Mucrospirifer mucronatus Temporal range: | |
---|---|
![]() | |
A Mucrospirifer mucronatus from the Windom shale. | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Brachiopoda |
Class: | Rhynchonellata |
Order: | † Spiriferida |
Family: | † Mucrospiriferidae |
Genus: | † Mucrospirifer |
Species: | †M. mucronatus |
Binomial name | |
†Mucrospirifer mucronatus Conrad, 1841 | |
Mucrospirifer mucronatus is a species of articulate brachiopod from the middle Devonian. [1] The species serves as an index fossil for the middle Devonian. [2] [3]
Mucrospirifer mucronatus was discovered by Timothy Abbott Conrad in 1841 as Delthyris mucronatus. Until 1931, most species in the genus Mucrospirifer would be classified under the genus Spirifer . Amadeus William Grabau would first propose the genus Mucrospirifer in 1931, using Mucrospirifer mucronatus as the type species.
Mucrospirifer mucronatus typically has a biconvex shell. The shell is covered in ribs (known as costae). The cardinal extremities on the posterior are elongated in adolescent specimens to form spines. [4]
Mucrospirifer mucronatus was a filter feeder, that lived anchored to the seafloor. The species would’ve been common to reefs in the middle Devonian, was attached to the seafloor through a pedicle. Mucrospirifer mucronatus would often be a host for epibionts. Like modern brachiopods, Mucrospirifer mucronatus would have tolerated relatively anoxic conditions. [5] [6]