The origin of the spiriferidine brachiopods

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Doubts were expressed as to whether the strophic spiriferidines should continue to be grouped with the non-strophic spiriferids in the order Spiriferida or not. The solution will only be found by establishing the origin of the spiriferidines. A characteristic feature of the spiriferidines is their well developed micro-ornament; this is shared also by the orthid Platystrophiinae and together with the striking similarity in overall morphology (well recognized in the early nineteenth century) it suggests that here, in the Platystrophia plexus, is the ancestral stock of the strophic spire-bearers. The Platystrophiinae share with the non-strophic Rhynchonellida the potential to develop a spire. The former gave rise to the spiriferidines and the latter to the non-strophic spire-bearers. These separate developments justify the separation of the spire-bearers into the 2 orders Spiriferida and Atrypida.

This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit: