Devonian corals from the Renge area, Itoigawa, Niigata Prefecture, Japan <Articles>

Coral fossils were recovered from the Renge area, Itoigawa, Niigata Prefecture, central Japan. They occur in clasts of limestone and sandstone in conglomerate, which is intercalated in the Permian Shiroumadake Formation. Paleontological investigations of the present material have resulted in the identification of two tabulate coral species, Squameofavosites sp. indet. and Thamnopora hayasakai Niko, 2005, indicating the Early Devonian age and an unidentified rugose coral. Based on faunal and lithological evidences, these clasts were probably derived from the Devonian strata (Fukuji and Kamianama Formations) of the Hida-Gaien Terrane. Significance of this discovery is discussed