Tabulata
Subclass

Tabulata Milne-Edwards et Haime, 1850

Tabulate corals

https://files.geocollections.info/large/84/ca/84cad558-20da-469e-85ab-52dae9a534fc.jpghttps://files.geocollections.info/large/76/4a/764ab355-ed0f-46a8-84a9-fe80f26e01c6.jpghttps://files.geocollections.info/large/db/cb/dbcb509a-4eea-499f-a503-f9a31c2cf79b.jpghttps://files.geocollections.info/large/26/36/26368b8f-fee7-4730-8814-1c4fb58b37c9.jpghttps://files.geocollections.info/large/1e/0f/1e0f60c5-2a54-44f9-99fb-05ac6f53f5c9.jpghttps://files.geocollections.info/large/8b/7f/8b7f2e0f-4cac-4740-86d6-f4b136d7a910.jpghttps://files.geocollections.info/large/4b/5e/4b5ecf5e-9d51-450b-b9b8-eb3b1c5ec7d0.jpghttps://files.geocollections.info/large/54/66/54665b1b-dc13-4e54-af11-d432e3ba5439.jpghttps://files.geocollections.info/large/9b/fd/9bfd1241-9726-400d-9a68-28693a0fec07.jpghttps://files.geocollections.info/large/7b/d2/7bd25063-2067-43fb-a47d-f4913f174fe0.jpg
Taxon overview

Introduction

Tabulates, subclass or order Tabulata, are extinct corals of anthozoans. Tabulates, unlike rugosans, were always colonial organisms. They have simple calcareous skeleton, colonies consisting of prismatic or tube-like corallites communicating by mural pores or pore channels or tunnels. Polyps lived inside corallites as chambers with base-like tabulae below and septal spines or laminar septa on sides protruding from the corallite wall. Tabulate corals are taxonomically complicated because of their simplicity.  Favositids are characterized by closely packed corallites with mural-pores and their morphology is so variable that it differs even within a colony. Heliolitids are more complicated because of their coenenchymal tissue between corallites, which consists of tiny tubes - tubuli or wavy dissepiments. Halysitids are similar with having often coenenchyme, but their corallites are enclosed into ranks of various shape and size. Syringoporids form fasciculate colonies consisting of tubes having little space around and being connected by pore tunnels. Auloporids are reptant forms encrusting other organisms, as a small horny network.      

Occurrence

Tabulate corals occurred in the Ordovician Period of America and Siberia, much earlier than in Baltoscandia. The first appearances of tabulates Lyopora, Eoflecheria, Saffordophyllum and Protaraea in Baltica are known from the level of the Oandu Stage. Estonia is rich in Ordovician and Silurian tabulates, which are easy to find in localities of Hiiumaa, Vormsi and Saaremaa. Quarries in mainland are nice places to observe tabulates in their living position.

Investigation methods

Tabulates are large, but their finer taxonomy is observed only from peels and thin-sections. Normally pair of thin-sections is made from transverse and vertical directions of colony growth. Peel is an acetate replica from the polished and etched surface of the colony cut. Thin-sections are thin pieces of colonies, clued to glass and grinded down until 50 microns. Their scanned and photographed images are investigated later by using different software.

Role in geology

Tabulates are sessile organisms which preferred only shallow seas and are not mush useful in stratigraphy. They were spread on ancient oceans sporadically or formed bioherms or biostromes. Together with strtomatoporoids, rugosans and other fossils in the same community, they are informative in palaeoecology.  Sedimentological processes are readable also from the shape and growth details of such organisms.

