Mucrospirifer

Mucrospirifer is a genus of extinct brachiopods in the class Rhynchonellata (Articulata) and the order Spiriferida. They are sometimes known as "butterfly shells".[2] Like other brachiopods, they were filter feeders. These fossils occur mainly in Middle Devonian strata[2] and appear to occur around the world, except in Australia and Antarctica.[1][3]

Mucrospirifer
Temporal range: Emsian-Tournasian[1]
Mucrospirifer mucronatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Clade: Lophophorata
Phylum: Brachiopoda
Class: Rhynchonellata
Order: †Spiriferida
Suborder: †Delthyridina
Superfamily: †Delthyridoidea
Family: †Mucrospiriferidae
Genus: †Mucrospirifer
Grabau, 1931
Type species
Delthyris mucronatus
Conrad, 1841
Species

See text

The biconvex shell was typically 2.5 cm long,[2] but sometimes grew to 4 cm. The shell of Mucrospirifer has a fold, sulcus and costae. It is greatly elongated along the hinge line, which extends outward to form sharp points.[2] This gives them a fin- or wing-like appearance. The apex area (umbo) of the pedicle valve contains a small fold for the pedicle.[2] Mucrospirifer lived in muddy marine sediments, and were attached to the sea floor via the pedicle. The shell sometimes looks like two seashells stuck together.

Species
Mucrospirifer diluvianoides
Mucrospirifer thedfordensis

References
  1. Paleobiology Database
  2. Walker, Cyril Alexander. (2002). Fossils. Ward, David J., Keates, Colin. (2nd American ed.). New York: Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 0-7894-8984-8. OCLC 50722423.
  3. Global Biodiversity Information Facility
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