Brachiopods

Brachiopod Photos

Hebertellla occidentalis (Hall) – an Ordovician species

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)

Silicified valves, Jeffersonville Limestone

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

Coral Ridge fauna, basal Borden Formation

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

Brachythyris suborbicularis is a large Mississippian brachiopod

Brevispirifer gregarius (Clapp) – Jeffersonville Limestone, Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., Indiana & Jefferson Co., Kentucky – S,1,2 (Mostly in single valves)

Brevispirifer gregarius is so abundant there’s a B. gregarius zone in the Jeffersonville Limestone.

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 cedarensis from Tennessee’s Silurian

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

Cleiothyridina sublamellosa with spines & Paleoconchus coiled worms.

Composita trinuclea (Hall) – a wide-ranging species in the Mississippian, found in IN, IL, KY -C,1, S,2

Composita trinuclea is often silicified from the chert in the St Louis & Ste Genevieve Limestones

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

Diaphragmus cestriensis is common in Chester-age rocks

Echinoconchus alternatus (Norwood & Pratten) – Middle Mississippian, KY,IN – C,1,2

Echinoconchus alternatus found in Salem Limestone

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)

Eodictyonella reticulata – a fascinating small Silurian brachiopod.

Eospirifer eudora (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1

Eospirifer radiata (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1

Eospirifer radiata is common and robust in Waldron Shale

Eumetria vera (Hall) – Salem Limestone, Middle Mississippian, IN, KY – C,1 (Very small species)

Fardenia subplana (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1,2 (Very flat)

Fardenia subplana, the flattest brachiopod In the Waldron Shale

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)

Hebertella occidentalis is common Upper Ordovician brachiopod

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)

Hiscobeccus capax is common in the Liberty Formation

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

Kozlowskiellina octacostata tennessensis looks shingled. ~2 cm wide

Labriproductus scitulus                    Middle Mississippian                          IN                          S,2

Leptaena acuticuspidata Amsden – Birdsong Shale, Early Devonian, Decatur Co., Tennessee – C,1,2

Leptaena acuticuspidata – a small species with lots of detail.

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

Leptaena richmondensis is common in the Liberty Formation

Linoproductus cora (d’Orbigny), Borden Formation, Osagean, Middle Mississippian, IN, KY – C,1,2

Linoproductus cora In the Borden Formation

Marginatia(?) crawfordsvillensis Weller – Borden Formation, Middle Mississippian, IN, KY – C,2

Marginatia crawfordsvillensis in the New Providence Shale / Borden delta sediments

Marginata burlingtonensis (Meek & Worthen) – St. Louis Limestone, Middle Mississippian IN, KY – C,1,2

Salem Limestone species

Marginirugus magnus (Meek & Worthen) – Harrodsburg Limestone, Middle Mississippian IN – C,1,2 (One of the largest species in the U.S.)

Largest brachiopod in the central U.S.

Mediospirifer audaculus (Conrad) – Sellersburg / North Vernon Limestone, Givetian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – S,C,1,2 (Spirifer oweni in older texts)

Elongate triangular delthyrium on pedicale valve

Mediospirifer? segmentum               Middle Devonian                                IN                           S,1

Megakozlowskiellina perlamellosa (Hall) – Birdsong Shale, Early Devonian, Decatur Co., Tennessee – C,1

Megakozlowskiellina perlamellosa about 1.5 cm wide.

Megastrophia concava (Conrad) – Jeffersonville Limestone, Middle Devonian, IN, KY – C,S,2

Largest brachiopod in the Jeffersonville Limestone

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.)

Orbiculoidea sp. – a tiny specimen from the Glen Dean Formation

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.)

Orthotetes keokuk in siltstone

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)

Paraspirifer acuminatus with sponge? borings
Paraspirifer acuminatus interior

Pentamerella pavilionensis (Hall) – Jeffersonville Limestone, Middle Devonian, IN, KY – C,S,1,2

Pentamerella pavilionensis has a distinctive triangular shape.

