fossil corals

[Alberto Correa de Vasconcellos]

         CORALS FROM THE ITAITUBA FORMATION (AMAZON, NORTHERN BRAZIL)

                                 PALEOECOLOGY

                           Alberto Correa Vasconcellos

                                   ABSTRACT


           A paleoecological study was done based on the Midlle Carboniferous

         coral fauna cited for the Amazon Basin in an attempting to

         characterize a relationship among those individuals and the

         environment during that time.


           Coral species used in this work are those present in the Itaituba

         Formation (Morrowan-Atokan) in the State of Para, northern Brazil.

         Amplexizaphrentis petrii Pinto, Dibunophylloides duncanea Pinto, D.

         geiseli Pinto, Lophamplexus sp., Stereostylus leinzi Pinto and S.

         mendesi Pinto represent the Rugosa; being Multithecopora milanoi

         Pinto the only one Tabulata coral specie noticed for the region.


           Those individuals are characteristic of a coral fauna related to

         inner seas, being accostumed with shallow waters of high turbidity.


           The absence of organic reefs in the region can be related with a

         low capability of individuals to settle down in a poorly consolidate

         shelf.



          Correa de Vasconcellos, A. In press. Corais da formacao
              Itaituba-Aspectos paleoecologicos. Boletim do Museu Paraense
              Emilio Goeldi, Serie Ciencias da Terra.