Brachiopods are a phylum of bivalves unrelated to clams. They date back to the Cambrian Period and live today. Brachiopods have bilateral symmetry – the left and right side of the shells are mirrors. The top and bottom shells are different. (Clams are the opposite.)
Preservation Code: C = Calcified, Ph = Phosphatic, P = Pyritized, S =Silicified, 1= w/o, matrix, 2 = w/ matrix
Featured specimens are found in Indiana, Kentucky & Tennessee (with surrounding states).
Photos appear BELOW the name. Photos lasted updated 3-29-2022
BRACHIOPODS Period Location* Preservation
* Where I’ve collected it
Acrospirifer duodenarius (Hall) – Jeffersonville Limestone, Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., Indiana – S,1 (single valves)
Alatiformia varicosa (Conrad) – a small spiriferid, Jeffersonville & Speed Limestone, Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., Indiana – S,1,2
Ambocoelia sp. – Fairly rare, Coral Ridge Member, New Providence Shale, basal Middle Mississippian, Jefferson Co., KY – P,1
Ambocoelia umbonata (Conrad), a very small species common in the Beechwood Limestone, Givetian, Middle Devonian, Nelson & Marion Co., KY – S,2
Anastrophia internascens (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Wenlockian, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1
Anthracospirifer spinosa (Hall), widespread in the Chesterian, Upper Mississippian, IN, IL, KY – C,1
Athyris densa (Hall) – Salem Limestone, Meramecean, Middle Mississippian, KY – C,1 (Commonly found crushed)
Athyris spiriferoides (Eaton) – Jeffersonville Limestone, Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., Indiana – S,1
Athyris fultonensis (Swallow) – super-abundant in the Speed Limestone, Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – C,S,1,2
“Atrypa” sp. (Pseudoatrypa?) – Birdsong Shale, Emsian, Lower Devonian, Decatur Co., Tennessee – C,1
Brachythyris suborbicularis (Hall) – Osagean, Middle Mississippian, Hardin Co., KY – C,1,2
Brevispirifer gregarius (Clapp) – Jeffersonville Limestone, Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., Indiana & Jefferson Co., Kentucky – S,1,2 (Mostly in single valves)
Camarotoechia acutiplicata Amsden – Brownsport Group, Wenlockian, Middle Silurian, Decatur Co., TN – C,1
Camarotoechia cedarensis Amsden – Bob Fm., Brownsport Group, Wenlockian, Middle Silurian, Decatur Co., TN – C,1
Camarotoechia transvera – Birdsong Shale, Emsian, Lower Devonian, Decatur Co., Tennessee – C.1
Chonetes scitulus Hall – Middle Devonian, Ausable River / Hungry Hollow, Ontario, Canada – C,1
Chonetes supergibbosus (2) Middle Devonian Poland C1
Chonetes yandellanus Hall – Sellersburg / North Vernon Limestone, Givetian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – S,C,1,2 (Mass mortality layers)
Cincinnetina multisecta (Meek) (formerly Onneilla), especially in the Kope Formation, Upper Ordovician, KY – C,1,2. Click here for more info (away from this website).
Cleiothyridina hirsuta (Hall) – Salem Limestone, Meramecean, Middle Mississippian, KY – C,1
Cleiothyridina sublamellosa (Hall) found flattened with spines or inflated w/o spines – Chesterian, Upper Mississippian, IN, IL, KY – C,1
Composita trinuclea (Hall) – a wide-ranging species in the Mississippian, found in IN, IL, KY -C,1, S,2
Cupularostrum tethys (Hall) – Sellersburg / North Vernon Limestone, Givetian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – S,1,2
Cyrtina hamiltonensis (Hall) – Sellersburg / North Vernon Limestone, Givetian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – C,S,1,2
Devonochonetes coronatus (Conrad) – Sellersburg / North Vernon Limestone, Givetian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – S,1,
Diaphragmus cestriensis (Worthen) – Upper Mississippian, western KY – C,1,2
Echinoconchus alternatus (Norwood & Pratten) – Middle Mississippian, KY,IN – C,1,2
Echinoconchus biseriatus (Hall) – Salem Limestone, Middle Mississippian, Hardin Co., KY – C,1,2
Eodictyonella reticulata (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1,2 (Small brachiopod with a reticulate texture)
Eospirifer eudora (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1
Eospirifer radiata (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1
Eumetria vera (Hall) – Salem Limestone, Middle Mississippian, IN, KY – C,1 (Very small species)
Coolinia subplana (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1,2 (Very flat) Previous known as Fardenia.
