Orthorhynchulidae
Classification
Phylum: Brachiopoda
Class: Rhynchonellata
Order: Rhynchonellida
Family: Orthorhynchulidae (Cooper, 1956)
Cincinnatian Genera: Orthorhynchula
Geologic Range
Late Ordovician – Middle Silurian
Common Paleoecology
Orthorhynchulidae is an extinct family of stationary epifaunal suspension feeders
Description of the Family
- Open delthryium or incipient deltidal plates
- Reduced dental plates
- Ventral interarea present
- Hinge plates slope medially
- Cardinal process septiform, lobed, or branching
Published Descriptions
Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Part H, Vol. 4 (2002):
- Rhynchotrematoidea with delthyium open or with incipient deltidial plates; ventral interarea commonly present; dental plates reduced; hinge plates slope medially to join septalium that is sessile or supported on low median septum; cardinal process septiform, lobed, or branching.
Orthorhynchula
