Striatopora bellistriata coral from the Jeffersonville limestone

These next coral specimens from the Jeffersonville limestone near Louisville, KY I did not find myself but rather I purchased them from a seller on E-bay.  Below are four small sections of what I believe are Striatopora bellistriata.

While the specimens were sent to me with only a label stating Striatopora sp., I am fairly certain these are S. bellistriata. In Stumm's book "Silurian and Devonian Corals of the Falls of the Ohio". I found only two reliable species listed on page 69 and plate 75.  The first possible species, S. cavernosa, can be ruled out due to the description requiring that the:

"Corallites ... opening almost at right angles to branches"

The specimens I have do not show that growth habit. Instead the corallites open at an angle to the branches similar to Stumm's description of S. bellistriata:

 "Corallites opening obliquely to surface, 2-3mm in diameter. Calyx walls erect or slightly spreading..."

There are three other species listed but they appear to have minor differences to S. bellistriata or are too poorly preserved to distinguish otherwise.
 

Here is a closer view of one of the coral sections.

And a couple of natural cross sections of the branches.

These specimens are from the Jeffersonville formation (Devonian, Eifelian stage) and come from near Louisville, KY 

References: Stumm, E. C. (1964). Silurian and Devonian corals of the falls of the Ohio. New York: Geological Society of America.

Emmonsia ramosa coral from the Jeffersonville limestone

Among the more common corals that I have found from the Jeffersonville formation near Louisville, KY are these Emmonsia ramosa specimens.  I used the book by Erwin Charles Stumm; "Silurian and Devonian Corals of the Falls of the Ohio". to help ID and found a possible match on pages 67-68, pl 70, fig. 1-3. Here are a number of similar looking specimens.

 

Most of the specimens I have form finger or column like growths (like the those on the far left and far right of the photo above). Those seem to best fit Stumm's description for Emmonsia ramosa.

"Corallum dendroid, growing in typical staghorn pattern with branches 1-3cm in diameter. Corallites opeing at right angles to surface of branch, polygonal, relatively thick walled, 1-2mm in diameter."

Some of the pieces that look similar have differing growth patterns and corallites sizes so I will need to look at them more closely to see if I have other species.

Here are a few closer views of one of the pieces with better preservation. You can see some of the edges of the corallites have the squamulae (vertical line like growths that helped support the animal) preserved.

These next two pictures are views of natural cross sections through the coral.

I collected these specimens from the Jeffersonville formation (Devonian, Eifelian stage) near Louisville, KY 

References: Stumm, E. C. (1964). Silurian and Devonian corals of the falls of the Ohio. New York: Geological Society of America.

Thamnopytchia vermicula coral from the Jeffersonville formation

One of the more recognizable corals that I have found from the Jeffersonville formation is Thamnopytchia.  I've found it before in the similarly aged Mahantango formation (see link below) in Pennsylvania as well as in New York.  I identify this coral by the round, finger like growth, the regularly spaced corallites, and the surface ornamentation that looks like small dots or bumps.

Since this is from the Jeffersonville limestone I chose to refer to the book by Erwin Charles Stumm; "Silurian and Devonian Corals of the Falls of the Ohio". to help ID and found a possible match on page 70, plate 75, fig. 14-16, 18-20. to Trachypora vermicula.  Past research has informed me that the genus Trachypora is no longer used and is now called Thamnopytchia. Therefore I will label these specimens as Thamnopytchia vermicula.

This is the largest piece I have found to date and it shows evidence of preservation by the Beekite form of quartz.

Same specimen rotated 120 degrees from above photo

Same specimen rotated 120 degrees from above photo

A cross section through the coral that shows the "V" shaped corallites.

 

These next two specimens preserve some of the surface ornamentation of the coral.

Compare these specimens to some that I've collected from the Mahantango formation of Pennsylvania.

I collected these specimens from the Jeffersonville formation (Devonian, Eifelian stage) near Louisville, KY 

References: Stumm, E. C. (1964). Silurian and Devonian corals of the falls of the Ohio. New York: Geological Society of America.

Hadrophyllum orbignyi coral from the Speed Limestone

 There is a small "button" coral that can be found in the Devonian rocks near Louisville, KY.  It's called Hadrophyllum orbignyi and is most commonly found in the Speed Limestone formation. I've received a number of specimens from my friend Mike P. that he has collected, but I have not found any myself.  

Below are two specimens that are preserved by quartz. The preservation process is not terribly good but the basic features of the coral are preserved. You can recognize the septa and fossula (the wider gap at 12 o'clock in the first specimen). Fossula is from the latin word for ditch or trench which is a good description of the feature in rugose corals.

I call these types of fossil coral "buttons" because they are small, round and have a flat profile.  Compare these to the species Microcyclus thedfordensis that is found in the Arkona formation of Canada.

