Salopina Brachiopod

[Mainefossils]

I have just finished preparing this nice pair of brachiopods. I am pretty certain that they are of the genus Salopina, but am not totally positive. 

 

The genus is marked as one of the most common brachiopods found in the Leighton Fm, as well as being considered a defining characteristic of this formation. Even though they are so common, I really never tire of them. 

 

The way these brachiopods were preserved, though, is rather interesting. @DPS Ammonite kindly acquainted me with the fact that these specimens are not internal molds, as I (pretty sillily) first thought. It seems that these brachiopods were preserved as an internal and external mold, and then the internal mold partly imprinted on the external. This would create a fossil that exhibited characteristics of both the internal and external mold.

 

I unfortunately forgot to take a pre-prep photo of the specimens below.  The photo was taken with the specimen wet, to provide more contrast. 

 

Thanks for reading! 

 

 

[Fossildude19]

Beautiful specimens!  

[Mainefossils]

Thanks @Fossildude19! 

 

I thought it would be best to inform everyone that I have finally identified these particular brachiopods to species, Salopina (=Dalmenella) lunata, from the paper Silurian and Late Devonian Salopinid Brachiopods. I also learned that the ridges on the internal mold are actually one of the characteristics of this species, and not from the external mold. Live and learn(again). 

 

Here is a plate from that paper, showing this species in figure 1- 7. 

 

                                                             

Walmsley, V. G., Boucot, A. J., Harper, C. W. (1969) Silurian and Lower Devonian Salopinid Brachiopods. Journal of Paleontology, 43(2). 

 

The description of this species from the same paper: "Outline transversely elliptical to subquadrate, brachiopod valve sulcate with fine costellae which radiate with little curvature. Posterior valve subparallel to tingle line in brachial valve. Branchiophores thin, long, pointed blades."

[Tidgy's Dad]

Well done again. 

Yes, the type species for the genus, I believe.