Aulopora on Soft Matrix

[minnbuckeye]

I am pretty sure this is Aulopora. My understanding is this coral grew on hard substrates (rocks, brachiopods, other corals, etc). Nothing in my sample shows evidence of such a material to anchor on.  Can this coral exist free standing or have I misidentified it?

 

[DPS Ammonite]

The shell substrate could have dissolved away leaving the coral. Maybe the limestone with the hash matrix was lithified when the coral encrusted it.

[JimB88]

or it was separated from its anchor and transported post mortem prior to burial. 

[minnbuckeye]

Both plausible/ likely explanations. So there is no indication this coral could grow free standing? Just a silly question which is hard to answer on line.

[Fossildude19]

@minnbuckeye

 

Maybe Aulocystis rather than Aulopora?

 

From "Field Guide to the Devonian Fossils of New York" 2014 Karl A. Wilson.

 

[minnbuckeye]

@Fossildude19, excellent info!!

[erose]

I find similar corals loose in the matrix alongside ones that are obviously encrusting  here in the Pennsylvanian of Texas. Different genus is a possibility along with some of the other suggestion. Corals can be hard to pin down. There are often similar genera in the same strata and without thin sections we are often making a SWAG at best.