''Mucrospirifer'' is a genus of extinct

brachiopod Brachiopods (), phylum (biology), phylum Brachiopoda, are a phylum of animals that have hard "valves" (shells) on the upper and lower surfaces, unlike the left and right arrangement in bivalve molluscs. Brachiopod valves are hinged at the rear e ...

s in the class

Rhynchonellata The Rhynchonellata is a class of Lower Cambrian to Holocene, Recent Articulata (Brachiopoda), articulate brachiopods that combines orders from within the Rhynchonelliformea (Articulata revised) with well developed pedicle attachment. Shell forms ...

(Articulata) and the order

Spiriferida Spiriferida is an order of extinct articulate brachiopod fossils which are known for their long hinge-line, which is often the widest part of the shell. In some genera (e.g. ''Mucrospirifer'') it is greatly elongated, giving them a wing-like app ...

. They are sometimes known as "butterfly shells". Like other brachiopods, they were filter feeders. These

fossil A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserve ...

s occur mainly in Middle

Devonian The Devonian ( ) is a period (geology), geologic period and system (stratigraphy), system of the Paleozoic era (geology), era during the Phanerozoic eon (geology), eon, spanning 60.3 million years from the end of the preceding Silurian per ...

strata In geology and related fields, a stratum (: strata) is a layer of Rock (geology), rock or sediment characterized by certain Lithology, lithologic properties or attributes that distinguish it from adjacent layers from which it is separated by v ...

and appear to occur around the world, except in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

and

Antarctica Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean (also known as the Antarctic Ocean), it contains the geographic South Pole. ...

.Global Biodiversity Information Facility
/ref> The biconvex shell was typically 2.5 cm long, 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. This gives them a fin- or wing-like appearance. The apex area (umbo) of the pedicle valve contains a small fold for the

pedicle Pedicle or pedicel may refer to: Human anatomy *Pedicle of vertebral arch, the segment between the transverse process and the vertebral body, and is often used as a radiographic marker and entry point in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures ...

. ''Mucrospirifer'' lived in muddy marine

sediment Sediment is a solid material that is transported to a new location where it is deposited. It occurs naturally and, through the processes of weathering and erosion, is broken down and subsequently sediment transport, transported by the action of ...

s, and were attached to the sea floor via the pedicle. The shell sometimes looks like two seashells stuck together.

Species

Mucrospirifer diluvianoides 2 pedunculate valve

*''Mucrospirifer albanensis'' *''Mucrospirifer arkonensis'' *''Mucrospirifer bouchardi'' *''Mucrospirifer diluvianoides'' *''Mucrospirifer grabaui'' *''Mucrospirifer medfordsis'' *''

Mucrospirifer mucronatus ''Mucrospirifer mucronatus'' is a species of articulate brachiopod from the middle Devonian. The species serves as an index fossil for the middle Devonian. Discovery and history ''Mucrospirifer mucronatus'' was discovered by Timothy Abbott Con ...

'' (Conrad, 1841) *''Mucrospirifer paradoxiformis'' *''Mucrospirifer profundus'' *''Mucrospirifer prolificus'' *''Mucrospirifer refugiensis'' *''Mucrospirifer thedfordensis'' *''Mucrospirifer williamsi''

References

External links

* Color reconstruction of ''Mucrospirifer arkonensis'' a
www.emilydamstra.com
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2327880 Spiriferida Prehistoric brachiopod genera Devonian brachiopods Paleozoic brachiopods of North America Paleozoic brachiopods of Europe Paleozoic life of Ontario Paleozoic life of the Northwest Territories Fossils of Brazil Fossils of Canada Fossils of China Fossils of Colombia Fossils of Germany Fossils of Iran Fossils of Libya Fossils of Russia Fossils of Spain Fossils of the United States Fossils of Venezuela Fossils of Vietnam Fossil taxa described in 1931 Taxa described in 1931