Reticulariina spinosa (fossil brachiopod) (Glen Dean Formation, Upper Mississippian; Wax South Outcrop, Rt. 88 roadcut, Hart County, Kentucky, USA) 2 (40546658280)

Description:

Description: Reticulariina spinosa (Norwood & Pratten, 1855) - brachiopod (exterior of dorsal valve) in the Mississippian of Kentucky USA. Brachiopods are sessile, benthic, filter-feeding, marine invertebrates. They first appear in Cambrian rocks and were abundant in Earth's oceans throughout the Paleozoic. They were also common in Mesozoic oceans, but are scarce in modern oceanic biotas. Brachiopods have two shells, called valves, that are usually calcareous (made of calcite - CaCO3 - calcium carbonate). Each shell of a brachiopod is bilaterally symmetrical, unlike each shell of a bivalve (clam). Click on the photo to zoom in - notice that this species has a shell mostly covered in spines (just the spine bases are preserved here). Classification: Animalia, Brachiopoda, Articulata (also known as Rhynchonelliformea), Spiriferida, Reticulariinidae Stratigraphy: Glen Dean Formation, Chesterian Series, Upper Mississippian Locality: Wax South Outcrop - Rt. 88 roadcut south of the town of Wax & immediately south of Nolin Reservoir/Lake, west-northwest of the town of Cub Run, far-western Hart County, west-central Kentucky, USA (37° 20' 10.88” North latitude, 86° 07’ 35.03” West longitude). Date: 14 March 2018, 15:24. Source: Reticulariina spinosa (fossil brachiopod) (Glen Dean Formation, Upper Mississippian; Wax South Outcrop, Rt. 88 roadcut, Hart County, Kentucky, USA) 2. Author: James St. John.