Rhynchonellida

Classification
Phylum: Brachiopoda
Class: Rhynchonellata
Order: Rhynchonellida (Kuhn, 1949)
Cincinnatian Families: Orthorhynchulidae, Rhynchotrematidae

Geologic Range
Early Ordovician – Recent

Common Paleoecology
Rhynchonellida is an extant order of stationary, epifaunal suspension feeders

Characteristics of the Order

  • Biconvex shell
  • Usually has fold on the dorsal valve and sulcus on the ventral valve
  • Commonly has coarse costae
  • Dental plates usually present
  • Small interarea limited to the ventral valve
  • Extant
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Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Part H, Vol. 4 (2002):

  • Rostrate articulated brachiopods with bi-convex shell that usually has dorsal fold and ventral sulcus; interareas typically low and limited to ventral valve. Shell commonly with coarse costae, sometimes fine; mostly impunctate. Ventral interior typically with dental plates; spondylium normallly absent. Dorsal interior commonly with medium septum supporting septalium or hinge plates; outer parts of hinge plates form bases for crura that in recent genera are attached to spirolophous lophophore.

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Orthorhynchulidae


Rhynchotrematidae