Selection of related publications
Vinn, O., Wilson, M. A., Holmer, L. E., Ernst, A., Tinn, O., Toom, U. 2022. Diverse endobiotic symbiont fauna from the late Katian (Late Ordovician) of Estonia. Palaeontologia Electronica 25, 3, 1-13. DOI:10.26879/1232
Zapalski, M. K., Vinn, O., Toom, U., Ernst, A., Wilson, M. A. 2022. Bryozoan–cnidarian mutualism triggered a new strategy for greater resource exploitation as early as the Late Silurian. Scientific Reports 12, number: 15556. DOI:10.1038/s41598-022-19955-2
Jeon, J., Vinn, O., Liang, K., Zapalski, M. K., Toom, U., Kershaw, S. 2022. Stromatoporoid-coral/tubeworm intergrowths in the lowermost Silurian Varbola Formation of Estonia: first evidence of competitive interaction. Lethaia 55, 2, 1-13. DOI:10.18261/let.55.2.4
Liang, K., Elias, R. J., Lee, D. 2019. Morphometrics, growth characteristics, and phylogenetic implications of Halysites catenularius (Tabulata, Silurian, Estonia). Journal of Paleontology 93, 2, 215-231. DOI:10.1017/jpa.2018.73
Vinn, O., Liang, K., Toom, U. 2017. Endobiotic rugose coral symbionts in Silurian tabulate corals from Estonia (Baltica). Palaios 32, 3, 158-165. DOI:10.2110/palo.2016.084
Kershaw, S., Mõtus, M.-A. 2016. Palaeoecology of Corals and Stromatoporoids in an Upper Silurian Biostrome in Estonia. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 61, 1, 33-50. DOI:10.4202/app.00094.2014
Liang, K., Lee, D.-J., Elias, R. J., Pärnaste, H., Mõtus, M.-A. 2013. Growth characteristics of Protoheliolites norvegicus (Tabulata; Upper Ordovician; Estonia). Palaeontology 56, 4, 867-891. DOI:10.1111/pala.12022
Mõtus, M., Zaika, Y. 2012. The oldest heliolitids from the early Katian of the East Baltic region. GFF 134, 3, 225-234. DOI:10.1080/11035897.2012.721805
Vinn, O., Mõtus, M. 2012. New endobiotic cornulitid and Cornulites sp. aff. Cornulites celatus (Cornulitida, Tentaculita) from the Katian of Vormsi Island, Estonia. GFF 134, 1, 3-6. DOI:10.1080/11035897.2011.647067
Vinn, O., Wilson, M. A. 2012. Encrustation and bioerosion on late Sheinwoodian (Wenlock, Silurian) stromatoporoids from Saaremaa, Estonia. Carnets de Géologie 12, 2, 183-191. DOI:10.4267/2042/47551
Vinn, O., Mõtus, M. 2012. Diverse early endobiotic coral symbiont assemblage from the Katian (Late Ordovician) of Baltica. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 321-322, 137-141. DOI:10.1016/j.palaeo.2012.01.028
Vinn, O., Wilson, M. A. 2012. Epi- and endobionts on the late Silurian (early Pridoli) stromatoporoids from the Saaremaa Island, Estonia. Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae 82, 3, 195-200.
Mõtus, M.-A., Vinn, O. 2009. The worm endosymbionts in tabulate corals from the Silurian of Podolia, Ukraine. Estonian Journal of Earth Sciences 58, 3, 185-192. DOI:10.3176/earth.2009.3.03
Vinn, O., Mõtus, M. 2008. The earliest endosymbiotic mineralized tubeworms from the Silurian of Podolia, Ukraine. Journal of Paleontology 82, 2, 409-414. DOI:10.1666/07-056.1
Mõtus, M.-A., Hints, O. (eds) 2007. 10th International Symposium on Fossil Cnidaria and Porifera. Excursion B2: Lower Paleozoic geology and corals of Estonia. Excursion Guidebook. pp. 1-64. Institute of Geology at Tallinn University of Technology.
