How big can a Cyclolites be?

[Quer]

Hi everyone,

 

 

Some weeks ago I found this piece in Maastrichtian strata (limestone) in southern eastern Pyrenees. Quite obviously, it is a Cyclolites/Cunnolites (C.Elliptica?), although its size surprised me:

Larger diameter D=155 mm. d= 133 mm. Height H=65 mm Weight W=1.620 gr.

Has somebody any references of bigger specimens?

 

 

 

After a light prep with potassium hydroxide, the flat side appeared to be littered with small fossil pieces:

Bristle worms?

 

Bryozoans?

 

Etc.

 

 

Thanks

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

A whole ecosystem on a coral! 

That's a great find.

There are lots of similar corals and they're difficult to identify precisely without a thin section.

Fungia, for example, can attain a width of 30 cm. (according to Wiki). 

[Quer]

Thank you very much, Tidgy's Dad.

Alas, I don’t have the necessary gear to section fossils, so I fear my Cyclolites (as most of my Hippurites) will remain unidentified.

In fact, I looked for the growing rings before noticing its tiny inhabitants.

[HansTheLoser]

Cyclolites can get very large, even reaching 20cm. Taxonomy is difficult. I guess there are only a few species.