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

Calapoecia huronensis has rounded corallites inside thick polygonal walls
Calapoecia huronensis – 3 cm view showing detail

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

Cyathophylloides stellata (Hall)

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

Foerstephyllum vacuum – tiny only 2.5 cm across
Crystalline Foerstephyllum vacuum. These are pretty common.

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

Grewingkia canadensis (Billings) with Trypanites borings

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

Protarea richmondensis photo by Richard Schrantz

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

Anisophyllum trifurcatum Hall

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

Alveolites fibrosus Davis

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

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

Alveolites undosus – a small silicified specimen

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

Arachnophyllum mammillare – this specimen is from Iowa.

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

Arachnophyllum pentagonum – typical colony that occurs in various sizes.

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 sinemurum Davis

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

Arachnophyllum striatum

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

Astrocerium venustum – a common favositid

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 aculeata

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 reticulata (Hall)

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 ordinata has thicker coral branches than other species in area.

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

Coenites verticillatus (Winchell & Marcy)

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

Cystihalysites nexus (Davis)

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

Cystiphyllum niagarense (Hall)

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

Dalmanophyllum herzeri has an elongate axial boss

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

Dokophyllum intertrium (Hall) – unusual in that it has talons – struts – that buttressed the coral like mangove roots do. 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

Dokophyllum intertrium (Hall)

Duncanella borealis (Nicholson) (h) – Common small horn coral in Waldron and Brownsport Group, IN, TN – C,1

Duncanella borealis

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

Enterolasma waynese superficially resembles Duncanella but there are differences.

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 eruciforme (Davis)

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

Entelophyllum strictum (Edwards & Haime)

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 clavatulus

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

Favosites cristatus Davis

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

Favosites discoideus
Favosites discoideus 3 cm view showing simple polygonal corallites

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

Favosites discus Davis

Favosites favosus (Goldfuss)# – Similar to F. discoideus, corallites have a “crinkly” texture. KY – S,1

Favosites favosus (Goldfuss)

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

Favosites forbesi var. occidentalis (Hall)

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

Favosites niagarensis

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

Favosites spinigerus

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

Halysites catenularia

Halysites louisvillensis Stumm – small corallites in a chain pattern. Louisville Limestone, KY – S,1,2

Halysites louisvillensis Stumm

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

Heliolites romingeri Stumm – closeup view of an exceptional specimen

Heliolites spongosus Foerste – normally found in the Brownsport Group of west Tennessee, I found it in Oldham County. Corallites are the largest of the genus in our area.

Heliolites spongosus

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

Heliolites subtubulatus

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

Kodonophyllum vadum (Hall)

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

Plasmophyllum niagarense – side view, from Waldron Shale
Plasmophyllum niagarense view of septa

Propora papillata (Rominger) – related to Heliolites but has protruding corallites with “rays”

Propora papillata (Rominger)

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.

Quepora huronensis
Quepora huronensis 3 cm view

Streptelasma radicans Hall (h) – Waldron Shale,  IN – C,1,2

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

Streptelasma? subvesiculare – view of septa
Streptelasma? subvesiculare

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

Strombodes shumardi (Edwards & Haime)

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 major

Thecia minor Rominger – small star-like corallites. Flat colonies, discoidal. KY – S,1

Thecia minor Rominger

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

Tryplasma mitella

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

Tryplasma prava showing rejuvenscent growth
Tryplasma prava from the Waldron shale in Clark Co., Indiana.

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 mclareni showing detail of the coral septa
Acinophyllum mclareni in matrix

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

Acinophyllum stokesi colonies can be up to 1.9 M across
Acinophyllum stokesi

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

Acrophyllum clarki Davis

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

Acrophyllum ellipticum Davis

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

Aemuliophyllum exiguum (Billings)

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

Alveolites asperus Davis

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

Alveolites constans colony
Alveolites constans 3 cm view

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 goldfussi corallites are not polygonal like Favosites

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

Alveolites minimus Davis

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

Alveolites mordax collected by Alan in the 1970s
Alveolites mordax 3 cm diameter showing detail

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 squamosus

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

Alveolites winchellana expansive basal part of a colony
Alveolites winchellana encrusting Prismatophyllum conjunctum
Alveolites winchellana frond

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

Aulacophyllum conigerum Davis

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 mutabile Davis

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

Aulacophyllum perlamellosum (Hall)

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 pinnatum bored (trace fossils)
Aulacophyllum pinnatum (left) using Enallophrentis coral as a subsstrate.

