Description
Fossilised Rugose Coral ‘actinocyathus’ 9cm across
This is a superb polished example of the Rugose Coral actinocyathus. This fossilised coral dates back to the carboniferous period, and is between 320 and 340 million years old. It measures 9cm across and is an incredibly tactile shape showing the individual corals. It has come from the area close to Assa Zag in the Western Sahara region of Morocco. By polishing the top side the detail and exquisite colour become apparent it also and makes this fossil very tactile This Fossil would make an excellent addition to any fossil collection, or alternatively a unique paperweight.
Corals are simple marine creatures, and are related to sea anemones. They consist of a mouth and a ring of numerous tentacles that surrounds it. The large colonies they create can continuously increase in size and in time become immense. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia for example stretches for 2300 kilometres and covers over 300,000 square kilometres. The oldest corals lived well over 5oo million years ago during the Cambrian Period. The actual body of a living coral is very delicate. The polyp however removes calcium carbonate from the saline water to form the calcareous skeleton to live in.
Back To Fossils. Back To Other Fossils