 Specimen #1 dorsal surface

Ventral surface

Profile

Specimen #2 dorsal surface

Profile

Ventral surface

 

These specimens were found in Clark County, Indiana near Louisville, KY. They come from the Speed Limestone which is middle Devonian in age (Givetian stage). Thanks to Mike P. for the specimens!

Schlotheimophyllum sp. coral from the Lousiville Limestone

I had some help with the ID of these next two specimens. They are both the coral Schlotheimophyllum sp.  from the Louisville limestone near Louisville, Kentucky.  The first specimen came to me from Mike P. who runs the excellent "Louisville Fossils and Beyond" blog.

Specimen #1 - top view of calice

Angled view of the calice

Side views of the corallum with each subsequent picture showing the side rotated 90 degrees from the prior picture.

Bottom of the corallum

The second specimen shown below I found myself in the field near Louisville, KY.  I wanted to make sure it was the same genera as the above specimen from Mike P. so I referred to the book by Erwin Charles Stumm; "Silurian and Devonian Corals of the Falls of the Ohio". to help ID and found a possible match on page 25, plate 25, fig. 1-8. Stumm has several species listed but they all have a somewhat flat to funnel shaped calice with thick septa. The specimen below appears similar to that description and to the specimen above, so I am comfortable labeling it as Schlotheimophyllum sp. as well.

Specimen #2 - view of the top of the calice

Angled view of the calcie (I don't know what the foreign attachment is as there is little detail preserved. Perhaps a brachiopod or another coral established itself prior to buiral?)

Side views of the corallum with each subsequent picture showing the side rotated 90 degrees from the prior picture.

A view of the bottom of the corallum

These specimens come from the Lousiville Limestone near Louisville, KY and are dated to the Silurian period (Homerian to Gorstian stage).

References: Stumm, E. C. (1964). Silurian and Devonian corals of the falls of the Ohio. New York: Geological Society of America.

Tryplasma prava from the Lousiville Limestone

This next coral comes from the Lousiville Limestone near Louisville, KY. It was found at a site of mixed eroded material from both the aforementioned formation and the Jeffersonville Limestone. It's a small coral with a distinct looking calice that is flat near the edge but very straight and deep.

I used the book by Erwin Charles Stumm; "Silurian and Devonian Corals of the Falls of the Ohio". to help ID and found a possible match with Tryplasma prava on page 51, plate 6, fig. 1, 3, 7-8.  In his description Stumm says "Exterior typically very closely annulated with superposed former (calice) margins 0.5-3mm apart." and "(Calice) walls steeply sloping to vertical with shallowly inwardly sloping margin in some specimens."

Those descriptions match this specimen very well as it does have what appear to be multiple calice growths (perhaps a sign of rejuvenation or just the growth habit of the coral) as well as having steep walls in the calice itself.

This and the next two pictures are the sides of the specimen as seen rotated 120 degrees from the prior picture.

A view of the calice at an angle to show the steep walls.

Top view of the calice showing how the walls are straight to slightly sloping inward.

I believe this specimen comes from the Lousiville Limestone near Louisville, KY and is dated to the Silurian period (Homerian to Gorstian stage).

References: Stumm, E. C. (1964). Silurian and Devonian corals of the falls of the Ohio. New York: Geological Society of America.

Strombodes shumari coral from the Louisville Limestone

Below are two specimens that look similar but have some differences which could mean they are not the same species. I am working from partial pieces of larger corals so the best I have been able to ID these specimens is that they are Strombodes shumari from the Louisville Limestone.  I found them at a site near Louisville, KY a number of years ago and only got around to identifying them now.  I used the book by Erwin Charles Stumm; "Silurian and Devonian Corals of the Falls of the Ohio". to help ID and found a possible match on page 47, plate 22, fig. 1-8.

The preservation of the specimens is incomplete and so I can't find all the diagnostic details to truly confirm the ID. What makes me think I may be correct that these are Strombodes shumari is the pattern of rejuvenation of the calice. This is seen in the specimens as a reduction of the calice diameter via continuous growth over a short horizontal and vertical distance, only to renew vertical growth. The repeated growth pattern is the key to identify this species.

Specimen #1 - This and the next three pictures are the sides of the specimen as seen rotated 90 degrees from the prior picture.

Specimen #1 - A closer view of the calice where the rejuvenation surface is shown.

Specimen #2 - This and the next photo are of the side of the specimen and then turned 90 degrees. Note that this specimen only has one cycle of regrowth and has evidence of a more significant calcie size difference than the prior specimen. Perhaps this is a different genus or species, or perhaps similar evidence was not preserved as well in the prior specimen?

Specimen #2 - A closer view of the calice where the rejuvenation surface is shown.

A view of the partially preserved cross section of the calice.

I believe these specimens come from the Lousiville Limestone near Louisville, KY and are dated to the Silurian period (Homerian to Gorstian stage).

References: Stumm, E. C. (1964). Silurian and Devonian corals of the falls of the Ohio. New York: Geological Society of America.