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

Aulacophyllum sulcatum
Aulacophyllum sulcatum showing septal detail

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 auloporoidea 

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 fascicularis (Davis) in a stromatoporoid sponge

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

Aulocystis frutectosa (Davis)

Aulocystis incrustans (Davis) –                                          KY – S,2

Aulocystis incrustans encrusting Zaphrentis phrygia horn coral

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

Aulocystis jacksoni (Hall) – Beechwood Ls.

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

Aulocystis incrustans encrusting Favosites turbinatus

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

Aulocystis nobilis

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

Aulocystis transitorius on Spinocyrtia granulosa
Aulocystis transitorius encrusting Protoleptostrophia perplana in the Speed Limestone

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

Aulopora edithana Davis (on Favosites)

Aulopora microbuccinata (Watkins) – is more common in Ohio’s Silica Shale but can be found in the Beechwood Limestone of similar age.

Aulopora microbuccinata (Watkins) on Favosites placentus Rominger

Aulopora tubiporoides  – an anastomotic colonial coral forming little bushes. Coral Zone, Jeffersonville Ls. 

Aulopora tubiporoides – Jeffersonville Ls.

Aulopora winchelli                                       MI                           C,1

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

Bethanyphyllum arctifossa

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

Bethanyphyllum nanum (Davis) on a stromatoporoid sponge

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

Bethanyphyllum pocillum calyx view -an uncommon species
Bethanyphyllum pocillum

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

Bethanyphyllum robustum (Hall)

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

Bethanyphyllum validum (Hall)

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

Blothrophyllum bellicinctum Greene

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

Blothrophyllum romingeri Stumm found in the Coral Zone, Jeffersonville Ls.

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

Bordenia knappi Hall

“Breviphrentis” halli (Hall) (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” halli – a common species in this formation.

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

“Breviphrentis” nitida
“Breviphrentis” nitida

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?” planima

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

Breviphrentis sp. – view of calyx
Breviphrentis sp. – side view

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

Bucanophyllum ohiense (Nicholson)

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.

Chonostegites tabulatus (Edwards & Haime)

Cladopora acupicta (Davis) – a small branching coral with tiny corallites. Jeffersonville Ls.

Cladopora acupicta (Davis)

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

Cladionophyllum cicatriciferum

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

Cladopora imbricata – from residual soil glued together.

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 labiosa – 3 cm long fragment
Cladopora labiosa with Paleoconchus worms from Montgomery Co., Missouri, 2.5 cm long
Cladopora labiosa from Arkona, Ontario (Hungry Hollow area)

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

Cladopora in limestone from 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

Compressiphyllum davisana

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

Craterophyllum magnificum

Cyathocylindrium opulens Oliver (r) * – a colonial 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

Cyathocylindrium opulens Oliver

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

Cystiphylloides americanum

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 crassatum

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 infundibuliformis showing internal cyst-like dissepimentaria.
Cystiphylloides limbatum (Davis)

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 nanum (Davis)

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 plicatum

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 pustulatum (Hall)

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 concava

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

Enallophrentis? cyathiformis calyx view
Enallophrentis? cyathiformis – side view with small trace fossil borings

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

Enallophrentis duplicata – calyx

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? foliata (Hall)

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 inflata (Hall) – white because it was acidized out of limestone

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

Enallophrentis ovalis

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

Enallophrentis simplex (Hall)

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 apertum – calyx view
Eridophyllum apertum – simple corallum

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

Eridophyllum archiaci

Eridophyllum coagulatum (Davis) grows in radiating corallites in the Jeffersonville Limestone.

Eridophyllum coagulatum

Eridophyllum seriale (Edwards & Haime) grows in massive colonies up to a meter across. Corallites usually weather out in masses of fragments.

Eridophyllum apertum – 3 corallites
Eridophyllum apertum – part of a colony

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 alpenensis

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 biloculi – partial colony
Favosites biloculi – 3 cm view

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 clausus – exceptionally well-preserved colony
Favosites clausus
Favosites clausus – Hungry Hollow area, Ontario – 3cm view

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

Favosites clelandi with Aulocystis incrustans
Favosites clelandi

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

Favosites conicus – 3 cm view
Favosites conicus – underside showing radial growth, 3 cm view

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 hamiltonae – large colony
Favosites hamiltonae – 3 cm view

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

Favosites mammilatus has small corallites

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 mundus 

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 pirum 

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 placentus – a large colony

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

Favosites proximatus partially encrusted with stromatoporoid

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

Favosites ramulosus 
Favosites ramulosus – 2 fronds, 3 cm view

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 turbinatus Billings

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

Favosites (Emmonsia) arbuscula attached to a crinoid column

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

Favosites (Emmonsia) cymosa 
Favosites (Emmonsia) cymosa showing detail – 3 cm view

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

Favosites (Emmonsia) emmonsii showing tabulae and squamulae
Favosites (Emmonsia) emmonsii showing mural pores on the walls

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) eximia Hall

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

Favosites (Emmonsia) radiciformis

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

Favosites (Emmonsia) ramosa (Rominger) is a thick branching coral.

