Hexagonaria Fossil Coral Collection
Corals re-appeared during the Devonian period, around 410 million years ago and, for the first time, began to form extensive reef systems. These early coral reefs were predominantly composed of coral- like stromatoporoids (reef-forming sponges), tabulate corals (mounds, branches, and organ shapes), rugose corals (horn-shaped), and predecessors of the modern-day coralline algae (encrusting multi-colored algae seen on rock surfaces). It was towards the end of this period that scleractinian or ‘stony’ corals first appeared that populate coral reefs today.