{"id":19466,"date":"2020-03-24T22:49:17","date_gmt":"2020-03-24T22:49:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/?page_id=19466"},"modified":"2021-08-20T11:59:04","modified_gmt":"2021-08-20T11:59:04","slug":"brachiopods","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/brachiopods\/","title":{"rendered":"Brachiopods"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t\t<section class=\"hero-section hero-section-with-social\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1>Brachiopods<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Discovering Geology &mdash; Fossils and geological time<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"social-wrap social-wrap-inline-them\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sea-background-f\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Share this article<\/span><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/brachiopods\/\"><span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span class=\"hidden\">Facebook<\/span><\/span><\/a><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Brachiopods&#038;url=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/brachiopods\/\"><span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span class=\"hidden\">Twitter<\/span><\/span><\/a><a   onclick=\"javascript:void( (function() {var e=document.createElement('script' );e.setAttribute('type','text\/javascript' );e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8' );e.setAttribute('src','\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());\"  href=\"javascript:void(0);\"><span class=\"icon-pinterest\"><span class=\"hidden\">Pinterest<\/span><\/span><\/a><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/wa.me?text=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/brachiopods\/\"><span class=\"icon-whatsapp\"><span class=\"hidden\">WhatsApp<\/span><\/span><\/a><a   href=\"mailto:?subject=Brachiopods&#038;body=%20(https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/brachiopods\/)\"><span class=\"icon-mail\"><span class=\"hidden\">Email<\/span><\/span><\/a><a href=\"#\" data-copy=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/brachiopods\/\" class=\"copy-url-on-click\"><span class=\"icon-link\"><span class=\"hidden\">Copy Link<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-bgs-blocks-content-container content-section\"><div class=\"container\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n<p>Brachiopods have a very long history of life on Earth; at least 550 million years. They first appear as fossils in rocks of earliest Cambrian age and their descendants survive, albeit relatively rarely, in today&#8217;s oceans and seas. They were particularly abundant during Palaeozoic times (248\u2013545 million years ago) and are often the most common fossils in rocks of that age.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Dolerorthis.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;The early Palaeozoic brachiopod &lt;em&gt;Dolerorthis&lt;\/em&gt;. \u00a9 Natural History Museum.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_66285\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Dolerorthis-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"The Early Palaeozoic brachiopod Dolerorthis.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Dolerorthis.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption sm-line\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>The early Palaeozoic brachiopod <em>Dolerorthis<\/em>. \u00a9 Natural History Museum.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Dolerorthis.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;The early Palaeozoic brachiopod &lt;em&gt;Dolerorthis&lt;\/em&gt;. \u00a9 Natural History Museum.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_66285\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Brachiopods vary considerably in size. The aptly named Carboniferous genus <em>Gigantoproductus<\/em> may grow up to 30&nbsp;cm across. In contrast, the Jurassic rhynchonellid genus&nbsp;<em>Nannirhynchia<\/em>&nbsp;is minute, generally only two or three millimetres across \u2014 the size of a large pin head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><a href=\"#animal\">The animal<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#geologist\">The geologists\u2019 tool <\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#fun-fact\">Fun facts<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#3d-fossil\">3D fossil models<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"animal\">The animal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Brachiopods are marine animals belonging to their own&nbsp;phylum&nbsp;of the animal kingdom, Brachiopoda. Although relatively rare, modern brachiopods occupy a variety of seabed habitats ranging from the tropics to the cold waters of the Arctic and, especially, the Antarctic. <\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/LeptanenaDepressa.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Leptanena depressa&lt;\/em&gt; (J Sowerby, 1824). BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_80279\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/LeptanenaDepressa-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"Leptanena depressa, J Sowerby, 1824.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/LeptanenaDepressa.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption sm-line\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p><em>Leptanena depressa<\/em> (J Sowerby, 1824). BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/LeptanenaDepressa.