Mucrospirifer

From Freepedia

? Mucrospirifer
Image:MucrospiriferSp.jpg Mucrospirifer sp.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Brachiopoda Subphylum: Rhychonelliformea Class: Rhynchonellata Order: Spiriferida Suborder: Spiriferidina Superfamily: Spiriferacea Family: Mucrospiriferidae Genus: Mucrospirifer
Species
See text

Mucrospirifer is a genus of extinct brachiopod in the class Rhynchonellata (Articulata) and the order Spiriferida. They are sometimes known as "butterfly shells". Like other brachiopods, they were filter feeders. Fossils occur mainly in middle Devonian strata.

The biconvex shell was typically 2.5 cm, but they could grow to 4 cm long. It has a fold, sulcus and costae. It was greatly elongated along the hinge line, which extends outward to form sharp points. This gave them a fin- or wing-like appearance. The apex area (umbo) of the pedicle valve contains a small fold for the pedicle. They lived in muddy marine sediments, and were attached to the sea floor via the pedicle.

Select species

• Mucrospirifer mucronatus
• Mucrospirifer prolificus
• Mucrospirifer thedfordensis
• Mucrospirifer medfordsis
• Mucrospirifer arkonaensis
• Mucrospirifer grabaui

References

• Walker, Cyril and Ward, David. Fossils. Smithsonian Handbooks, Dorling Kindersley Limited, London. Printed in Singapore (2002).