Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Generic distinguishing characteristics and stratigraphic ranges of fossil corallines: An update

  • Published:
Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

Corallines or coralline algae are carbonate secreting and strongly calcified red algae of the order Corallinales of division Rhodophyta. Architecturally, the corallines have two groups, the nongeniculate and geniculate coralline forms. Corallines are used as a potential tool for paleoecology, paleoenvironments and paleobathymetry. Coralline algae are builder of porous and permeable carbonate reservoir rocks for hydrocarbon and reefs rich in hydrocarbon. The old approach, ca. prior to 1977, of taxonomy of fossil coralline genera has been replaced by the modern approach that established during the last decade using certain distinguishing features such as arrangement of basal filaments, cell fusions, conceptacle perforations and orientation of filaments around conceptacles of living corallines. The earliest confirmed fossil record of coralline algae is from the Hauterivian (Early Cretaceous) and from the Hauterivian to the Pleistocene 9 nongeniculate coralline genera, namely Distichoplax, Lithophyllum, Lithoporella, Lithothamnion, Mesophyllum, Neogoniolithon, Phymatolithon, Spongites and Sporolithon and 7 geniculate genera, viz. Amphiroa, Arthrocardia, Calliarthron, Corallina, Jania, Metagoniolithon and Subterraniphyllum having different stratigraphic ranges are unequivocally known as fossils. After 1977, we do not have a comprehensive publication giving the generic distinguishing characteristics and stratigraphic ranges of both nongeniculate and geniculate corallines. The present paper gives an update of distinguishing characteristics of fossil coralline algal genera and their stratigraphic ranges.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adey, W.H. (1979) Crustose coralline algae as microenvironmental indicator for the Tertiary. In: J. Gray and A.J. Bouco (Eds.), Historical biogeography. Oregon State Univ. Press, pp.459–464.

  • Adey, W. H. (1986) Coralline algae as indicator of sea-level. In: V.D. Plassche (Ed.), Sea-Level Research- a manual for the collection and evaluation of data. Free Univ., Amsterdam, pp.229–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aguirre, J., Riding, R. and Braga, J.C. (2000) Diversity of Coralline Red Algae: origination and extinction patterns from the Early Cretaceous to the Pleistocene. Paleobiology, v.26, pp.651–667.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arias, C.P., Masse, J.P. and Vilas, L. (1995) Hauterivian shallow marine calcareous biogenic mounds, SE Spain. Palaegeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., v.119, pp.3–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Badve, R.M. and Kundal, P. (1988) Distichoplax Pia from Baratang Island, India. Biovigyanam, v.14(2), pp.95–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bassi, D. (1995) Crustose Coralline Algal Pavement from Late Eocene, Colli Berici of Northern Italy. Riv. Italy. Paleont. Strat., v.101, pp.81–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bassi, D. and Nebelsick, J.H. (2000) Calcareous algae from the lower Oligocene Gornji Grad beds of northern Slovenia. Riv. Italy. Paleont. Strat., v.106, pp.99–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bassi, D., Woelkerling, W.J. and Nebelsick, J.H. (2000) Taxonomic and biostratigraphic reassessment of Subterraniphyllum Elliott (Corallinales, Rhodophyta). Palaeontology, v.43(3), pp.405–425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bosense, D.W.J. (1983) Coralline algae from the Miocene of Malta. Paleontology, v.26, pp.147–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braga, J.C. (2003) Application of botanical Taxonomy to Fossil Coralline Algae (Corallinales, Rhodophyta). Acta Micropaleontol. Sinica, v.20, pp.47–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braga, J.C. and Aguirre, J. (1995) Taxonomy of Fossil Coralline algal species: Neogene Lithophylloideae (Rhodophyta, Corallinaceae) from Southern Spain. Rev. Paleobot. Palynol., v.86, pp.265–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braga, J.C., Bosense, D.W.J. and Steneck, R.S. (1993) New anatomic characters in fossil coralline algae and their taxonomic implications. Palaeontology, v.36, pp.535–547.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ducker, S.C. (1979) The genus Metagoniolithon Weber-van Bosse (Corallinales, Rhodophyta). Astralian Jour. Bot., v.27, pp.67–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, A. S., Broadwater, S.T., Woelkerling, W.J. and Mitrovski, P.J. (2003) Choreonema (Corallinales, Rhodophyta): 18S rDNA phylogeny and resurrection of the Hapalideace for the subfamilies Choreonematoideae, Austrolithoideae and Melobesioideae. Jour. Phycol., v.39, pp.988–998.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Humane, S.K. (2003) Fossil calcareous algae from Paleogene and Neogene sediments of Kachchh, Gujarat, unpublished Ph.D. thesis of RTM Nagpur University, pp.1–105.