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Leptanena depressa&lt;\/em&gt; (J Sowerby, 1824). BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_80279\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Brachiopods are virtually defenceless and their shell, enclosing the animal&#8217;s organs, is the only protection against predators. Most are permanently attached by a fleshy stalk (the pedicle) to a hard, sea-floor surface and are incapable of actively pursuing food. A few species can attach themselves directly to soft sediment and others remain unattached. Opening and closing of the shell allows food-bearing currents of water to pass through it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The shell comprises two valves that are composed of calcite or chitinophosphate (calcium phosphate plus organic matter). The pedicle (or ventral) valve is typically externally convex. The other valve (the brachial or dorsal valve) may be similar but, in some brachiopods, it is extremely concave or more rarely conical.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/brachiopodShellAndHinge_all_2b.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;The main features of a brachiopod shell and hinge. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_10451\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/brachiopodShellAndHinge_all_2b-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"The main features of a brachiopod shell and hinge. Many brachiopods have their valves hinged together, typically by a pair of ventral teeth and dorsal sockets. The snugly fitting join between the two closed valves is called the commissure. The inner surface of the valves may bear various projections and depressions that reflect the location and form of organs or muscles that open and close the valves. The external surface may show various types of ornamentation including concentric growth lines, lamellae and wrinkles (rugae), ribs, folds, sulci and spines.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/brachiopodShellAndHinge_all_2b-960x497.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption sm-line\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>The main features of a brachiopod shell and hinge. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/brachiopodShellAndHinge_all_2b.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;The main features of a brachiopod shell and hinge. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_10451\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Many brachiopods have their valves hinged together, typically by a pair of ventral teeth and dorsal sockets. The snugly fitting join between the two closed valves is called the commissure. The inner surface of the valves may bear various projections and depressions that reflect the location and form of organs or muscles that open and close the valves. The external surface may show various types of ornamentation including concentric growth lines, lamellae and wrinkles (rugae), ribs, folds, sulci and spines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t<div  id=\"video-4281-block_5e5d37538abc2\" class=\"video-wrap  \" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"position-relative\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/i3.ytimg.com\/vi\/Eh2WEjLTkXE\/hqdefault.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/video.svg\" class=\"video-play\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption sm-line\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>An artist&#8217;s impression of a Silurian seascape showing, on the right-hand side, clusters of <em>Pentamerus<\/em> (1) with other brachiopods, including <em>Atrypa<\/em> (2), as well as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/corals\/\">corals<\/a> (3) and bryozoa (4). <em>Atrypa<\/em> also occurs amongst the brachiopod fauna shown in the deeper water on the left-hand side where <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/crinoids\/\">crinoids<\/a> (5) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/gastropods\/\">gastropods<\/a> (6) also live. BGS \u00a9 UKRI. Based on a painting by Richard Bell.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"into-video\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<noscript>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<iframe class=\"video-section\" src=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/embed\/Eh2WEjLTkXE?enablejsapi=1&#038;version=3&#038;playerapiid=ytplayer&#038;rel=0&#038;autoplay=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/noscript>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Feeding: a living brachiopod <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A large part of the space between the two valves is occupied by a fleshy, hollow organ (the lophophore), which has long twisted or coiled arms and filaments. Cilia (hair-like organs) attached to the filaments beat rapidly, drawing in food-bearing water currents.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/FilterFeedingMechanism.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;The filter-feeding mechanism of a living brachiopod. The black arrows represent the water currents carrying food particles and the white arrows represent the filtered water. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_89195\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/FilterFeedingMechanism-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"The filter-feeding mechanism of a living brachiopod.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/FilterFeedingMechanism.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>The filter-feeding mechanism of a living brachiopod. The black arrows represent the water currents carrying food particles and the white arrows represent the filtered water. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/FilterFeedingMechanism.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;The filter-feeding mechanism of a living brachiopod. The black arrows represent the water currents carrying food particles and the white arrows represent the filtered water. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_89195\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Water currents carrying food particles enter between the brachiopod&#8217;s valves through the lateral inhalant aperture. Food is caught by the filaments on the lophophore arms and filtered water leaves via the median exhalant aperture. <\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/SilicifiedBrachiopod.