Mõtus, M.-A., Grytsenko, V. 2007. Morphological variation of the tabulate coral Paleofavosites cf. collatatus Klaamann, 1961 from the Silurian of the Bagovichka River localities, Podolia (Ukraine). Estonian Journal of Earth Sciences 56, 3, 143-156.
Mõtus, M.-A. 2006. Intraspecific variation in Wenlock tabulate corals from Saaremaa (Estonia) and its taxonomic implications. Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. Geology 55, 1, 24-42. DOI:10.3176/geol.2006.1.02
Young, G. A., Kershaw, S. 2005. Classification and controls of internal banding in Palaeozoic stromatoporoids and colonial corals. Palaeontology 48, 3, 623-651. DOI:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2005.00480.x
Jeppsson, L., Calner, M., Eriksson, M. 2005. Locality descriptions. Sveriges Geologiska Undersökning, Rapporter och Meddelanden 121, 22-47.
Mõtus, M.-A., Sandström, O. 2005. Cystihalysites sp. and its significance to biostratigraphy and event stratigraphy in the Ludlow (Late Silurian) of Gotland, Sweden. GFF 127, 4, 269-272. DOI:10.1080/11035890501274269
Mõtus, M.-A. 2004. Tabulate corals from the Lower Silurian of Jämtland (Sweden). GFF 126, 4, 339-352. DOI:10.1080/11035890401264339
Nestor, H., Einasto, R., Nestor, V., Märss, T., Viira, V. 2001. Description of the type section, cyclicity, and correlation of the Riksu Formation (Wenlock, Estonia). Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. Geology 50, 3, 149-173. DOI:10.3176/geol.2001.3.02
Mõtus, M.-A. 2001. Environment related morphological variation in Early Silurian tabulate corals from the Baltic area. Bulletin of the Tohoku University Museum 1, 62-69.
Mõtus, M.-A., Klaamann, E. 1999. The halysitid coral genera Halysites and Cystihalysites from Gotland, Sweden. GFF 121, 2, 81-91. DOI:10.1080/11035899901212081
Dixon, O. A. 1996. Heliolitine corals of the upper Douro Formation (upper Silurian), Canadian Arctic Islands. Journal of Paleontology 70, 5, 718-740. DOI:10.1017/S0022336000023787
Bondarenko, O. B. 1992. Sistema geliolitoidei [The system of heliolitoids]. pp. 1-205. Moskovskoe Obŝestvo Ispytatele Prirody.
Serezhnikova, E. A. 1992. New Heliolitoidea from the lower Silurian of Central Kazakhstan. Paleontologicheski Zhurnal 1, 19-26.
Young, G. A., Scrutton, C. T. 1991. Growth form in Silurian heliolitid corals: the influence of genetics and environment. Paleobiology 17, 4, 369-387. DOI:10.1017/S009483730001071X
Neuman, B. E. E., Kershaw, S. 1991. VI International Symposium on Fossil Cnidaria including Archaeocyatha and Porifera. Pre-Symposium excursion A1 Gotland/Sweden. pp. 1-111. University of Bergen.
Bondarenko, O. B., Gataulina, G. M. 1986. Reviziâ geliolitoidej kollekcii È. J. Èjhval"da. Voprosy paleontologii IX, 5-17.
Klaamann, E. R. 1986. The tabulate communities and biozones of the East Baltic Silurian.Theory and practice of ecostratigraphy , pp. 80-98. Valgus.
Tchudinova, I. I. 1986. The composition, system and phylogeny of fossil corals. Order Syringoporida. Transactions of the Paleontological Institute (PIN) 216, 1-204. Nauka.
