the fossils
tabulate coral
Syringopora · one polyp per tube
The tell
Loose parallel tubes standing side by side, each one hollow, joined here and there by tiny cross-tubes. It does not fork into a tangle: that is cladopora. Crinoid stems are solid stacks of discs; these are open pipes.
Cladopora, Syringopora, Favosites and Halysites are all tabulate corals. This one is Syringopora, the one that grows as separate pipes. "Organ pipe coral" is the nickname, and when you see one in cross-section you will understand why.
What it gets mistaken for
- crinoid
- bryozoan
- chain coral
- roots
- twigs
The facts
- also called(pipe organ coral) · one polyp per tube
- age~430 to 385 million yrs
- where it turns upHuron & the Straits · statewide float
- the field markloose parallel tubes with gaps between them
10% of every order goes to northern Michigan animal shelters.