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

Favosites (Emmonsia) tuberosa

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

Hadrophyllum orbignyi AKA “button coral”

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

Heliophyllum agassizi is an uncommon, large species
Heliophyllum agassizi – calyx view

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 coalitum (Rominger)

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

Heliophyllum denticulatum Hall – this is the only specimen in my collection and is assigned “?”

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

Heliophyllum ethelanum – scale in millimeters
Heliophyllum ethelanum – a view of the calyx.

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

Heliophyllum gurleyi Greene

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 Edwards & Haime

Heliophyllum halli bellense                               MI                          C,1

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

Heliophyllum incrassatum – a long coral
Heliophyllum incrassatum – detail of the septa
Heliophyllum incrassatum – cut and polished showing internal structure

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 latericrescens
Heliophyllum latericrescens with a budding calyx

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 ingens (Davis)

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

Heliophyllum tenuiseptatum

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 venatum

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

Heliophyllum verticale

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” rafinesqui

“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

“Heterophrentis” terebrata (Hall)

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

Hexagonaria anna (Whitfield)

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

Iowaphyllum knotti with beekite rings associated with deep weathering.

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

Kionelasma mammiferum

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.

Lecfedites canadensis

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

Odontophyllum convergens (Hall)

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

Phymatophyllum multiplicatum – an uncommon genus

Platyaxum fischeri (tb) – Arkona Formation, Givetian, Middle Devonian, Arkona, ONT – C,1,2

Platyaxum fischeri a flattened frond
Platyaxum fischeri a flat branch

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

Platyaxum foliatum is a rare coral with flattened branches

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

Platyaxum frondosum – 3 cm view
Platyaxum frondosum from Arkona area

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

Pleurodictyum cylindricum – “wasp nest” coral
Pleurodictyum cylindricum – side view

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

Pleurodictyum insigne

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

Pleurodictyum planum

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

Pleurodictyum wardi (Davis)

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) cornu

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

Pleurodictyum (Procteria) michelinoidea (Davis)

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 bella

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 conjunctum (Davis)

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 ovoideum

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

Prismatophyllum prisma – cut in half
Prismatophyllum prisma – 3 cm view

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

Prismatophyllum truncata 

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 elongata was one of the largest horn corals that every lived.

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

Siphonophrentis yandelli is long and narrow
Siphonophrentis yandelli has a deep calyx

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

“Skoliophyllum” squamosum is a very flat coral with dissepimentaria.
“Skoliophyllum” squamosum has a very shallow calyx.

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

Stereolasma gallicalcar (Davis)

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

Striatopora bellistriata Greene – Jeffersonville Ls.

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

Striatopora cavernosa

Syringopora hisingeri (Billings) (t) *- Jeffersonville Ls. Middle Devonian – Clark Co., IN, Jefferson Co., KY – S,1,2

Syringopora hisingeri contains small parallel tubes in profusion.

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

Syringopora perelegans has larger tubes than S. hisingeri.

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 callowayensis (Branson)

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

Tabulophyllum? greeni (Davis)

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? sinuosum (Hall)

Tabulophyllum? tripinnatum                            KY                         S,1

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

Tabulophyllum zaphrentiforme (Davis)    

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

Thamnopora limitaris (Rominger)

Thamnoptychia alternans  (tb)                          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

Zaphrentis phrygia (Rafinesque & Clifford)

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).

Acrocyathus floriformis d’Orbigny

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

Acrocyathus proliferum (Hall)

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

Amplexus fragilis – pyrite-replaced
Amplexus fragilis – back of coral

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

Amplexus geniculatus

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

Cladochonus beecheri (Grabau)

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

Cladoconus crassus on crinoid column

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     

Cyathaxonia arcuata calcified
Cyathaxonia arcuata – pyritized

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      

Lithostrotian harmonites – loose coralites
Lithostrotian harmonites calyx 5 mm dia.

Michelinia subramosa Ulrich – (t)                            IL                            S,1

Michelinia subramosa is a small coral
Michelinia subramosa

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

Syringopora monroense

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

Triplophyllum sp. (T. cassedayi?) – abundant in the Salem Limestone

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

Trochophyllum verneuilanum – pyritized and calcite replaced.

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

Zaphrentites spinulosa – some with epizoans
Zaphrentites spinulosa showing septa

SCLERACTINIAN

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