Age : 380 Million Years Period : Devonian Location : Sahara Desert, Morocco Gift Box Dimensions : 85mm (3.3") Wide x 90mm (3.5") Deep x 60mm (2.4") High
Corals belong to the phylum Coelenterata. This is a group of multi-cellular animals with radial symmetry that includes not only corals, but also jellyfish and sea anemones. All of them possess stinging cells used for defense and to capture prey. Corals first appeared in the Ordovician period (500 million years ago). Two groups, the rugose and tabulate corals, dominated the Paleozoic, but disappeared at the end of the Permian (250 million years ago). The scleractinid corals arose in the Triassic and continue abundantly to the present. Corals achieve skeletal support by secreting calcium carbonate, which is responsible for their excellent fossil preservation. It also allows them to build many forms: cone shaped horn corals, hemispheric brain corals, branching bristle corals, and platy uniform corals. Corals are important ecological indicators. Most of them have photosynthesizing algae in their tissue that require sunlight. Therefore, most corals occur in water no deeper than 150 feet. Some corals are solitary, but most are colonial. In optimal warm, shallow sea environments, multiple species of coral assemblages may build huge limestone reefs that are the largest structures built by living things on Earth. The great mountainous outcrop of Capitol Reef in Utah is an ancient fossil reef and the 1200 mile long Great Barrier Reef off eastern is the ultimate living example.
All fossils and minerals come packaged in an attractive box filled with kraft or wood excelsior and includes a descriptive card. This presentation makes a great display and a cool gift!
A note about fossil and mineral specimen photographs shown on this website.
Specimens priced over $50.00 - If priced over $50.00, the photo is of the actual specimen that you will receive.
Specimens priced $50.00 or less - The photographs of fossils and minerals on this website depict "typical" specimens if priced $50.00 or less. These are not manufactured products. Accordingly, product samples will vary significantly in size, shape, and color from the "typical" specimen in the photograph. If you would like to see a photo of the actual specimen that you will receive, please email us your request and we will try to comply with the request within a couple of days.
All of the fossil specimens offered by Nature's Odyssey are from the GeoWorld Group of Italy. Nature's Odyssey is the only company in the United States to offer these products which have become very popular at the GeoWorld Nature Stores found throughout Europe. The GeoWorld Group works all over the world studying, searching for, and extracting fossils and minerals. The fossil specimens are prepared in Italy, in GeoWorld's Laboratory, by a qualified group of experts, who restore and classify rare and unique pieces as well as common small specimens. Minerals, in turn, undergo delicate cleaning operations and, if necessary, conservative treatments.
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