Athyris Temporal range: Lower Devonian - Triassic
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Athyris concentrica | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
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Order: | |
Family: | Athyrididae
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Genus: | Athyris McCoy, 1844
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species | |
Synonyms | |
Cliothyris, Spirithyris, Euthyris, Cleidothyris |
Athyris is a brachiopod genus with a subequally biconvex shell that is generally wider than long and a range that extends from the Silurian into the Triassic. Athyris is the type genus for the Athyrididae, which belongs to the articulate order Athyridida. R.C. Moore (1952) gives a shorter range, from the Mid Devonian to the Lower Mississippian.
Alverezites, Bruntonites, and Meristospira are among related genera.
Some species originally included in Athyris have been reassigned.[1]
Composition: low Mg calcite
Entire body: yes
Adult length: 10 to < 100
Adult width: 10 to < 100
Adult height: 10 to < 100
Folds: minor
Ribbing: minor
Spines: none
Internal reinforcement: none
Locomotion: stationary
Attached: yes
Life habit: low-level epifaunal
Diet: suspension feeder
Vision: blind
References: Aberhan et al. 2004, Hendy 2009