Desmidopora and Nodulipora: misfits in the coral world

Skeletal morphology and its variation are described in Desmidopora alveolaris and in Nodulipora acuminata. The features of these Sllurian fossils suggest sclerosponge affinities. Pores are present in both species and the surface of Nodulipora carries astrorhizae. A comparison is made between skeletons of sclero, sponges and tabulates: favositids are interpreted as the skeletons of sponges