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13 Gymnophyllum wardi Peculiar 08 Enlarged attachment area
Gramps posted a gallery image in Member Collections
From the album: Pennsylvanian Fossils of Northeast Oklahoma
This young, possibly ephebic, corallite had a very deep attachment area on bottom. This rapid upward growth may have occurred in response to—you guessed it: Sinking in the mud.- 1 comment
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From the album: Pennsylvanian Fossils of Northeast Oklahoma
The next few images will show some of the many growth forms of Gymnophyllum wardi, a solitary rugose button coral. G. wardi is the only known species of the genus. It is locally common in the Middle Pennsylvanian (Westphalian) Wewoka Formation in Okmulgee County Oklahoma. Fossils of the species also occur in the lower part of the Labette Shale in Rogers County Oklahoma. The tiny corallite in this image displays many characteristics of the early, neanic, stage of growth, including crooked septa and a deep central pit.-
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From the album: Pennsylvanian Fossils of Northeast Oklahoma
This tiny Gymnophyllum wardi corallite shows neanic characteristics, including long septa that extend from the center of the calyx to the periphery. Also, at the center of the bottom side, you can see the small area where the corallite attached to the mud in shallow, calm seas where these corals are believed to have lived.-
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From the album: Pennsylvanian Fossils of Northeast Oklahoma
This Gymnophyllum wardi corallite exhibits characteristics associated with the ephebic (maturing, or nearly mature) stage of growth. For instance, note the beginnings of a central dome on top.-
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From the album: Pennsylvanian Fossils of Northeast Oklahoma
The Gymnophyllum wardi corallite in this photo shows various ephebic characteristics, such as the insertion of minor septa between the central dome and the periphery.-
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From the album: Pennsylvanian Fossils of Northeast Oklahoma
This likely ephebic corallite of Gymnophyllum wardi displays the notched septal ends that are often seen in this species.-
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06 Gymnophyllum wardi Mature Specimen 01 Domed top, Fused Septa.jpg
Gramps posted a gallery image in Member Collections
From the album: Pennsylvanian Fossils of Northeast Oklahoma
This specimen of Gymnophyllum wardi appears to be mature, having a broad, smooth central dome on top and fused septa that are visible mainly near the periphery. This species grew by spreading horizontally, a process that often left conspicuous growth lines on the bottom surface of the corallite.-
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07 Gymnophyllum wardi Mature Specimen 02 Domed top, Fused septa, Predation Damage.jpg
Gramps posted a gallery image in Member Collections
From the album: Pennsylvanian Fossils of Northeast Oklahoma
This mature Gymnophyllum wardi corallite looks like a pie crust due to the prominent central dome, fused septal ends, and the three apparent wounds on top. Fusing of the septa served to increase the surface area of the base. This may have kept corallites from sinking in soft mud.-
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08 Gymnophyllum wardi Mature Specimen 03 Flat top, Unfused Septa
Gramps posted a gallery image in Member Collections
From the album: Pennsylvanian Fossils of Northeast Oklahoma
Some mature specimens of Gymnophyllum wardi had low, flat tops. Again, note the fusing of some (but not all) of the septa near the periphery. Also see the prominent growth lines on the bottom surface.-
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09 Gymnophyllum wardi Mature Specimen 04 Flat top, Fused Septae, detailed growth lines
Gramps posted a gallery image in Member Collections
From the album: Pennsylvanian Fossils of Northeast Oklahoma
The growth lines on the bottom surface of this mature specimen give the appearance of several corallites stacked one upon the other. This pattern is often seen in Gymnophyllum wardi and may indicate sequences of regenerative events.-
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10 Gymnophyllum wardi Mature Specimen 05 Flat top, Fused Septae, Thick growth lines
Gramps posted a gallery image in Member Collections
From the album: Pennsylvanian Fossils of Northeast Oklahoma
This mature specimen of Gymnophyllum wardi has very thick growth lines on the bottom surface.-
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11 Gymnophyllum wardi Mature Specimen 06 Domed top, Fused septa, Swollen septal ends
Gramps posted a gallery image in Member Collections
From the album: Pennsylvanian Fossils of Northeast Oklahoma
Gymnophyllum wardi corallites often display swelling at the ends of the septa, a characteristic that may have helped prevent sinking in soft mud.-
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12 Gymnophyllum wardi Mature Specimen 07 Domed top, fused septa, walling off at periphery
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From the album: Pennsylvanian Fossils of Northeast Oklahoma
Some corallites of Gymnophyllum wardi exhibit partial walls at the periphery of the calyx. Again, this may have been an adaptation to limit sinking in mud.-
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14 Gymnophyllum wardi Peculiar Specimen 04 evidence of regeneration
Gramps posted a gallery image in Member Collections
From the album: Pennsylvanian Fossils of Northeast Oklahoma
This specimen of Gymnophyllum wardi shows evidence of regeneration (the appearance of one corallite growing atop another). The angle of regeneration suggests the young corallite may have become tilted before sprouting a new top in a more upright orientation. Although Gymnophyllum wardi has been extinct for millions of years, we can imagine their appearance in life based on pictures we can see by googling the term “button coral”. If you would like to learn more about Gymnophyllum wardi, I recommend two excellent sources that can be downloaded as pdf files from Google Scholar, as follows: Jeffords, R. M. (1955). Septal arrangement and ontogeny in some porpitid corals. University of Kanas Paleontological Contributions: Coelenterata, 2, 1-16. Sunderland, P. K., & Haugh, B. N. (1969). The discoid rugose coral Gymnophyllum: Growth form and morphology. In K. S. W. Campbell (Ed.), Stratigraphy and palaeontology: Essays in honour of Dorothy Hill (pp. 27-42). Canberra: ANU Press.-
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