The worm endosymbionts in tabulate corals from the Silurian of Podolia, Ukraine

Abstract

Two endosymbionts, Chaetosalpinx sibiriensis and Coralloconchus bragensis, occur in Silurian tabulate corals of Podolia. The endosymbiotic worms responsible for C. sibiriensis bioclaustrations in tabulates are found only in certain species: Paleofavosites cf. collatatus, Heliolites sp. A, Heliolites sp. B, Heliolites sp. C, Favosites gothlandicus, Favosites sp. A. One to six C. sibiriensis-infested tabulate species are known from Late Homerian to Ludfordian, in the reef-related community. Chaetosalpinx sibiriensis preferred certain tabulate species over the others, but showed no preference for the favositid or heliolitid type of morphology.

Keywords

• tabulate corals
• Chaetosalpinx
• endosymbiosis
• Silurian
• Podolia