Explore this animal in Size of Extinct Animals ↗
309 / Paleozoic
Heliophyllum
Heliophyllum halli
Radiating septa inside a horn-shaped skeleton resemble a stone sun.
View original image · 1536 × 1024- Time range
- About 393–383 million years ago
- Final stage
- Middle Devonian
- Geographic range
- Tropical reefs · Great Lakes region, North America
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Heliophyllum?
Heliophyllum (Heliophyllum halli) was an extinct organism known from About 393–383 million years ago, with a range in Tropical reefs · Great Lakes region, North America.
Life and ecology
This solitary rugose coral extended tentacles from its conical skeleton to capture plankton.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Heliophyllum disappear?
Late Devonian anoxia and reef collapse devastated rugose-coral communities.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Heliophyllum?
Complete corallites and thin sections preserve growth lines and internal supports.
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