What is the meaning of brachiopod?

: any of a phylum (Brachiopoda) of marine invertebrates with bivalve shells within which is a pair of arms bearing tentacles by which a current of water is made to bring microscopic food to the mouth.

What are examples of brachiopods?

Inarticulata
CraniataCompositaObolella
Brachiopod/Lower classifications

Are brachiopods arthropods?

From 1988 onwards analyses based on molecular phylogeny, which compares biochemical features such as similarities in DNA, have placed brachiopods among the Lophotrochozoa, a protostome super-phylum that includes molluscs, annelids and flatworms but excludes the other protostome super-phylum Ecdysozoa, whose members …

What does Brachiopod mean in Greek?

Brachiopods (from the Greek words meaning “arm” and “foot”) are commonly known as lamp shells because they resemble early Roman oil lamps. Lamp Shells.

Is there an app to identify fossils?

Perfect for amateur paleontologists, students, and professional scientists alike, The Digital Atlas of Ancient Life is a free app created by scientists at the University of Kansas to help people identify fossils in the field. The app focuses on three paleontological time periods: Neogene, Pennsylvanian, and Ordovician.

Are brachiopods mollusks?

Although they superficially resemble the mollusks that make modern seashells, they are not related to them. Brachiopods were the most abundant and diverse fossil invertebrates of the Paleozoic (over 4500 genera known; the number of species is far greater).

When did the height of brachiopod diversity occur?

Invertebrates. Brachiopods continued their diversification in the Devonian seas. One important group, the spiriferids, produced shells with elongated hinges, as seen in the image below. The Devonian marked the time of greatest brachiopod diversity, approximately 200 genera have been described.

Is a brachiopod a bivalve?

Brachiopods are benthic (bottom dwelling), marine (ocean), bivalves (having two shells). They are considered living fossils, with 3 orders present in today’s oceans. They are rare today but during the Paleozoic Era they dominated the sea floors. Though they appear to be similar to clams or oysters they are not related.

What makes a brachiopod look like a clam?

This critter “on the half-shell” shows some of the internal anatomy of a brachiopod quite well. First note the two valves or shells. All brachiopods have two shells. This makes brachiopods look superficially like bivalved molluscs (clams, oysters, etc.)

Where did the classification of Brachiopoda come from?

1. Brachiopoda Above image: Kunstformen der Natur (1904), plate 97: Spirobranchia by Ernst Haeckel; source: Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain). With very few living representatives, brachiopod classification has primarily come from a paleontological perspective, with substantial consideration given to the morphology of the shell.

How are lingulid shells different from other brachiopods?

Unlike most brachiopods, lingulid shells are composed of calcium phosphate. Lingulate brachiopods have a well-developed pedicle and complex muscles to aid in burrowing into soft sediments.

Where is the lophophore located on a brachiopod?

Notice the typical brachiopod feeding structure, the lophophore curled up on the right side. The rest of the anatomy is easier seen in this schematic cross-section of a brachiopod.

What is the meaning of brachiopod? : any of a phylum (Brachiopoda) of marine invertebrates with bivalve shells within which is a pair of arms bearing tentacles by which a current of water is made to bring microscopic food to the mouth. What are examples of brachiopods? Inarticulata CraniataCompositaObolella Brachiopod/Lower classifications Are brachiopods arthropods? From…