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
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| Athyris concentrica | |
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| Genus: | Athyris McCoy, 1844
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Cliothyris, Spirithyris, Euthyris, Cleidothyris | |
Alverezites, Bruntonites, and Meristospira are among related genera.
Reassigned species edit
Some species originally included in Athyris have been reassigned.[1]
- A. aliena = Septathyris aliena
- A. headi = Catazyga
- A. megalotis = Comelicania megalotis
- A. peracuta = Janiceps peracuta
- A. royssii = Cleiothyridina royssii
- A. umbonata = Hindella umbonata
Ecology and taphonomy edit
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
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Athyris concentrica, pedicle valve -
Athyris concentrica, brachial valve -
Athyris concentrica, anterior view -
Athyris concentrica, posterior view -
Athyris concentrica, lateral view
References: Aberhan et al. 2004, Hendy 2009
References edit
- ^ 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