Silurian cornulitids of Estonia (Baltica)

Seven species of cornulitids are systematically described from the Silurian of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa islands, Estonia. There are three species of cornulitids in the Rhuddanian, three in the Sheinwoodian, single species in the Gorstian and Ludfordian, and three species in the Pridoli. Cornulitids have a facies range from pelletal limestones of shoal environments to deeper ramp marls. Endobiotic cornulitid symbionts occur in stromatoporoids found in shoal and open shelf zones. Gregarious aggregates are restricted to the limestones of the open shelf zone possibly because of higher nutrient levels in open shelf zone waters as compared to those of the deeper ramp. Unattached free forms are especially common in offshore deeper ramp marls presumably due to their adaption to life on a soft bottom. Solitary attached forms occur in all facies zones where cornulitids are present. Because the life modes of cornulitids are closely associated with particular facies zones, they are useful tools for paleoecological reconstructions.