digit Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 Showed the images above to a coral scientist friend of mine and her geologist husband who have many combined decades at looking at coral reefs (extant and in the fossil record). They were undecided between very worn coral colony and bryozoan colony but leaning toward bryozoan. It was nice to see the image from @Al Dente above as in my experience (mainly diving) I usually only encounter bryozoan colonies as 2D sheets of zooid chambers tiled together in a nice tessellated geometric pattern. I don't think I've ever seen such extensive bryozoan colonies with layer after layer built up into a thick sheet. I would have leaned toward exceedingly worn coral colony given what appear to be straight walls separating individual polyps and what appear to be growth bands. If you want to have a higher certainty for an ID to keep this item out of the "unknown pile" you might try shooting an image to Roger Portell at the FLMNH and see if he has an opinion. He's likely seen more Florida invert fossils than most of us. Cheers. -Ken 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plantguy Posted January 17, 2019 Share Posted January 17, 2019 As Ken just mentioned I think Roger is the guy to go who may have some additional insight. He's a pretty awesome wealth of expertise. I know very little about sponges/coral. My initial feeling was bryozoan and that is skewed as I have a number of them from the Sarasota area that have similar worn form/layering. They are not silicified. What I dont understand are the apparent stellate structures Lori noticed and circled. I dont recall seeing that anywhere before in my material but I will check a few of the examples I have.....Could that be a bryozoan feature??...I dont know enough about bryozoans to say yes/no. Most of my pile is still unidentified and may or may not be even related to your find. If I find anything that seems worthwhile I'll let you all know.... Hope there is enough there for Roger to say for sure one way or the other. I'd be interested in what he says. Cool find! Regards, Chris 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I_gotta_rock Posted January 17, 2019 Share Posted January 17, 2019 I don't know what it is, but I'm sure these folks will: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/vertpaleo/amateur-collector/fossil-id/ I know a paleontologist who used to work there who would absolutely know what it is, but he's not on the forum. 1 I refuse to give up my childish wonder at the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronzviking Posted January 17, 2019 Author Share Posted January 17, 2019 2 hours ago, I_gotta_rock said: I don't know what it is, but I'm sure these folks will: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/vertpaleo/amateur-collector/fossil-id/ I know a paleontologist who used to work there who would absolutely know what it is, but he's not on the forum. Thanks for the link! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronzviking Posted January 17, 2019 Author Share Posted January 17, 2019 19 hours ago, digit said: Showed the images above to a coral scientist friend of mine and her geologist husband who have many combined decades at looking at coral reefs (extant and in the fossil record). They were undecided between very worn coral colony and bryozoan colony but leaning toward bryozoan. It was nice to see the image from @Al Dente above as in my experience (mainly diving) I usually only encounter bryozoan colonies as 2D sheets of zooid chambers tiled together in a nice tessellated geometric pattern. I don't think I've ever seen such extensive bryozoan colonies with layer after layer built up into a thick sheet. I would have leaned toward exceedingly worn coral colony given what appear to be straight walls separating individual polyps and what appear to be growth bands. If you want to have a higher certainty for an ID to keep this item out of the "unknown pile" you might try shooting an image to Roger Portell at the FLMNH and see if he has an opinion. He's likely seen more Florida invert fossils than most of us. Cheers. -Ken Thanks Ken for taking the time getting help from your friends and posting Roger, it's much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted January 17, 2019 Share Posted January 17, 2019 Maybe there could be a possibility of silicified bryozoan covering a scleractinian coral (like Septastrea). " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plax Posted January 17, 2019 Share Posted January 17, 2019 plus one for bryozoan colony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now