Cornulites

Cornulites, a somewhat anomalous genus of fossil worm-tubes found in the Silurian and Devonian rocks. The best known species is C. serpularius, which is abundant in the Wenlock limestone around Dudley. In its young form it is adherent to shells, but the adult is free; in this case it consists of a ringed cylindrical tube. They often grow in groups, and are then rectangular in section; as these are marked by external longitudinal ridges like "costae" (q.v.), and as the chamber is in some species divided by a series of horizontal layers, like Tabulae (q.v.), they present a certain resemblance to corals. The whole group is in need of revision, especially as it has intimate affinities with the supposed Pteropod Tentaculites.