3.2" Thamnopora SP Coral Fossil Coral Reef Devonian Age Verde Valley, Arizona
Location: Martin Formation, Verde Valley, Arizona
Weight: 2.7 Ounces
Dimensions: 3.2 Inches Long, 2 Inches Wide, 1.6 Inches Thick
Devonian Age 380 Million Years Old
The item pictured is the one you will receive.
Thamnopora SP Fossil Coral
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. Then, 350 million years ago corals again disappeared from the geological record. The reason for this is not clear but evidence points towards rapid fluctuations in sea levels and a rapid reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide