Tiny Deep Springs Road brachiopod ID

[Misha]

Hello everyone,

I recently sifted through some more of my leftover Deep Spring Road matrix with a few more ordinary finds but this one really has me stumped.

I found a very tiny brachiopod, the diameter of the shell is right around 0.5cm, maybe slightly more, while I have seen some like this the ornamentation of the shell threw me off a bit.

For this size I expected it was probably something like Ambocoelia sp. maybe Emanuella sp., or something else similar, but neither of these have the fairly distinct growth lines around the shell seen in this specimen. The closest shell ornamentation I've seen to this is that of Athyris spiriferoides, which is also present at this site but I have never seen one be this small which left me unsure about the identity of the organism.

Maybe @Tidgy's Dad might know more about this?

I tried to take some pictures but at this scale it is quite difficult, here is the best I have so far:

 

I will see if I can get better pictures tomorrow although I don't know if that will be possible with the equipment I currently have.

Thank you for any help, it is very much appreciated.

Edited June 1, 2022 by Misha

[Tidgy's Dad]

We don't often see juvenile brachiopods due to the fact that brachiopods grow really rapidly when young. Sometimes we have a layer or pocket where a species is smaller than normal because of environmental conditions or a lack of food. 

In this case, I think this is young Athyris spiriferoides. Nice. 

 

Edited June 1, 2022 by Tidgy's Dad