Bondarenko, O. B. 1985. Izmenchivost' i morfogenez pozdnesilurijskih geliolitoidej Paraheliolites - Pachyhelioplasma iz Podol'skogo Pridnestrov'â. Paleontologicheski Zhurnal 2, 22-30.
Sokolov, B. S., Tesakov, J. I. 1984. Populâcionnyj, biocenotičeskij i biostratigrafičeskij analiz tabulât. Podol'skaâ model'. pp. 1-140. Nauka.
Klaamann, E. 1984. Heliolitidis in the East Baltic Late Silurian coral communities. Eesti NSV Teaduste Akadeemia Toimetised. Geoloogia / Известия Академии наук Эстонской ССР. Геология 33, 2, 63-69. DOI:10.3176/geol.1984.2.04
Klaamann, E. 1983. The Tabulate corals of Jaani and Jaagarahu Stages (Wenlockian, Estonia) and their Biozones.Lower Paleozoic paleontology of Baltics and Podolia , pp. 3-40. Eesti NSV Teaduste Akadeemia Geoloogia Instituut.
Bondarenko, O. B. 1983. Geliolitidy verhnego ordovika ûgo-vostočnoj Latvii. Bulletin de la Société Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou 58, 6, 136-146.
Klaamann, E. 1982. Tabulate communities (Late Wenlock and Ludlow, Gotland).Communities and biozones in the Baltic Silurian Communities and biozones in the Baltic Silurian , pp. 35-50. Valgus.
Bondarenko, O. B. 1982. Geliolitidy verhnego ordovika iz skvažin Belorussi. Moscow University Geology Bulletin 4, 35-42.
Hill, D. 1981. Rugosa and Tabulata. Volume 1.Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology. Part F. Coelenterata. Supplement 1 , pp. F1-F378. he Geological Society of America and The University of Kansas.
Bondarenko, O. B., Minshin, C. 1981. Variability and morphogenesis of the Ordovician tabulate coral Propora speciosa. Paleontologicheski Zhurnal 1, 10-20.
Nestor, H. 1981. The relationships between stromatoporoids and heliolitids. Lethaia 14, 1, 21-25. DOI:10.1111/j.1502-3931.1981.tb01069.x
Klaamann, E. 1979. Tabulate and heliolitid corals. Sveriges Geologiska Undersökning 73, 3, 81-85.
Klaamann, E. 1979. The morphology and geological age of Halysites catenularius (Linnaeus). Eesti NSV Teaduste Akadeemia Toimetised. Geoloogia / Известия Академии наук Эстонской ССР. Геология 28, 4, 140-144. DOI:10.3176/geol.1979.4.03
Stel, J. H. 1978. Environment and quantitative morphology of some Silurian tabulates from Gotland. Scripta Geologica 47, 1-75.
Brood, K. 1978. Skeletal structures of Silurian auloporid corals. GFF 100, 1, 53-63. DOI:10.1080/11035897809448560
Mironova, N. V. 1978. Nekotorye pržidol'skie tabulâty Central'nogo Altaâ. Transactions of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics 405, 104-117. Nauka.
Stel, J. H., de Coo, J. C. M. 1977. The Silurian Upper Burgsvik and Lower Hamra-Sundre Beds, Gotland. Scripta Geologica 44, 1-43.
Bondarenko, O. B. 1977. Development trends and systematics of the Late Ordovician tabulate coral Proheliolitidae. Paleontologicheski Zhurnal 4, 34-46.
Klaamann, E. 1975. Zur Taxonomie einiger mittelordovizischer Tabulatenarten Norwegens, Schwedens und Estlands. Eesti NSV Teaduste Akadeemia Toimetised. Keemia, Geoloogia / Известия Академии наук Эстонской ССР. Химия. Геология 24, 3, 219-226. DOI:10.3176/chem.geol.1975.3.07
