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Monday, June 20, 2016

Disphyllum sp. coral from the Martin formation of Arizona

These next two specimens represent a new (to me) genera: Disphyllum. They are a colonial rugose coral with closely set, yet independent calices. It looks similar to Eridophyllum but the calices are shorter. Both specimens that are shown here are small clusters. I don't know if they form larger colonies or is these represent the typical form.

I looked through Stumm's paper and did not find any mention of Disphyllum. I based my ID of these fossils on Langland's article in Rocks and Minerals where they illustrate two species but do not list specific names. Teichert's paper does list several species of Disphyllum.

Specimen #1 - Dorsal view
Dorsal view rotated 90 degrees
Right profile
Left profile


Specimen #2 - Dorsal surface

The next four pictures are the specimen in profile view, rotated 90 degrees in each subsequent photo.




These specimens are from the Jerome member of the Martin formation (Devonian, Fransian stage) north of Payson, AZ.

References:
Teichert, C., 1965, "Devonian Rocks and Paleogeography of Central Arizona",  USGS Professional Paper 464

Langland, Jeffrey O. and Edith V., 2012, "Fauna of a 400-Million-Year-Old Coral Reef in
Arizona", Rocks and Minerals, 87:1, 40-44

Stumm, Erwin C., 1948, "Upper Devonian Compound Tetracorals from the Martin Limestone", Journal of Paleontology, Vol. 22:1, pp. 40-47

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