Calapoecia huronensis

Classification
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Subclass: Tabulata
Family: Sryingophyllidae
Genus: Calapoecia
Species: Calapoecia huronensis (Billings, 1865)

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Taxonomic History

  • 1865 Calapoecia huronensis Billings, Canadian Nat. Geol., n.s., 2, p. 426.
  • 1874 Columnopora cribiformis Nicholson, Geol. Mag., Dec. 2, 1, p. 253, figs. 1a-c.
  • 1876 Houghtonia huronica Rominger, Geol. Surv. Michigan, 3, pt. 2, p. 18, pl. 3, figs. 3, 4.

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Stratigraphic Occurrences

C.huronensis_stratt

Geographic Occurrences

Map point data provided by iDigBio.
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Sequences (Formations)

  • C6 Sequence (Elkhorn)
  • C5 Sequence (Lower Whitewater, Liberty, Waynesville)

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Identification in Hand Sample

  • Round corallites
  • Corallites average between 3-3.5 mm wide
  • Septal spine widely spaced
  • Colonies massive (upwards of 21 cm)

Calapoecia huronensis from Liberty formation of Louisville-Jefferson County, Kentucky (MUGM 19576)

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Holland (UGA Strat Lab, 2013):

  • Round corallites 3-3.5 mm, widely spaced septal spine, with tabulae.

Tapanila (2008):

  • Some bioclaustrations are so pervasive in the host species that their presence is commonly part of the species description, for example, Chaetosalpinx in Calapoecia huronenesis (Browne, 1965; Jull, 1976) and Hicetes in Pleurodictyum americanum (Clarke, 1908). Systematic revision of these two host corals may identify novel morphologies that have arisen and persisted within the coral lineage as a result of their association with symbionts.

Tapanila (2004):

  • The Wekwemikong biostrome at Clay Cliffs is the type locality for Calapoecia huronensis Billings 1865, and the Little Current samples belong to this species. Since these corals have little to no intercorallite spaces, and since their septa are dominantly vertical, they are referred to as Columnopora huronensis.

Davis (1998) :

  • Coral. Differs from the superficially similar Favistina (following figure) in having the walls of each corallite perforated by rows of rather large pores that are lined up in each space between two septa. Entire Richmondian, especially in upper part.

Simmons & Oliver, Jr. (1967):

  • Colonies are massive and as large as 21 cm in maximum diameter; corallite diameters average 3-4 mm. Weathered surfaces show the porous wall so that specimens can commonly be generically identified in the field. In hand specimen, S.floweri can be confused with Calapoecia huronensis, but the latter has a porous wall.

Foerste (1924):

  • Corallum nearly globular, many 10 cm. and some 20 cm. in diameter, corallites presenting circular outlines, usually 2 to 3 mm. in diameter, separated by spaces of varying width, mostly permitting tangential contact between the circular walls, but in some places widening to spaces equaling half the diameter of the corallites. Around the margin of the calyces the surface of the corallum as a rule somewhat crenulated or denticulated; angular spaces between the circular corallites filled by a sort of coenenchym; interior of the corallites lined by about twenty narrow, vertical septal ridges; transverse tabulae present in some specimens, but absent in most, undoubtedly owing to lack of preservation; walls of corallites penetrated by numerous pores tending to be arranged, approximately, in vertical and horizontal rows, forming a sort of lattice-work, spaces between the corallites occupied by irregular horizontal diaphragms.
  • Calapoecia huronenesis was described by Billings from the Richmond exposures at Clay cliffs. There, and elsewhere on the island it is fairly abundant and possesses the characters noted above.
  • Columnopora cribriformis described by Nicholson was obtained from near the bridge crossing Credit river at the western end of Streetsville. This type was lost in the fire that destroyed the Toronto University museum. In the upper Waynesville of Ohio, occasional specimens occur and range as far up as the Whitewater and Saluda. From some unknown locality in this state U.P. James found a single small specimen referred to by Nicholson to this species and numbered 216 in the James collection at the University of Chicago.
  • Houghtonia huronica was described by Rominger from the Richmond on the north shore of Drummond island.
  • Calapoecia huronensis, Columnopora cribriformis, and Houghtonia huronica are definitely known from the numerous specimens from the type localities.
  • Calapoecia huronensis is widely distributed in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, occurring as far south as Marion County. It is very common in the coral zones along the western side of the Cincinnati geanticline, in Indiana and Kentucky, especially in the lower Saluda and lower Liberty members.
  • Locality and Horizon: Found on Manitoulin Island, wherever the Meaford and the immediately overlying strata are exposed; north of Meaford; at Streetsville; and on Snake island. On Drummond island, Calapoecia occurs in strata equivalent to the Whitewater member of the Richmond. It occurs at similar horizons east of Escanaba, Michigan.

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