Limestone, Givetian, Middle Devonian, a thick-walled species uncommon in the Bardstown, KY Devonian residuum. S,1

Pleurodictyum (Procteria) cornu (Davis) – a tiny colony in the Jeffersonville Ls. rarely more than 2 cm across. Jeffersonville Ls. – Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1,2

Pleurodictyum (Procteria) michelinoidea (Davis) – Procteria is a subgenus of Pleurodictyum. These B. gregarius zone corals a fairly common, Jeffersonville Ls. – Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1,2

Prismatophyllum bella (Davis) – the smallest of the genus. Colonies are round. Jeffersonville Ls. – Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – C,S,1,2;

Erwin Stumm lists Hexagonaria in Memoir 93 – but it belongs to genus Prismatophyllum.

Prismatophyllum conjunctum (Davis) grows in moderate-sized rotund mounds with occasional gaps between corallites. Other species of this genus have continuous wall contact between corallites. Resembles Eridophyllum with aulos in the center of the corallites. Jeffersonville Ls. – Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – C,S,1,2

Prismatophyllum ovoideum (Davis) – minor differences between this species and P. prisma, from the Coral Zone, Jeffersonville Ls. Middle Devonian – Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – C,S,1,2

Prismatophyllum prisma (Lang & Smith) * – Jeffersonville Ls., Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – C,S,1,2; Equals Stumm’s “Hexagonaria cincta“

Prismatophyllum truncata (Stewart) – one of several species of Prismatophyllum found in the Coral Zone, Jeffersonville Ls. Middle Devonian

Siphonophrentis elongata (Rafinesque & Clifford) (h) * – is the largest Devonian horn coral in the western hemisphere. In matrix it exceeds a meter but is usually half that. Specimens weather out in short segments. Jeffersonville Ls. Middle Devonian – Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – C,S,1,2

Siphonophrentis yandelli (Edwards & Haime) = (Breviphrentis?) – Jeffersonville Ls. Middle Devonian – Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

“Skoliophyllum” squamosum (Nicholson) (h) – Jeffersonville Ls. Middle Devonian – Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

Stereolasma gallicalcar (Davis) (h) – a small, simple coral with widely spaced septa. Uncommon in the Beechwood Ls. Clark Co., IN, Nelson Co., KY? – S,1

Striatopora bellistriata Greene – common branching coral in the Jeffersonville Ls., Middle Devonian – Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1,2

Striatopora cavernosa Rominger – Uncommon species with thin walls. – Jeffersonville Ls. Middle Devonian – Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1

Syringopora hisingeri Billings (t) * – can be as large as an American football. Jeffersonville Ls. Middle Devonian – Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1,2

Syringopora perelegans Billings – has larger corallites than S. hisingeri. Found in same beds.

Tabulophyllum callowayensis (Branson) – the most abundant horn coral in the Devonian of central Missouri (Cedar Valley Ls. or Calloway Ls.) MO – C,1,2

Tabulophyllum? greeni (Davis) – septa have a distinctive axial whorl. Long and thin. How did they stand up in the Devonian sea? Jeffersonville Ls.

Tabulophyllum? sinuosum (Hall) – Jeffersonville Ls. is older than described Tabulophyllum occurrences but assignment is likely according to the William A. Oliver, Jr. That’s why there is a question mark next to the genus name.

Tabulophyllum? tripinnatum                            KY                         S,1

Tabulophyllum zaphrentiforme (Davis) – a common species in the Beechwood Ls.     

Thamnopora distans (tb)                                    IN,KY                    C,S,1,2

Thamnopora limitaris (Rominger) (tb) – an abundant branching coral with small round corallites. Fronds usually fragmented. IN,KY – C,S,1,2

Thamnoptychia alternans  (tb) – Trachypora is another name that is invalid. Sellersburg Limestone, Givetian – IN,KY –  S,1

Zaphrentis phrygia (Rafinesque & Clifford) (h) – small coral, most abundant in the B. gregarius zone of the Jeffersonville Ls. IN,KY – S,1,2

DEVONIAN CORAL ‘COQUINAS” – Specimens are available with a variety of specimens of corals on a single rock (up to 12″/30cm across). IN, KY – S,2

MISSISSIPPIAN CORALS                              Location                Preservation

(r) = rugose, (h) = horn coral type rugose, (t) = tabulate (honeycomb or branching)

Acrocyathus floriformis d’Orbigny (r) – is the most common “Lithostrotian” coral in the Ohio Valley. It’s found in the St. Louis Limestone (Middle Mississippian).

Lithostotionella proliferum (Hall) (r) – weathers out of the St. Louis Ls. in individual corallites or clusters. Complete colonies are uncommon. IN – S,1  

Amplexus fragilis St. John & Worthen – (h) New Providence Shale, Middle Mississippian, Jefferson Co., KY – P,1

Amplexus geniculatus (Worthen) – Chesterian, Upper Mississippian species. Often found flattened when buried quickly. KY – C,1,2

Cladochonus beecheri (Grabau) (t) an auloporid coral in the Salem Ls. Fairly small, zig-zag growth.

Cladoconus crassus (McCoy) – New Providence Shale, Middle Mississippian, Bullitt Co., & Jefferson Co., KY –  C,1

Cladoconus conus – New Providence Shale, Middle Mississippian, Bullitt Co., & Jefferson Co., KY – C,1

Cyathaxonia arcuata (Weller) (h) – New Providence Shale, Middle Mississippian, Bullitt Co., & Jefferson Co., KY – C,P,1     

Cystelasma quinqueseptatum (h)                     IL                            S,1         

Favosites sp.   (t)                                            KY                          P,1

Hapsiphyllid coral  (h)                                        KY                          P,1

Hapsiphyllum cassidayi     (h)                           IN,KY                    C,S,1     

Lithostrotian harmonites Edwards & Haime (r) – Ste. Geneveive Limestone, Middle / Upper Mississippian, IL,KY                     C,S,1      

Michelinia subramosa Ulrich – (t)                            IL                            S,1

Syringopora monroense Cummings & Beede – occurs in the Salem through Ste. Genevieve Ls. in colonies large and small.

Triplophyllum sp. (h) Salem Limestone, Middle Mississippian, IN,KY, IL, etc. – C,S,1,2

Trochophyllum verneuilanum Edwards & Haime (h) – New Providence Shale, Middle Mississippian, Bullitt Co., & Jefferson Co., KY – C,P,1   

Zaphrentites spinulosa (Edwards & Haime) – a widespread Chesterian, Upper Mississippian, horn coral, IL, IN, KY, AL, etc.

SCLERACTINIAN

Micrabacia hilgardi        Upper Cretaceous     MS                          C,1 (micro-fossil 2 – 7 mm)