Figure 5: Evolutionary continuity of shingle-like biomineralization pattern in Acropora lineage. | Scientific Reports

Figure 5: Evolutionary continuity of shingle-like biomineralization pattern in Acropora lineage.

From: A unique coral biomineralization pattern has resisted 40 million years of major ocean chemistry change

Figure 5

(a–d) Direct comparison of microstructural features of modern (a) and fossil (b–d) aragonite skeletons of Acropora showing evidence of continuous growth of shingles. Shown are ultra-thin transverse sections (polarized transmitted light, crossed Nicols) of: (a) extant A. muricata (ZPAL H.25/90(535B)), (b) Miocene (Burdigalian) Acropora exerata (ZPAL H.27/28(C56)), (c) Miocene (Aquitanian) Acropora sp. (ZPAL H.27/23(C54)); (d) Middle Eocene Acropora alvarezi (ZPAL H.27/18(C100)), (e) regular incremental growth lines (yellow arrows) in shingled thickening deposits in Miocene (Aquitanian) Acropora sp. (ZPAL H.27/23(C54).

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