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;A silicified brachiopod showing the structure (brachidia) that supports the coiled arms of the lophophore. Knowledge of the internal features of the valves is required as an aid to identification. \u00a9 Natural History Museum.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_34410\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/SilicifiedBrachiopod-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"A silicified brachiopod showing the structure (brachidia) that supports the coiled arms of the lophophore. Knowledge of the internal features of the valves is required as an aid to identification.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/SilicifiedBrachiopod.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>A silicified brachiopod showing the structure (brachidia) that supports the coiled arms of the lophophore. Knowledge of the internal features of the valves is required as an aid to identification. \u00a9 Natural History Museum.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/SilicifiedBrachiopod.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;A silicified brachiopod showing the structure (brachidia) that supports the coiled arms of the lophophore. Knowledge of the internal features of the valves is required as an aid to identification. \u00a9 Natural History Museum.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_34410\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"geologist\">The geologists\u2019 tool<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Brachiopods are characteristic of shallow-marine environments and, in some Palaeozoic rocks, they are the main rock-forming component. Brachiopods are also particularly suitable for palaeoecological analyses. Influenced by such factors as water depth, salinity, oxygen levels and static lifestyle, the distribution patterns of fossil brachiopods provide a useful tool in deducing the position of ancient shorelines and the past distribution of land and sea. Because of the rapid evolution of some brachiopod lineages, they can be useful for understanding the relative ages of rock successions and for correlation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Spirifer.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Spirifer&lt;\/em&gt; (Carboniferous). BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_83111\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Spirifer-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"Spirifer (Carboniferous).\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Spirifer.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption sm-line\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p><em>Spirifer<\/em> (Carboniferous). BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Spirifer.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Spirifer&lt;\/em&gt; (Carboniferous). BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_83111\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Cambrian rocks characteristically contain a diverse and abundant brachiopod fauna that &nbsp;preludes a dramatic diversification, making brachiopods, together with trilobites, the primary stratigraphical guide fossils in the shallow-water facies of the Ordovician. They are also important in the Silurian and Devonian and more locally in the Carboniferous, but many major groups became extinct at the end of the Palaeozoic.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/DivisionsOfEarthHistory1332x690.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;The main divisions of Earth history in which brachiopods have lived, showing the relative diversity of the phylum through time. Maximum diversity is seen in the Devonian. BGS \u00a9UKRI. All rights reserved.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_56572\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/DivisionsOfEarthHistory1332x690-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"The main divisions of Earth history in which brachiopods have lived, showing the relative diversity of the phylum through time. Maximum diversity is seen in the Devonian.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/DivisionsOfEarthHistory1332x690-497x960.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>The main divisions of Earth history in which brachiopods have lived, showing the relative diversity of the phylum through time. Maximum diversity is seen in the Devonian. BGS \u00a9UKRI. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/DivisionsOfEarthHistory1332x690.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;The main divisions of Earth history in which brachiopods have lived, showing the relative diversity of the phylum through time. Maximum diversity is seen in the Devonian. BGS \u00a9UKRI. All rights reserved.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_56572\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"fun-fact\"> Fun facts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The genus <em>Lingula<\/em> has survived virtually unchanged from the Cambrian to the present day. Unlike most brachiopods, it lives successfully in brackish water environments such as tidal mud flats. <em>Lingula<\/em> uses its pedicle to move up and down in the vertical burrow in which it lives. The pedicles of <em>Lingula<\/em> are a delicacy in some countries and are known as &#8216;lamp shells&#8217;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the Silurian rocks of Shropshire, unusually preserved <em>Pentamerus oblongus<\/em> brachiopods have led to the rock in which they occur being called &#8216;government rock&#8217;. Here, the original shell material has dissolved away leaving only internal and external moulds. Where shell structures relating to muscle attachment inside the pedicle valve have disappeared, the moulds are characterised by arrow-like slits that look like the symbol used for government benchmarks and on prison uniforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The brachipod <em>Cyrtospirifer verneuili<\/em>, from slates of late Devonian age near Delabole in Cornwall, is known as the Delabole butterfly. The naturally wide hinge-line of <em>Cyrtospirifer<\/em> has been distorted and widened further by the pressures in the Earth&#8217;s crust that led to the formation of the slates themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"owl-carousel carousel-primary-color carousel owl-theme thumbs-carousel-js\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/genusLingula.