Upper Triassic Coral and Sponge Fossils from the Northwestern Australian Shelf

Northwestern Australia's Rowley Terrace, offshore Canning Basin, is the source for this collection of Upper Triassic fossils. The data includes branching spongiomorphs and two coral taxa, indicating a Late Triassic (Norian-Rhaetian) age and possible reef facies. It was dredged during BMR Cruise 95 and is provided by Geoscience Australia.

Use Cases

• Correlating fossil assemblages based on reported taxa like Spongiomorpha sp. and Pamiroseris rectilamellosa.
• Mapping the extent of Late Triassic reef systems based on the described eastward extension from the Wombat Plateau.
• Studying paleobiogeography by comparing the Australian fossils with counterparts from the Northern Limestone Alps of Europe.

Strengths

• Specific fossil taxa are identified, including Spongiomorpha sp., Pamiroseris rectilamellosa, and Retiophyllia tellae.
• Provides a precise geological age range (Late Triassic, Norian-Rhaetian).
• Includes a concrete geographic reference to the Rowley Terrace, offshore Canning Basin.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to the specific dredge locations.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Dredged during BMR Cruise 95.

Time Range

Late Triassic (Norian-Rhaetian)

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-30 15:16:43.426981; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Rowley Terrace, offshore Canning Basin, northwestern Australia.