Terebratulida

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Terebratulida
Temporal range: Silurian–present
Terebratulida dorsal Campanian France.jpg
Terebratulid brachiopod from the Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) of southwestern France.
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Brachiopoda
Class: Rhynchonellata
Order: Terebratulida
Waagen, 1883
Suborders

See text

Pygites diphyoides (d'Orbigny, 1849) from the Hauterivian (Lower Cretaceous) of Cehegin, Murcia, Spain. This terebratulid is characterized by a central perforation through its valves.
Coenothyris oweni from the Middle Triassic (Anisian) lower Saharonim Formation, Har Gevanim, southern Israel.

Terebratulids are one of only three living orders of articulate brachiopods, the others being the Rhynchonellida and the Thecideida. Craniida and Lingulida include living brachiopods, but are inarticulates. The name, Terebratula, may be derived from the Latin "terebra", meaning "hole-borer". The perceived resemblance of terebratulid shells to ancient Roman oil lamps gave the brachiopods their common name "lamp shell".

Terebratulids typically have biconvex shells that are usually ovoid to circular in outline. They can be either smooth or have radial ribbing. The lophophore support is loop shaped in contrast to the spiralia of similar looking spiriferids. Terebratulids are also distinguished by a very short hinge line, and the shell is punctate in microstructure. There is a circular pedicle opening, or foramen, located in the beak.

Terebratulids may have evolved from during the early or Middle Silurian. Early genera were almost circular to elongate-oval, with smooth or finely costate shells. During the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods, many shells became coarsely plicate.

Classification[]

Extinct Superfamilies

    • Superfamily †
    • Superfamily †
    • Superfamily †
    • Superfamily †

References[]

Retrieved from ""