DEFINITION OF BRACHIOPOD

Definition of brachiopod

Solitary marine invertebrate bivalves of the

phylum Brachiopoda. The shells of brachiopods may be made

of calcium carbonate or chitinophosphate. They range in age

from Lower Cambrian to the present. Brachiopods are known

as “lamp shells,” and they have two clam-like shells joined for

protection from predators. They feed from a thin feather-like

device called a lophophore that filters the food from the

water. Brachiopods attach themselves to hard surfaces or burrow

through soft sediments using a pedicle, which is a long

fleshy stalk that protrudes from the base of the shell.

The earliest brachiopods are known as inarticulates

because they lack teeth and sockets to hold the two sides of

the shell together. These oldest brachiopods used strong muscles

to keep the shells closed when attacked and are virtually

identical to the presently living brachiopod Lingula. Later,

brachiopods developed sockets that aided in keeping the shell

closed and the animal out of reach of predators. Early brachiopods

had shells made of chitinophosphate, whereas the

later varieties used calcium carbonate and developed teeth,

ornaments, ribs, but remained bilaterally symmetric.

See also PALEONTOLOGY.

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