SYSTEMATICS AND PALEOECOLOGY OF SILURIAN ROCKWOOD FORMATION BRACHIOPODS AND CORALS, TIFTONIA, HAMILTON COUNTY, TN

Published taxonomic analyses of Silurian Rockwood Formation fauna in Tennessee are few and outdated. More recent paleontological studies are published on Rockwood equivalents (e.g., Red Mountain Formation) from Alabama and Georgia.

Paleoecological studies in Tennessee have yielded fossil specimens of too poor quality for benthic assemblage determination. The previous determinations of the Rockwood as representing a shallow marine environment are made primarily on the basis of sedimentary evidence. This interpretation is supported here by the identification of brachiopod genera Homoeospirella, Plectatrypa, Spirigerina, Isorthis, Resserella, Dolerorthis, Platystrophia, Anastrophia, Eoplectodonta, Leptaena, and Drummuckina.

Three new species have been tentatively identified in the genera Spirigerina, Plectatrypa, and Drummuckina. Also, the geographic range of Drummuckina is likely extended; it has only been found in Scotland prior to this.

At least two species of corals are identified in the Rockwood assemblage, including Favosites.