(paleontology) An order of fossil articulate brachiopods distinguished by the spiralium, a pair of spirally coiled ribbons of calcite supported by the crura.
Spiriferida
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(′spī·rə′fer·əd·ə)
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An extinct order of brachiopods, in the subphylum Rhynchonelliformea, that inhabited shallow seas of the Paleozoic and early Mesozoic. It was the most diverse group of spire-bearing brachiopods (those that contain a spirally coiled calcareous structure called the brachidium used to support the lophophore). Spiriferids also possess unequally biconvex valves that are externally smooth or radially ribbed. The valves are generally strophic (straight hinge) with a well-developed interarea commonly limited to the ventral valve. Shells may be punctate (possessing small perforations filled by outer epithelial tissue) or impunctate. Punctate shells arose in stratigraphically younger spiriferids; the presence or absence of punctae serves to distinguish two major taxonomic groups. Spiriferids were sessile, attached, epifaunal suspension feeders. Most had a functional pedicle, used for attachment to the substrate. See also Articulata (Echinodermata);
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 Mucrospirifer sp.
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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 appearance. They often have a deep fold down the center of the shell. The feature that gives the spiriferids their name ("spiral-bearers") is the internal support for the lophophore; this brachidium, which is often preserved in fossils, is a thin ribbon of calcite that is typically coiled tightly within the shell.
Spiriferids first appear in the Early Ordovician. They were rare during the Silurian but underwent a dramatic evolutionary radiation during the Devonian period, reaching peak development in variety and numbers. Spiriferida survived the great Permian extinction, finally becoming extinct during the Early Jurassic.
Fossils of this order are often preserved as pyrite.
Taxonomy
Order Spiriferida
- Suborder Delthyridina
- Superfamily Delthyridoidea
- Family Acrospiriferidae
- Family Cyrtinopsidae
- Family Delthyrididae
- Family Hysterolitidae
- Family Mucrospiriferidae
- Superfamily Reticularioidea
- Family Elythidae
- Family Reticulariidae
- Family Thomasariidae
- Family Xenomartiniidae
- Superfamily Delthyridoidea
- Suborder Spiriferidina
- Superfamily Adolfioidea
- Family Adolfiidae
- Family Echinospiriferidae
- Superfamily Ambocoelioidea
- Family Ambocoeliidae
- Family Eudoxinidae
- Family Lazutkiniidae
- Family Verneuiliidae
- Superfamily Adolfioidea
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- Superfamily Brachythyridoidea
- Family Brachythyrididae
- Family Skelidorygmidae
- Superfamily Cyrtioidea (syn. Cyrtiacea)
- Family Costispiriferidae
- Family Cyrtiidae
- Family Hedeinopsidae
- Superfamily Cyrtospiriferoidea
- Family Conispiriferidae
- Family Cyrtospiriferidae
- Family Spinocyrtiidae
- Superfamily Martinioidea
- Family Crassumbidae
- Family Elythynidae
- Family Gerkispiridae
- Family Ingelarellidae
- Family Martiniidae
- Family Perissothyrididae
- Family Tenellodermidae
- Superfamily Paeckelmanelloidea
- Family Paeckelmanellidae
- Family Strophopleuridae
- Superfamily Spiriferoidea
- Family Choristitidae
- Family Imbrexiidae
- Family Reticulariacea
- Family Spiriferellidae
- Family Spiriferidae
- Family Trigonotretidae
- Superfamily Theodossioidea
- Family Palaeochoristitidae
- Family Theodossiidae
- Family Ulbospiriferidae
- Superfamily Brachythyridoidea
See also
References
- Introduction to the Spiriferida
- Spiriferida from the Paleos website.
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
Learn More
 | Atrypidina (paleontology) |
| Athyrididina (paleontology) |
| Spiriferidina (paleontology) |
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Mentioned in
- Atrypidina (paleontology)
- Athyrididina (paleontology)
- Spiriferidina (paleontology)
- Rhynchonelliformea (brachiopoda)
- Eospirifer
- Actinoconchus
- Spiriferina
- Mucrospirifer
- Meristina
- Brachiopod
- Taxonomy of commonly fossilised invertebrates
- Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology
- Geologic time scale
