Explore this animal in Size of Extinct Animals ↗
310 / Paleozoic
Chain coral
Halysites catenularius
Linked tubes formed honeycomb chains across Paleozoic reefs.
View original image · 1536 × 1024- Time range
- About 470–419 million years ago
- Final stage
- End of the Silurian
- Geographic range
- Warm shallow reefs · Widespread
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Chain coral?
Chain coral (Halysites catenularius) was an extinct organism known from About 470–419 million years ago, with a range in Warm shallow reefs · Widespread.
Life and ecology
Each tabulate-coral polyp occupied a separate tube while the colony expanded through connecting walls.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Chain coral disappear?
Reef turnover after the Silurian removed classic Halysites communities.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Chain coral?
Calcitic colonies preserve chained corallites, tabulae and growing margins.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS