Tabulate corals have well-developed tabulae, but no septa or dissepiments. All are colonial. Tabulate corals range from the Ordovician to the Permian; and were especially abundant in Silurian and Devonian reef environments. They were restricted to warm, clear water. Four distinct growth forms are represented by the following genera:
 

• Favosites has a ceroid growth form and is shaped like a compact honeycomb. In cross section, numerous well-developed horizontal tabulae are readily seen.

 
• Halysites consists of small chains. The "chains" join and diverge in various ways, but the areas between the chains are open. Well-developed horizontal tabulae are present, but not often seen in fossils.

 
• Syringopora (organ pipe coral) has a phaceloid growth form. It has erect, irregular corallites with funnel-shaped tabulae (rarely seen); the individual corallites are connected only by horizontal tubes.

 
• Aulopora has a dendroid growth form, in which small (< 1cm) trumpet-shaped corallites grow outward from the side of one another. Curved tabulae are present, but ususally not seen. This coral encrusts shells and other foreign surfaces.

 

 

Be sure to open the links and look at each type of tabulate coral. This will help you answer the questions.

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• Evolution & the History of Life course home page
• Lab 5: Colonial Invertebrates, part II




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Last updated on February 24, 1997-jlc.