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.

Athyris
Temporal range: Lower Devonian - Triassic
Athyris concentrica
Scientific classification
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Athyris

McCoy, 1844
species
  • A. concentrica (Von Buch, 1834) type = Terebratula concentrica
  • A. lamellosa (Léveillé)
  • A. vittata Hall
Synonyms

Cliothyris, Spirithyris, Euthyris, Cleidothyris

Alverezites, Bruntonites, and Meristospira are among related genera.

Reassigned species

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Some species originally included in Athyris have been reassigned.[1]

Ecology and taphonomy

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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

References

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  1. ^ Moore, R.C. (1965). Brachiopoda. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology. Vol. Part H., Volume 1 and 2. Boulder, Colorado/Lawrence, Kansas: Geological Society of America/University of Kansas Press. ISBN 0-8137-3015-5.
  • R.C Moore 1952. Brachiopods, Ch 6. Moore, Lalicker, and Fischer. Invertebrate Fossils, McGraw-Hill.
  • Athyris data