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"The genus Lingula has survived virtually unchanged from the Cambrian to the present day. Unlike most brachiopods, it lives successfully in brackish water environments such as tidal mud flats. Lingula uses its pedicle to move up and down in the vertical burrow in which it lives. The pedicles of Lingula are a delicacy in some Asian countries, and are known as &#039;lamp shells&#039;.\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption sm-line\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Modern <em>Lingula<\/em> brachiopods. \u00a9Natural History Museum.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Pentamerusoblongus.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"In the Silurian rocks of Shropshire, unusually preserved Pentamerus oblongus have led to the rock in which they occur being called &#039;government rock&#039;. Here, the original shell material of the brachiopods has dissolved away leaving only internal and external moulds. Where shell structures relating to muscle attachment inside the pedicle valve have disappeared, the moulds are characterised by arrow-like slits like the symbol used for government bench-marks and on prison uniforms.\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption sm-line\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>&#8216;Government rock&#8217; from Shropshire. BGS \u00a9UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/CyrtospiriferVerneuiliNHM.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"The brachipod Cyrtospirifer verneuili, from slates of Late Devonian age near Delabole in Cornwall, is known as the Delabole butterfly. The naturally wide hinge-line of Cyrtospirifer has been distorted and widened further by the pressures in the Earth&#039;s crust that led to the formation of the slates themselves.\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption sm-line\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>&#8216;Delabole butterfly&#8217;. \u00a9 Natural History Museum.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3d-fossil\"> 3D fossil models<\/h2>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/P871945_1332x690.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Atrypa reticularis var woodwardi&lt;\/i&gt;\u00a0(Silurian, Ludlow). BGS \u00a9UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_40117\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/P871945_1332x690-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"Atrypa reticularis var. (SM A 11629 \u2013 Holotype). Ludlow Epoch (Silurian Period) (423.6 \u2013 427.4 Ma B.P.) See 3D fossils online.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/P871945_1332x690-960x497.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption sm-line\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p><i>Atrypa reticularis var woodwardi<\/i>\u00a0(Silurian, Ludlow). BGS \u00a9UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/P871945_1332x690.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Atrypa reticularis var woodwardi&lt;\/i&gt;\u00a0(Silurian, Ludlow). BGS \u00a9UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_40117\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Many of the fossils in the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geological-data\/national-geological-repository\/palaeontology-collections\/\">BGS palaeontology collections<\/a>&nbsp;are available to view and download as 3D models. To view this fossil, or others like it, in 3D visit <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.3d-fossils.ac.uk\/home.html\" target=\"_blank\">GB3D Type Fossils<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reference<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Cox, B M, and Penn, I E. 2000. Brachiopods: fossil focus. (Nottingham, UK: British Geological Survey.)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<section   id=\"latest-content-6519-block_5ed5366668bb0\" class=\"grid-section  primary-background   \" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row header-of-section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>You may also be interested in<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row grid-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/feature_homepage_p815563-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Ammonite p815563\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/feature_homepage_p815563.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/\">Discovering Geology<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Discovering Geology introduces a range of geoscience topics to school-age students and learners of all ages.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/fishThroughTime-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"fishThroughTime\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/fishThroughTime.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/\">Fossils and geological time<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Take a look at the history of the Earth, from its formation over four and a half billion years ago to present times.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":36565,"parent":16685,"menu_order":11,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"brachiopods, fossils, brachiopod","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"57790,21316,8334,34185,1783,50727","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Brachiopods - British Geological Survey<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Brachiopods have a very long history of life on Earth (at least 550 million years). 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