Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T00:39:37.374Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

New unusual skeletal structure in an upper Carboniferous rugose coral, Klamath Mountains, northern California

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2016

Calvin H. Stevens
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, San Jose State University, San Jose, California 95192, USA,
Jerzy Fedorowski
Affiliation:
Institute of Geology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Makow Polnych 16, PL-61-606, Poznan, Poland,
Toshio Kawamura
Affiliation:
Miyagi University of Education, Aramaki 149, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-0845, Japan,

Abstract

Unique among the Rugosa are specialized cyst-like structures in corals from an upper Carboniferous limestone within the Baird Formation in the Klamath Mountains, northern California. These structures, here referred to as septal cysts, occur mostly along the distal margins of the dark line extending along the axes of the major septa as seen in transverse section. However, they also commonly extend beyond the distal extent of those lines and may interrupt the fibrous coating in the more proximal parts of some septa. Their function is uncertain. Also present are small dissepiments which form a ring around the distal margins of the minor septa. These structures, however, do not appear to be related to the development of those septa. Some other taxa, including corals from the Bashkirian of Spain and the Kasimovian of Kansas, possess some specialized structures similar to those in the California specimens suggesting at least a remote relationship.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Cocke, J. M. 1970. Dissepimental rugose corals of Upper Pennsylvanian (Missourian) rocks of Kansas. University of Kansas Paleontological Contributions, Article 54 (Coelenterata 4), 67 p.Google Scholar
Fedorowski, J. 1997. Remarks on the palaeobiology of Rugosa. Geologos, 2:558.Google Scholar
Fedorowski, J. 2003. Some remarks on diagenesis of rugose coral skeletons. Geologos, 6:89109.Google Scholar
Fomichev, V. D. 1953. Rugose corals and stratigraphy of the middle and upper Carboniferous and Permian deposits of the Donets Basin. Trudy Vsesoyuznyi Nauchno-Issledovatel'skyi Geologicheskyi Institut (VSEGEI), Gosudarstvennoe Isdatel'stvo Geologicheskoi Literatury, Moscow, 622 p. (In Russian)Google Scholar
Miller, S. A. and Gurley, W. F. E. 1893. Descriptions of some new species of invertebrates from the Paleozoic rocks of Illinois and adjacent states. Illinois State Museum of Natural History Bulletin 3, 81 p.Google Scholar
Milne-Edwards, H. and Haime, J. 1850. A monograph of the British fossil corals. Palaeontographical Society, London, 171.Google Scholar
Rodriguez, S. 1984. Corales rugosos del Carbonífero del este de Asturias. Departamento de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 528 p.Google Scholar
Schlichter, D. 1992. A perforated gastro-vascular cavity in the symbiotic deep-water coral Leptoseris fragilis: A new strategy to optimize heterotrophic nutrition. Helgolander Meeresunters, 45:423443.Google Scholar
Schouppé, A. and Stacul, P. 1955. Verbekiella Penecke, Timorphyllum Gerth, Wannerophyllum n. gen., and Lophophyllidium Grabau aus dem Perm von Timor. Palaeontographica, Abteilung A, 4:95196.Google Scholar
Thompson, M. L. 1944. Pennsylvanian Morrowan rocks and fusulinids of Kansas. University of Kansas Publications, State Geological Survey of Kansas, Bulletin, 52:409431.Google Scholar
TrautscholdH. A, von. H. A, von. 1879. Die Kalkbruche von Mjatschkova: Eine Monographie des oberen Bergkalks. Nouveaux Mémoires de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou, Mémoire, 14:182.Google Scholar
Wang, H. C. 1950. A revision of the Zoantharia Rugosa in the light of their minute skeletal structures. Royal Society of London, Philosophical Transactions B, 234:175264.Google Scholar
Watkins, R. 1973. Carboniferous faunal associations and stratigraphy, Shasta County, northern California. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 57:17431764.Google Scholar
Wells, J. W. 1969. The formation of dissepiments in zoantharian corals, 1725. InCampbell, K. S. W.(ed.), Stratigraphy and Palaeontology: Essays in honour of Dorothy Hill. Australian National University Press, Canberra.Google Scholar