Equilibratoa

Equilibratoa is a genus of extinct marine corals that lived during the Early Cretaceous period. The name Equilibratoa is derived from the Latin word 'aequilibrium,' meaning equilibrium or balance. This genus was first described by Picot in 1923.

Fossils of Equilibratoa can be found in rocks of Early Cretaceous age, primarily in areas with shallow marine environments. These corals were attached to the sea floor and were filter feeders, relying on plankton and small marine organisms for nutrition.

The corals of the genus Equilibratoa are characterized by their solid skeletons, which are made up of calcium carbonate. The coral body is radial, with a well-developed coenosteum, a network of walls and septa that formed the skeleton. Equilibratoa corals likely grew and supported their colonies through the partial dissolution of their skeletons.

Equilibratoa is thought to have originated during the Early Cretaceous and became extinct by the end of this period. Its fossils have been found on every continent, indicating that this coral genus was globally distributed during its existence. However, Equilibratoa is not as well-studied as the broader range of Cretaceous corals. Further research is needed to gain a better understanding of the biology, ecology, and extinction of Equilibratoa.

Some species within the genus are recognized for their distinctive morphological features, such as thalamotic quadruplets, and stage II atoll-like affinity. These characteristics support the belief that Equilibratoa is a monophyletic genus, part of a broader group of corals. The definition of Equilibratoa is based on a limited set of species, and further classification efforts are needed to fully understand the diversity of corals this genus represents.