Hapsiphyllum cassedayi (Milne-Edwards & Haime)
Coral

Mississippian
Meramecian Series
Salem Formation
St. Louis County, Missouri

 

Hapsiphyllum cassedayi (Milne-Edwards & Haime)

Length: 6 cm - Orifice: 4.5 cm

This specimen, the Palaeacis cuneiformis , and the Deltodus tooth were
found less that 24 inches from each other. These specimens were found in
what I refer to as a rare "soft pocket" in the Salem formation. It was never
compressed. It was like finding a very small Salem shale pocket. I am sure
it wasn't shale. However, I use that term to give the reader a mental image
of the appearance.

Thanks to Alan Goldstein for the indentification

      Hapsiphyllum cassedayi (Milne-Edwards & Haime) is your coral.
The septal structure matches the illustration in Cumings & Beede's work
on the Salem Limestone published by the Indiana Dept. of Natural
Resources in 1906. I don't collect in the Salem without it!
      I haven't seen a Hapsiphyllum cassedayi anywhere close to this big
before. Very impressive! In our area, they are 1 - 2cm in diameter and
about 2 - 4 cm in length.
Alan Goldstein

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Salem Formation

Mississippian Fossils of Missouri