1919.17.178

Carr Natural History

Fossil

H-1.1 W-1.6 L-2.4 cm

Animalia (Animals)

Brachiopoda (Brachiopods)

Three well preserved brachiopods. Fully articulated without any fracturing, each specimen have visible hinge, ribs, sulcus and commissure.

Rhynchonellata

Orthis

These specimens are another type of brachiopod. There are a vast number of brachiopods in the fossil records. They are great for telling geologic time due to their abundance, especially since the species are so easy to identify. All brachiopods are easy to identify based on the shape of their valves. The flatter they are, the more likely they are to have lived on the ocean floor. If they are robust, they may have lived suspended in more turbulent waters, such as near seashores where the waves are strongest. Check out the different shapes of all the brachiopods going forward. Note the differences and try to determine the environment in which they may have existed. These particular brachiopods were not flat and were very robust; these were stationary epifaunal suspension feeders living on rising seabeds near seashores.

biforata

Casts

Dimensions of other pieces. L x W x H in cm.
2.4 x 1.6 x 1.1
2.2 x 1.6 x 1.2