Brachiopod Info

They are divided into two main groups: Inarticulates (no hinges, simple muscle systems) and Articulates (hinged with a complex system).

Depending on species, they live between 3 to 30 years. 🦴 The Fossil Record What is a Brachiopod? (And Why You Should Care) brachiopod

Brachiopods are fascinating marine invertebrates often mistaken for clams, but they are entirely different organisms with a rich, 550-million-year history. Known commonly as "lamp shells," they were dominant in Paleozoic seas but are now relatively rare, often found in deep or cold waters. They are divided into two main groups: Inarticulates

They are benthic (sea-floor dwellers) and sessile (permanently attached to the seafloor), generally filter-feeding. a coil-shaped tentacle structure

They use a specialized organ called a lophophore , a coil-shaped tentacle structure, to trap food, rather than gills.