Corals Gallery

Corals are simple animals that secrete skeletons made of calcium carbonate. In Kansas, they are fairly common in Pennsylvanian and Permian rocks, deposited from about 323 to 252 million years ago.
Thamnoporella

Thamnoporella

The Pennsylvanian tabulate coral Thamnoporella illustrates the branching structure of some colonies. These corals were collected from the Bethany Falls Limestone Member, Swope Limestone, in Labette County.

Cladochonus

Cladochonus

This sample of the colonial coral Cladochonus is from the Beil Limestone Member, Lecompton Limestone, Greenwood County. This limestone was deposited during the Pennsylvanian Subperiod, about 300 million years ago.

Caninia torquia

Caninia Torquia

These Pennsylvanian rugose corals belong to the genus Caninia torquia, from the Beil Limestone Member, Lecompton Limestone, Douglas County.

Syringopora

Syringopora

Syringopora, another tabulate coral, illustrates the moundlike structure. This sample is from the Spring Branch Limestone Member, Lecompton Limestone, Woodson County.