Brachiopods

*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

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)

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.)

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

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

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* 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

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

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

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