Gotatrypa muldae (Copper) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1 (Most abundant brachiopod)
Hebertella occidentalis (Hall), Upper Ordovician, KY, IN – C,1,2 (Very common, though perfect specimens less so)
Heterorthina emacerata (Hall) – was Onneilla – Kope Formation, Upper Ordovician, Carroll Co., KY – C,1,2
Hiscobeccus capax (Conrad) – Upper Ordovician, IN, KY – C,1,2 (Used to called Lepidocyclus)
Homeospira evax (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1
Inflatia inflatia Upper Mississippian KY C,1,2
“Invertrypa” spinosa? Middle Devonian IN S,1
Kozlowskiellina octacostata tennessensis Amsden – Birdsong Shale, Early Devonian, Decatur Co., Tennessee – C,1,2
Labriproductus scitulus Middle Mississippian IN S,2
Leptaena acuticuspidata Amsden – Birdsong Shale, Early Devonian, Decatur Co., Tennessee – C,1,2
Leptaena rhomboidalis (Wilckens) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana C,1,2
Leptaena rhomboidalis Early Devonian TN C,1
Leptaena rhomboidalis Middle Devonian IN C,1,2
Leptaena richmondensis – found in certain Upper Ordovician formations in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio – C,1,2
Linoproductus cora (d’Orbigny), Borden Formation, Osagean, Middle Mississippian, IN, KY – C,1,2
Marginatia(?) crawfordsvillensis Weller – Borden Formation, Middle Mississippian, IN, KY – C,2
Marginata burlingtonensis (Meek & Worthen) – St. Louis Limestone, Middle Mississippian IN, KY – C,1,2
Marginirugus magnus (Meek & Worthen) – Harrodsburg Limestone, Middle Mississippian IN – C,1,2 (One of the largest species in the U.S.)
Mediospirifer audaculus (Conrad) – Sellersburg / North Vernon Limestone, Givetian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – S,C,1,2 (Spirifer oweni in older texts)
Mediospirifer? segmentum Middle Devonian IN S,1
Megakozlowskiellina perlamellosa (Hall) – Birdsong Shale, Early Devonian, Decatur Co., Tennessee – C,1
Megastrophia concava (Conrad) – Jeffersonville Limestone, Middle Devonian, IN, KY – C,S,2
Megastrophia profunda Middle Silurian IN C,2
Merista tennessenesis ” ” TN C,1
Meristella maria (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1
Mucrospirifer arkonensis (Grabau) Middle Devonian ONT C,1,2
Mucrospirifer thedordensis (Grabau) ” ” ONT, MI C,1,2
Orbiculoidea keokuk Middle Mississippian KY Ph,2
Orbiculoidea sp. – Glen Dean Formation, Chesterian, Upper Mississippian, Grayson Co., KY, – Ph,1,2 (Usually a small inarticulate brachiopod.)
Orthorhynchula linneyi Upper Ordovician, Boyle Co., KY – S,C,1
Orthotetes keokuk (Hall), Borden Formation, Osagean, Middle Mississippian, IN, KY – C,2 (A large, common productid brachiopod in the formation.)
Ovatia ovatia Upper Mississippian KY C,1,2
Paraspirifer acuminatus (Conrad) – Jeffersonville Limestone, Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN -S,1 (Single valves are common, complete rare in the P. acuminatus zone)
Pentamerella pavilionensis (Hall) – Jeffersonville Limestone, Middle Devonian, IN, KY – C,S,1,2
Pentamerus oblongata (Sowerby), Laurel & Louisville Limestones, Wenlockian, Middle Silurian, Jefferson & Nelson Co., KY – S,1,2
Pentagonia peersi (Cozzens) – Beechwood Limestone, Givetian, Middle Devonian Clark Co., IN – S,1 (Single shells, the better-known P. unsulcata is Eifelian age.)
Perditocardia dubia (Hall) – Salem Limestone, Meramecean, Middle Mississippian, IN, KY – S,C,1,2 (Interior of the shell looks like a little heart.)
Petrocrania is a type of inarticulate brachiopod. It’s not that it can’t talk, but rather, the two valves are not articulated with a tooth & socket system like articulate brachiopods.
