Tabulate Corals

Branching Shapes

Tabulate corals are colonial corals. Although colonies, are often thought of as large mound-like groups, colonies also can form delicate branching skeletons. The entire branching coral is called the corallum, while the individual tubular chambers within the corallum are called corallites. Branching coral fossils are generally small, and are covered by very small holes (calices) in which the actual coral animals (polyps) lived. Branching tabulate coral fossils have been found in Silurian and Devonian strata in Kentucky.