Description
Favosites coral from the Silurian Period
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Harder and Harder to obtain fossils from this private quarry in Middleport, New York
Favosites coral from the Silurian are quite rare. They were as yet uncommon in the ancient Silurian Seas. Corals are conical-shaped marine invertebrates that held the creature called a polyp. They are found in Silurian through Middle and Upper Paleozoic marine outcrops around the world and corals still exist in the oceans today though they have changed.
Favosites Coral. These corals from the Silurian are quite rare, but they still can be found. They were as yet uncommon in the ancient Silurian Seas. Corals are cone shaped marine animals that held the creature called a polyp. They are found in Silurian through Middle and Upper Paleozoic marine rocks around the world and corals still exist in the oceans today though they have changed. Coral reefs grew and became places for other animals to hide.
The Rochester Shale Formation is famous for the fossils found there. Because of the fine grained shale the preservation is great. It was formed during the Silurian Period when that part of New York State was a shallow salt water tropical sea and teeming with life. Because it was near the equator and prone to storms fossil formation was easy.
Sometimes animals could escape but not the ones attached to bryozoan colonies or rocks on the sea floor. Corals and other creatures could not escape. The storm picked up sand and mud which then washed into the shallow seas and lagoons covering the animal. Favosites corals became trapped in the mud. The animals died and begin to turn into fossils. Because of the fine mud that covered them they have great detail.
Favosites parasiticus are commonly found attached to the stems of crinoids and cystoids.
