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| Mucrospirifer Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mucrospirifer mucronatus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Brachiopoda |
| Class: | Rhynchonellata |
| Order: | † Spiriferida |
| Suborder: | † Delthyridina |
| Superfamily: | † Delthyridoidea |
| Family: | † Mucrospiriferidae |
| Genus: | † Mucrospirifer Grabau, 1931 |
| Type species | |
| Delthyris mucronatus Conrad, 1841 | |
| Species | |
See text | |
Mucrospirifer is a genus of extinct brachiopods in the class Rhynchonellata (Articulata) and the order Spiriferida. They are sometimes known as "butterfly shells". [2] Like other brachiopods, they were filter feeders. These fossils occur mainly in Middle Devonian strata [2] and appear to occur around the world, except in Australia and Antarctica. [1] [3]
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The biconvex shell was typically 2.5 cm long, [2] but sometimes grew to 4 cm. The shell of Mucrospirifer has a fold, sulcus and costae. It is greatly elongated along the hinge line, which extends outward to form sharp points. [2] This gives them a fin- or wing-like appearance. The apex area (umbo) of the pedicle valve contains a small fold for the pedicle. [2] Mucrospirifer lived in muddy marine sediments, and were attached to the sea floor via the pedicle. The shell sometimes looks like two seashells stuck together.