Preobrazhensky, B., Klaamann, E. 1975. Relations between the genera Sarcinula, Calapoecia and Lyopora (Tabulata). Eesti NSV Teaduste Akadeemia Toimetised. Keemia, Geoloogia / Известия Академии наук Эстонской ССР. Химия. Геология 24, 2, 130-136. DOI:10.3176/chem.geol.1975.2.04
Stasinska, A. 1974. Silurian tabulata from north-east Poland. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 19, 4, 501-517.
Brood, K. 1974. Bryozoa from the Ludlovian of Bjärsjölagard in Skane. GFF 96, 4, 381-388. DOI:10.1080/11035897409454291
Leleshus, V. L. 1972. Silurian tabulate corals of Tajikistan. pp. 1-85. Donish.
Klaamann, E. 1971. Über einige Korallen aus der Bohrung von File Haidar (Gotland, Schweden). Eesti NSV Teaduste Akadeemia Toimetised. Geoloogia / Известия Академии наук Эстонской ССР. Геология 20, 1, 73-77. DOI:10.3176/chem.geol.1971.1.12
Bondarenko, O. B. 1971. The Volume of the New Family Stelliporellidae (Heliolitida).Paleozoic Tabulata and Heliolitoidea of the USSR , pp. 166-178. Nauka.
Klaamann, E. R. 1971. Tabulate corals of upper coral limestone in Norway. Eesti NSV Teaduste Akadeemia Toimetised. Keemia, Geoloogia / Известия Академии наук Эстонской ССР. Химия. Геология 20, 4, 356-363. DOI:10.3176/chem.geol.1971.4.12
Stasinska, A. 1970. Some Upper Silurian tabulata from Lezyce-Belcz section (Holy Cross Mts.). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 15, 4, 507-514.
Klaamann, E. R. 1970. Variability and taxonomic position of Angopora hisingeri (Jones). Proc. of the Academy of Sciences of the Estonian SSR. Ser. Biol. 19, 1, 62-68. DOI:10.3176/chem.geol.1970.1.10
Stasinska, A. 1967. Tabulata from Norway, Sweden and from the erratic boulders of Poland. Palaeontologia Polonica 18, 1-112.
Klaamann, E. R. 1966. The incommunicate tabulata of Estonia. ENSV TA Geoloogia Instituudi uurimused 1-97. Eesti NSV TA Geoloogia Instituut.
Klaamann, E. R. 1966. On the systematic position of Favosites coreaniformis Sokolov. Proc. of the Academy of Sciences of the Estonian SSR. Ser. Biol. XV, 3, 452-458.
Kaljo, D., Klaamann, E. 1965. The fauna of the Portrane limestone, III. The Corals. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Geology 10, 11, 413-434.
Spjeldnaes, N. 1964. Two compound corals from the Tretaspis beds of the Oslo-Asker District. Norsk Geologisk Tidsskrift 44, 1, 1-10.
Klaamann, E. R. 1964. Late Ordovician and Early Silurian Favositida of Estonia. pp. 1-119.
Klaamann, E. R. 1962. Distribution of tabulata in the Ordovician and Silurian of Estonia (with a description of some new species). ENSV TA Geoloogia Instituudi uurimused X, 149-169.
Klaamann, E. R. 1962. Upper Silurian Tabulata of Estonia. ENSV TA Geoloogia Instituudi uurimused IX, 25-70.
Klaamann, E. R. 1961. The Wenlockian tabulata and heliolitida of Estonia. ENSV TA Geoloogia Instituudi uurimused VI, 69-112.
Klaamann, E. R. 1961. The oldest favositids of Estonia. Eesti NSV Teaduste Akadeemia Toimetised, Tehniliste ja Füüsikalis-matemaatiliste teaduste seeria / Известия Академии наук Эстонской ССР. Серия технических и физико-математических наук X, 2, 120-129. DOI:10.3176/phys.math.tech.1961.2.04
