Giant Spirifer and other Carboniferous brachiopods, UK

[TqB]

I'm not a brachiopod specialist by any means but have gradually acquired quite a few Carboniferous ones, both found and bought, and I'd like to start a thread for some of the more interesting (IMO) specimens that have hooked me into trying to learn more.

The IDs are often traditional so I'd welcome any input from more knowledgeable folk such as Adam @Tidgy's Dad.  As usual, detailed information is scattered around many journals.

 

I'll start with a pair of Spirifer striatus recently acquired from an old collection. It's notable for its size, these being typical. The second partial specimen shows a crystal covered brachidium, rather broken up before mineralisation.

Mississippian, probably Asbian Stage, Derbyshire, England
The species is an old but valid one, Martin (1793), and these are from the same area as his type specimens.

(There's a similarly large US species, S.logani, that I've been shown from the Keokuk Limestone of Missouri. I couldn't find any on the forum though.)

 

 

 

 

 

specimen 2, with brachidium

 

[TqB]

From the same collection and location (Derbyshire) is this large productid IDd as Pustula pustulosa (an evocative name but if you search add "brachiopod" to avoid a lot of medical images! )

 

 

 

[deutscheben]

Wow, that first Spirifer is massive! 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Two marvelous specimens, Tarquin.

Thanks for sharing and I think this is an excellent idea for a thread.