  • Humane, S.K. and Kundal, P. (2010). Nongeniculate Coralline algae from Middle Eocene to Late Lower Miocene of southwestern part of Kachchh, India. Bull. ONGC, v.45(1), pp.30–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, J.H. (1961) Limestone building algae and algal limestone. Prof. Contrib. Colorado School of Mines, pp.1–290.

  • Johnson, J. H. (1969) A review of the Lower Cretaceous Algae. Prof. Contrib. Colorado School of Mines, no.6, pp.1–180.

  • Kishore, S., Misra, P.K., Jauhri, A.K. and Singh, S.K. (2006) Paleocene Coralline algae from Cauvery Basin, South India. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.68(5), pp.789–796.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kishore, S., Singh, A.P., Singh, S.K., Tiwari, R.P., Jauhri, A.K. and Misra, P.K. (2009) Geniculate Coralline algae from the Prang Formation (Eocene) of the Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, India. Jour. Palaeontol. Soc. India, v.54(2), pp.77–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kundal, P. (2010) Biostratigraphic, paleobiogeographic and paleoenvironmental significance of Calcareous Algae. In: P. Kundal and S.K. Humane (EDs.), Applied Micropaleontology. Gondwana Geol. Magz., Spec. Iss., v.25(1), pp.125–132.

  • Kundal, P. and Dharashivkar, A. P. (2003) Geniculate coralline alga Amphiroa from Lower Pliocene of Dwarka-Okha area, Gujarat, India. In: P. Kundal (Ed.), Recent Developments in Indian Micropaleontology. Gondwana Geol. Magz., Spec. v.6, pp.245–259.

  • Kundal, P. and Humane, S.K. (2002) Geniculate Coralline Algae from Middle Eocene to Lower Miocene of Kachchh, Gujarat, India. Gondwana Geol. Magz., v.1(2), pp.89–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kundal, P. and Humane, S.K. (2003) Corallina, a geniculate coralline alga from Middle Eocene to Lower Miocene of Kachchh, Gujarat, India. In: P. Kundal (Ed.), Recent Developments in Indian Micropaleontology. Gondwana Geol. Magz., Spec. v.6, pp.261–275.

  • Kundal, P. and Humane, S.K. (2005) On first record of fossil calcareous alga Subterraniphyllum from Late Lutetian of Western Kachchh and its biostratigrahical and paleobiogeographical assessment. Gondwana Geol. Mag., v.20(2), pp.119–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kundal, P. and Humane, S.K. (2006a) Jania, a Geniculate Coralline Alga from Middle Eocene to Lower Miocene of Kachchh, Gujarat. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.68(4), pp.630–638.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kundal, P. and Humane, S.K. (2006b) Record of Metagoniolithon (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) from the Burdigalian of western India. Curr. Sci., v.91(2), pp.221–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kundal, P. and Kundal, M. P. (2010) Calcareous Algae from Middle Eocene to Early Miocene onshore sequence of Kachchh Basin, Western India: Paleoenvironmental significance and Hydrocarbon Perspective. In: P. Kundal and A.M. Pophare (Eds.), Sedimentary Basins of India: Recent Developments. Gondwana Geol. Magz., Spec. v.12, pp.251–259.