Pentamerus oblongata (Sowerby), Laurel & Louisville Limestones, Wenlockian, Middle Silurian, Jefferson & Nelson Co., KY – S,1,2

Pentamerus oblongata is found in Laurel Dolostone & Louisville Limestone

Pentagonia peersi (Cozzens) – Beechwood Limestone, Givetian, Middle Devonian     Clark Co., IN – S,1 (Single shells, the better-known P. unsulcata is Eifelian age.)

Pentagonia peersi – almost resembles a Bellerophon snail shell.

Perditocardia dubia (Hall) – Salem Limestone, Meramecean, Middle Mississippian, IN, KY – S,C,1,2 (Interior of the shell looks like a little heart.)

Perditocardia dubia is common in the Salem Limestone.

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 hamiltonensis on Megastrophia concava, Jeffersonville Limestone

Petrocrania scabiosa (Hall) – Upper Ordovician, IN, KY – C,2

Petrocrania scabiosa is usually not larger than 1 cm. This is the upper valve.

Petrocrania siluriana (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana   C,2

Several on Uncinulus stricklandi from Waldron Shale

Pholidostrophia iowensis (Owen) – Speed Limestone, Eifelian, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – C,2

Possible Pholidostrophia iowensis from the Speed Limestone

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 altonensis is named for Alton, Illinois

Productus marginicinctus – St. Louis Limestone, Middle Mississippian, IN, KY – C,S, 1,2

Productus marginicinctus in chert from Corydon, Indiana

Productus teniucostatus – St. Louis Limestone, Middle Mississippian, IN, KY – C,S, 1,2

Uncommon species in the Salem & St Louis Limestones

Protoleptostrophia perplana (Conrad) – Jeffersonville & Speed Limestones, Middle Devonian, Clark Co., IN – C,1,2

Widespread in Devonian, Jeffersonville & Speed Limestones

Pseudoatrypa sp.                                     ”             ”                                       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

Punctospirifer sp. about 1 cm wide

Rafinesquina ponderosa Ulrich – Upper Ordovician, IN, KY – C,1,2 (Ponderosa = ponderous, large)

Rafinesquina ponderosa has convex & concave valves

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

Rhipidomella penelope is common in the Speed Limestone

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

Rhynchospirina globosa is very small (3 cm FOV)

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

Schuchertella woolworthana is nearly 4 cm wide.

Sieberella roemeri (Hall & Clarke) – Brownsport Group, Wenlockian, Middle Silurian, Decatur Co., TN – C,1,2

Sieberella roemeri pedicle valve view
Sieberella roemeri dorsal valve / rear view

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

Sowerbyella rugosa – and abundant fairly small brachiopod of the Ordovician

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)

Most common of the Sellersburg (North Vernon) Limestone spiriferids

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 bifurcutus is a common spiriferid brachiopod in the Salem Limestone

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

Spirifer washingtonensis has an extremely wide hinge-line, like some Devonian Mucrospirifer.

Stegerhynchus acinus (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana    C,1

Smallest Waldron Stegerhynchus

Stegerhynchus indianensis (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1

Largest of Waldron species of Stegerhynchus

Stegerhynchus neglecta (Hall) – Waldron Shale, Middle Silurian, Clark Co., Indiana – C,1

Waldron Shale species

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

This species is common in the Speed Limestone

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)

Possible Strophodonta plicata from the Speed Limestone

Strophomena concordensis Foerste – Arnheim (Grant Lake) Formation, Upper Ordovician, IN, KY, OH – C,1,2

Strophomena concordensis – an index fossil with limited stratigraphic distribution.

Strophomena planumbona (Hall) – Upper Ordovician,  IN, KY – C,1,2

Distinct from Rafinesquina

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.)

Trematis millipunctata has a pattern on “holes” in the valve
Trematis millipunctata – almost 2 cm across

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