While decimated by the end-Permian mass extinction, they are not extinct, with ~400+ extant species. 🔬 Biology and Lifestyle
They are benthic (sea-floor dwellers) and sessile (permanently attached to the seafloor), generally filter-feeding. brachiopod
They were the most common shelled macroinvertebrates in the Paleozoic era. While decimated by the end-Permian mass extinction, they
Depending on species, they live between 3 to 30 years. 🦴 The Fossil Record What is a Brachiopod? (And Why You Should Care) Depending on species, they live between 3 to 30 years
They are divided into two main groups: Inarticulates (no hinges, simple muscle systems) and Articulates (hinged with a complex system).
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 use a specialized organ called a lophophore , a coil-shaped tentacle structure, to trap food, rather than gills.