Description
Location: Speed Quarry, Clark County, Indiana
Weight: 0.8 Ounces
Dimensions: 2.6 Inches Long, 1.5 Inches Wide, 1.3 Inches Thick
Middle Devonian Age 380 Million Years Old
The item pictured is the one you will receive.
Rugose Horn Coral Fossil (Aulacophyllum Perlamellosum Hall)
Dare to own a relic from one of nature's boldest experiments in reef formation. During the Devonian period—410 million years ago—corals entered the oceans with remarkable force, creating Earth's first large reef systems. These pioneering underwater organisms included stromatoporoids that built reef bases, tabulate corals with branching, sculptural growth, rugose corals with horn-like shapes, and brightly colored coralline algae ancestors that painted ancient seabeds. As the period progressed, scleractinian corals appeared—today's main reef builders. However, ambition brought disaster. Around 350 million years ago, corals disappeared during a major extinction event, likely driven by extreme sea-level changes and a sudden drop in atmospheric carbon dioxide. Hold this remarkable fossil and reflect on the wild story of life's boldest efforts and greatest losses.
