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Mucrospirifer Temporal range:
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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
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Species | |
See text |
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]
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.