Tabulipora maculosa Nikiforova, 1938

Click on pictures to magnify

1

2

3  4

5

 6 7

 8  9

10

Discussion:

A nice collection of branches of the bryozoan Tabulipora maculosa,
a species that grows many growth forms but is characterized by large
diameter branches and a thick colony formed of long curved tubes.

Viewer Comments:

This species is similar to the common North Amerian species
Tabulipora carbonaria (Worthen, 1875) that is extensively documented
by Cuffy (1967). However, the cross sections shown in photo 3 and 4
show the central area of the branch to have tubes with 4 sides that are
arranged in a grid-like pattern characteristic of the genus Rhombotrypella,
a bryozoan genus that is common in the Permian. Rhombotrypella evolved
from Tabulipora, so this species of Tabulipora includes colonies that are
transitional to the descendant genus.

Tom Yancey

References:
Cuffy, R.J., 1967, Bryozoan Tabulipora carbonaria in Wreford
Megacyclothem (Lower Permian) of Kansas; University of Kansas
Paleontological Contributions, Bryozoa, Article 1, 96 p. 9 pls.

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