  • Kundal, P. and Mude, S.N. (2009a) Geniculate coralline algae from the Neogene-Quaternary sediments in and around Porbandar area, Saurashtra, Gujarat, India. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.74(2), pp.276–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kundal, P. and Mude, S.N. (2009b) Nongeniculate coralline algae from the Early Miocene to Late Holocene sequence of the Porbandar area, Saurashtra, Gujarat, India. Jour. Palaeontol. Soc. India, v.54(1), pp.73–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kundal, P. and Mude, S.N. (2010) Amphiroa, a geniculate coralline alga from the Neogene-Quaternary sediments of the Porbandar area, Gujarat, India. Jour. Palaeontol. Soc. India, v.55(1), pp.37–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kundal, P. and Sanganwar, B.N. (1998) Stratigraphical paleogeographical and paleoenvironmental significance of Fossil Calcareous Algae from Nimar Sandstone Formation, Bagh Group (Cenomanian-Turonian) of Pipaldehla, Jhabua district, Madhya Pradesh. Curr. Sci., v.75(7), pp.702–708.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kundal, P. and Wanjarwadkar, K.M. (2000) Jania Lamouroux from Late Paleocene limestone of Middle Andaman, India. Bull. ONGC, v.37(1), pp.227–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Minnery, G.A. (1990) Crustose coralline algae from the Flower Garden Banks, northwestern Gulf of Mexico: Controls on distribution and growth morphology. Jour. Sediment. Petrol., v.60(6), pp.992–1007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Minnery, G.A., Rezek, R. and Bright, T.J. (1985) Depth zonation and growth forms of crustose coralline algae: Flower Garden Banks, northwestern Gulf of Mexico. In: D.F. Toomey and M.H. Nitecki (Eds.), Paleoalgology: Contemporary Research and Applications. Springer-Verlag Berlin, pp.237–246.

  • Misra, P.K., Jauhri, A.K., Chowdhury, A. and Kishore, S. (2001) Palaeocene Rhodophycean algae from the Ninniyur Formation of the Cauvery Basin, Southern India. Palaeobotanist, v.50, pp.311–339.

    Google Scholar 

  • Misra, P.K., Jauhri, A.K., Kishore, S. and Singh, S.K. (2002) Calcareous algae from the Lakadong Formation of the South Shillong Plateau, NE India. Rev. Paleobiol., v.21(2), pp.717–734.

    Google Scholar 

  • Misra, P.K., Jauhri, A.K., Singh, S.K. and Kishore, S. (2006) Nongeniculate coralline algae from the Utattur Group (Early Cretaceous), S. India. Palaeobotanist, v.55(1–3), pp.29–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Mude, S.N. and Kundal, P. (2010) A note on rare structure of fossil coralline algae from the Southwest coast of India. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.75(2), pp.380–382.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poignant, A.F. (1974) Les algues calcaires fossils:leur interet strtigraphique. Newsl. Stratigr., v.3(3), pp.181–192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasser, M.W. and Piller, W.E. (1999) Application of neontological taxonomic concepts to Late Eocene Coralline algae (Rhodophyta) of the Austrian Molasse Zone. Jour. Micropalaeontol., v.18, pp.67–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasser, M.W. and Piller, W.E. (2000) Designation of Phymatolithon (Corallinaceae, Rhodophyta) in fossil material and its paleoclimatological indications. Micropaleontology, v.46(1), pp.89–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stocker, R. (2000) Fossil coralline algae from the Paleocene Montorfano Member type section (Tabiago Foramtion, northern Italy). Eclogae Geol. Helv., v.93, pp.409–427.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woelkerling, W.J. (1988) Coralline Red Algae: An analysis of genera and subfamilies of nongeniculate Corallinaceae. British Museum (Natl. Hist.), London and Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp.1–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woelkerling, W.J., Irvine, L.M. and Harvey, A. (1993) Growth forms in nongeniculate coralline red algae (Corallinales, Rhodophyta). Australian Syst. Bot., v.6, pp.277–293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Womersley, H.B.S. (1996) The marine benthic floras of southern Australia, Rhodophyta, Part IIIB. Floras of Australia supplementary series 5. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra, pp.1–392.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wray, J.L. (1977) Calcareous Algae, Developments in Paleontology and Stratigraphy. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Co., Amsterdam, New York, 4, pp.1–185.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. PG Department of Geology, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Law College Square, Nagpur, 440 001, India

    P. Kundal

Authors
  1. P. Kundal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. Kundal.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kundal, P. Generic distinguishing characteristics and stratigraphic ranges of fossil corallines: An update. J Geol Soc India 78, 571–586 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-011-0119-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-011-0119-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation