Brachiopod Fossil

This specimen preserves the external shell morphology of a brachiopod, an extinct group of marine invertebrates that flourished in Paleozoic and early Mesozoic seas. The fossil displays strong radial ribbing and bilateral symmetry, characteristic of articulate brachiopods, which anchored themselves to the seafloor using a fleshy stalk known as a pedicle.

Brachiopods are often mistaken for clams, but differ in shell symmetry and internal anatomy. Their abundance and diversity make them important index fossils for interpreting ancient marine environments and sedimentary sequences.

Although the precise locality and age of this specimen are unknown, its preservation and morphology indicate deposition in a marine sedimentary setting, where shells were buried and later lithified within sandy or silty sediments.

52 x 46 x 32mm

86g