Petrocrania chesterensis Upper Mississippian KY,IN C,2 (on crinoid columns)
Petrocrania hamiltonensis (Hall) – Eifelian & Givetian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – S,2
Petrocrania scabiosa (Hall) – Upper Ordovician, IN, KY – C,2
Petrocrania siluriana (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana C,2
Pholidostrophia iowensis (Owen) – Speed Limestone, Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – C,2
Platystrophia (now called Vinlandostrophia) Upper Ordovician KY C,1,2
Platystrophia cypha ” ” KY C,1,2
Platystrophia ponderosa ” ” KY C,1,2
Platystrophyia laticosta ” ” KY C,1,2
Productus altonensis Norwood & Pratten – Upper Mississippian, IL, IN, KY = C,1,2
Productus marginicinctus – St. Louis Limestone, Middle Mississippian, IN, KY – C,S, 1,2
Productus teniucostatus – St. Louis Limestone, Middle Mississippian, IN, KY – C,S, 1,2
Protoleptostrophia perplana (Conrad) – Jeffersonville & Speed Limestones, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – C,1,2
Pseudoatrypa sp. – Jeffersonville & Sellersburg Limestones, Middle Devonian IN, MI – S,C,1
Pseudoatrypa tennesseneensis (Amsden), Brownsport Group, Middle Silurian, Decatur Co., TN – C,1
Punctospirifer spinosa (Hall), widespread in the Chesterian, Upper Mississippian, IN, IL, KY – C,1
Punctospirifer sp. – Glen Dean Formation, Chesterian, Upper Mississippian, Grayson Co., KY – C,1
Rafinesquina ponderosa Ulrich – Upper Ordovician, IN, KY – C,1,2 (Ponderosa = ponderous, large)
Resserella elegentula (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1,2
Rhipidomella hybrida Hall – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1,2
Rhipidomella oweni (Hall) – Middle Mississippian KY C,1
Rhipidomella penelope (Hall) – Jeffersonville & Speed Limestones, Eifelian, Middle Devonian, IN, KY – S,C,1,2
Rhipidomelloides emarginata – Birdsong Shale, Emsian, Lower Devonian, Decatur Co., IN – C,1
Discomyorthis oblata (Hall) – Birdsong Shale, Emsian, Lower Devonian, Decatur Co., IN – C,1
Rhynchopora beecheri Middle Mississippian KY P,1
Rhynchospirina globosa (Amsden) – Birdsong Shale, Emsian, Lower Devonian, Decatur Co., IN – C,1
Rhynchotreta americana (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1,2
Schizophoria striatula Middle Devonian IN C,1,2
Schizoramma fissiplica (Roemer) – Brownsport Group, Wenlockian, Middle Silurian, Decatur Co., TN – C,1
Schuchertella woolworthana (Hall) – Birdsong Shale, Early Devonian, Decatur Co., Tenneessee – C,2
Sieberella roemeri (Hall & Clarke) – Brownsport Group, Wenlockian, Middle Silurian, Decatur Co., TN – C,1,2
Sieberella knotti (Nettleroth) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana C,1,2 (Restricted to Clark Co. Waldron)
Sowerbyella rugosa (Meek) – Kope Formation, Upper Ordovician, KY – C,1,2
Sphaerirhynchia compressa Middle Silurian TN C,1
Sphaerirhynchia saffordi ” ” TN C,1
Sphaerirhynchia sp. Middle Silurian TN C,1
Spinatrypa spinosa Middle Devonian MI C,1
Spinocyrtia granulosa (Hall) – Sellersburg / North Vernon Limestone, Givetian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – S,C,1,2 (Orthospirifer fornacula in older texts)
Spinulicosta spinulicosta (Hall) – Sellersburg / North Vernon Limestone, Givetian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – S,1,2
Spirifer bifurcutus Hall – Salem & St. Louis Limestone, Middle Mississippian, IN, KY – S,C,1,2
Spirifer byrnesi Middle Devonian, IN – S,1
Spirifer hobbsi Nettelroth – Maybe Alatiformia – Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – S,C,1,2
Spirifer washingtonensis Hall – Salem Limestone, Meramecean, Middle Mississippian, IN, KY – C,2
Stegerhynchus acinus (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana C,1
Stegerhynchus indianensis (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1
Stegerhynchus neglecta (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1
Stegerhynchus whitii (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1
Strophodonta demissa (Conrad) – Speed Limestone, Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – C,1,2
Strophodonta plicata (Hall)? – Speed Limestone, Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – C,1,2 (Lower in strata than typical for species, so it could be another species)
Strophomena concordensis Foerste – Arnheim (Grant Lake) Formation, Upper Ordovician, IN, KY, OH – C,1,2
Strophomena planumbona (Hall) – Upper Ordovician, IN, KY – C,1,2
Subglobochonetes planumbona Middle Mississippian KY C,1
Tegulocera (Spirifer) tenuicostata Middle Mississippian KY C,1,2
Torynifer salemensis ” ” KY C,1,2
Trematis millipunctata Hall – Upper Ordovician, IN, KY, OH – C,2 (Inarticulate brachiopod has an unusual texture that is recognizable. Widespread throughout the Cincinnatian, but not common.)
Tropidoleptus carinatus (Conrad), Middle Devonian IN S,1
Uncinulus stricklandi (Sowerby) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1
Whitfieldella nitida (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1
Zygospira modesta (Hall) – Upper Ordovician, IN, KY – C,1 (Very small species)
Zygospira sp. – Upper Ordovician, Boyle Co., KY – S,2