Tabulate corals

Chain and organ-pipe shapes

Tabulate corals are colonial corals. Some tabulate corals grew as mounds, with shared corallites spreading upward and outward into spherical mounds. Another type grew in mound-like groups, that had the appearance of chains or sometimes organ pipes. The entire chain-like or organ-like coral skeleton is called the corallum, while the individual tubular chambers within the corallum are called corallites. These types of tabulate corals are particularly common in Silurian and Devonian strata in Kentucky.

Halysites is the most common type of chain-form, colonial tabulate coral. This type of coral is common in Silurian limestones. The dime in the corner of this photograph is for scale.

Quepora is another type of chain-form, colonial tabulate coral. This specimen is 5 cm wide and was donated to the Kentucky Geological Survey by R. Todd Hendricks.