Thamnopora sp. Steininger, 1831 - Devonian tabulate branching fossil coral from the Jerome member of the Martin Formation, Verde Valley, Arizona

Thamnopora is a genus of tabulate corals that appeared during the Devonian. This coral type forms mounds and branching structures in Devonian coral reefs. Tabulate corals are colonial, with a sea-anemone-like coral polyp living in each of the tiny holes in the branching structure. Because the branching structure is somewhat fragile, tabulate corals often appear as broken fragments in the limestone matrix. The preservation of these corals is extraordinary. The structures are silicified, and these have been dissolved from the limestone with dilute muriatic acid.

Corals have disappeared and reappeared in the geological record, with Thamopora being replaced by the scleractinian stony corals toward the end of the Devonian 252 million years ago, as the result of a mass extinction event known as the Great Dying that killed 96% of all marine species and 70% of terrestrial species.

Fluctuations in coral populations have been related to rapid changes in sea level and a rapid reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide.

The genus Thamnopora was described by Steininger in 1831, but the species of this particular specimen is undetermined and is indicated by the "sp" following the generic name.

The last photo shows the colonial nature of these corals in detail.

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