Corals
Colonial and solitary corals preserved in limestone.
Ordovician to present; commonest in Carboniferous limestone. · Easy to find
What is it?
Fossil corals are common in Carboniferous limestone and in some Jurassic reef limestones. Solitary rugose corals are horn-shaped; colonial forms build honeycomb or chain-like masses.
What does it look like?
Radiating internal plates in a circular cross-section, or a mass of small tubes packed together.
How to identify it
- 01Look for radiating internal walls like the spokes of a wheel.
- 02Polished-looking weathered surfaces on limestone pavement often show colonies in section.
Where to find corals in the UK
- 01Barton on SeaHampshire · HampshireShark teeth · Gastropods · Bivalves · CoralsEasyFamily friendlyBeach, CliffExplore location →
- 02Bracklesham BayWest Sussex · SussexShark teeth · Gastropods · Bivalves · CoralsEasyFamily friendlyBeachExplore location →
- 03Walton-on-the-NazeEssex · EssexShark teeth · Gastropods · Bivalves · Fossilised woodEasyFamily friendlyBeach, CliffExplore location →
- 04Filey BriggNorth Yorkshire · Yorkshire and the North East coastBrachiopods · Bivalves · Corals · Sea urchinsModerateFamily friendlyBeach, Geological siteExplore location →
- 05Howick HavenNorthumberland · Northumberland and DurhamCorals · Brachiopods · Crinoids · BivalvesModerateFamily friendlyBeach, Geological siteExplore location →