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) is an abundant brachiopod in the Upper Ordovician. It can be found in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. Although not specifically attributed, as the Kentucky State Fossil – the brachiopod, I would assign to this genus. It isn’t unusual to find the interior of these brachiopods lined with calcite crystals, and occasionally dolomite and celestine.
Platystrophia cypha C,1,2
Platystrophia ponderosa C,1,2
Platystrophyia laticosta C,1,2
Productid brachiopods reach their greatest diversity in the Carboniferous. There are many genera, including Echinoconchus, Marginorugus, Ovatia, etc.
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 is a very flat, thin brachiopod. The pink color of the calcite may be due to something in the original shell composition or a random variation of mineralization.
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