Preview
Accession Number
PEH.301P.A.b
Geological Time Period
Middle Ordovician to Permian
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Cnidaria
Subphylum
Anthozoa
Subclass
Zoantharia/ Hexacorallia
Order
Rugosa
Physical Characteristics
Short and curved triangular specimen with grey coloring. Growth lines can be seen.
Description
Likely from Iowa City, Iowa; The order Rugosa got its name from their “rugose” (wrinkled) outer wall. They are also referred to as “horn corals” because of their ‘horned’ shape. The order varies on their colonial or solitary lifestyle. Horn corals have an assortment of shapes, ranging from solitary forms (like Zaphrentis or Streptelasma) to irregular shapes (like Heliophyllum) to colonial arrangements (like Hexagonaria). This specimen is a solitary horn coral, but there is not much we can say about it because of its lack of septa detailing. Rugosids were members of the Siluro-Devonian reef complexes and suffered because of the Devonian extinctions. For solitary horn corals, it is thought that they reproduced mostly through sexual means and budding.
Number of Pieces
2
Resources
https://youtu.be/_A3UFOM7UIQ?si=PicvqmzRcv3pAQbB
Measurements (cm.)
6
Ursinus Acquisition Date
5-31-2007
Donor
Dr. E Lee Porter
