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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:
| |
|---|---|
| |
| Mucrospirifer mucronatus | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| 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
edit
- Mucrospirifer albanensis
- Mucrospirifer arkonensis
- Mucrospirifer bouchardi
- Mucrospirifer diluvianoides
- Mucrospirifer grabaui
- Mucrospirifer medfordsis
- Mucrospirifer mucronatus (Conrad, 1841)
- Mucrospirifer paradoxiformis
- Mucrospirifer profundus
- Mucrospirifer prolificus
- Mucrospirifer refugiensis
- Mucrospirifer thedfordensis
- Mucrospirifer williamsi
References
edit- ^ a b Paleobiology Database
- ^ a b c d e Walker, Cyril Alexander. (2002). Fossils. Ward, David J., Keates, Colin. (2nd American ed.). New York: Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 0-7894-8984-8. OCLC 50722423.
- ^ Global Biodiversity Information Facility
External links
edit- Color reconstruction of Mucrospirifer arkonensis at www.emilydamstra.com
