Favosites

Favosites
Temporal range: Ordovician - Permian
Favosites sp. from the Upper Ordovician of southern Indiana.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Order: Tabulata
Family: Favositidae
Genus: Favosites
Lamarck 1816

Favosites is an extinct genus of tabulate coral characterized by polygonal closely packed corallites (giving it the common name "honeycomb coral").[1] The walls between corallites are pierced by pores known as mural pores which allowed transfer of nutrients between polyps.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Boardman, R.S. (1987). Fossil Invertebrates. Blackwell. p. 714.
  2. ↑ Feldman, R.M.; Hackathorn (1996). Fossils of Ohio. Ohio Division of Geological Survey Bulletin 70. p. 577.
Sagittal cross-section of Favosites showing communication pores between the corallites. Upper Ordovician of southern Indiana.
Stereo image
Right frame 
More polished Favosites fossil.