Klaamann, E. R. 1959. On the tabulate fauna of the Juuru and Tamsalu stages. Eesti NSV Teaduste Akadeemia Toimetised, Tehniliste ja Füüsikalis-matemaatiliste teaduste seeria / Известия Академии наук Эстонской ССР. Серия технических и физико-математических наук VIII, 4, 256-270. DOI:10.3176/tech.phys.math.1959.4.04
Sokolov, B. S. 1955. Tabulâty paleozoâ Evropejskoj časti SSSR. Vvedenie. Obŝie voprosy sistematiki i istorii razvitiâ tabulât (s harakteristikoj morfologičeski blizkih grupp). Trudy Vsesoûznogo Naučno-Issledovatel'skogo Geologo-Razvedočnogo Instituta (VNIGRI) 85, 1-328. Gostoptehizdat.
Hill, D. 1953. The Middle Ordovician of the Oslo Region, Norway: 2. Some Rugose and Tabulate Corals. Norsk Geologisk Tidsskrift 31, 143-168.
Sokolov, B. S. 1952. Tabulâty paleozoâ Evropejskoj časti SSSR. Čast' III. Silur Pribaltiki (Favozitidy venlokskogo i ludlovskogo ârusov). Trudy Vsesoûznogo Naučno-Issledovatel'skogo Geologo-Razvedočnogo Instituta (VNIGRI) 58, 1-85. Gostoptehizdat.
Sokolov, B. S. 1951. Tabulâty paleozoâ Evropejskoj časti SSSR. Čast' I. Ordovik Zapadnogo Urala i Pribaltiki. Trudy Vsesoûznogo Naučno-Issledovatel'skogo Geologo-Razvedočnogo Instituta (VNIGRI) 48, 1-132. Gostoptehizdat.
Sokolov, B. S. 1951. Tabulâty paleozoâ Evropejskoj časti SSSR. Čast' II. Silur Pribaltiki (Favozitidy llandoverskogo ârusa). Trudy Vsesoûznogo Naučno-Issledovatel'skogo Geologo-Razvedočnogo Instituta (VNIGRI) 53, 1-124. Gostoptehizdat.
Kiaer, J. 1930. Den fossilfrende ordovicisk-siluriske lagrekke Stord. Bergens Museums aarbok 1929, 11,
Bekker, H. 1925. Lühike ülevaade Eesti geoloogiast (Eozoiline ja paleozoiline ladekond).Eesti Loodus. Äratrükk koguteosest "Eesti" , pp. 31-61.
Kiaer, J. 1908. Das Obersilur im Kristianiagebiete. Eine stratigraphisch-faunistische Untersuchung. Skrifter Norske Videnskaps-Akad. Oslo 2, 1-596. Published by Jacob Dybwad.
Kiaer, J. 1903. Revision der mittelsilurischen Heliolitiden und neue Beiträge zur Stammesgeschichte derselben. Skrifter Norske Videnskaps-Akad. Oslo 2, 10, 1-58. A. W. Brøggers Buchdruckerei.
Kiaer, J. 1899. Die Korallenfauna der Etage 5 des norwegischen Silursystems. Palaeontographica 46, 1-60. E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung.
Lindström, G. 1899. Remarks on the Heliolitidae. Kungliga Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar 32, 1, 1-140. P. A. Norstedt & Söner.
Eichwald, E. 1860. Lethaea Rossica ou Paléontologie de la Russie. Premier volume. Ancienne Période en deux sections. pp. XIX+1–1657. E. Schweizerbart. DOI:10.5962/bhl.title.52391
Schmidt, Fr. 1858. Untersuchungen über die Silurische Formation von Ehstland, Nord-Livland und Oesel. Archiv für die Naturkunde Liv-, Ehst- und Kurlands 2, 1, 1-249. Heinrich Laakmann.
Eichwald, E. 1856. Beitrag zur geographischen Verbreitung der fossilen Thiere Russlands. Alte Periode. (Fortsetzung). Bulletin of the Moscow Society of Naturalists. Geological series 29, 1, 88-127.
Eichwald, E. 1855. Beitrag zur geographischen Verbreitung der fossilen Thiere Russlands. Alte Periode. Bulletin de la Société Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou 28, 4, 433-466.
Eichwald, E. 1854. Die Grauwackenschichten von Liv- und Estland. Bulletin de la Société Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou 27, 1, 1-111.