Echinoconchus is an extinct genus of brachiopods which lived during the Lower Carboniferous period. The genus was abundant and had a cosmopolitan distribution.[1]
| Echinoconchus Temporal range:
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| Fossils of Echinoconchus (13-26) along with other brachiopods | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Brachiopoda |
| Class: | †Strophomenata |
| Order: | †Productida |
| Family: | †Echinoconchidae |
| Tribe: | †Echinoconchini |
| Genus: | †Echinoconchus Weller, 1914 |
Description edit
Like other echinoconchids, Echinoconchus had thin, recumbent spines arranged in concentric bands on both valves, as well as a corpus with a planoconvex profile and deep cavity. This genus had a transversely subcircular outline, weakly concave dorsal valve and short dorsal trail. Ridges supporting the narrow cardinal process are present, as well as elongated, mildly anteriorly-raised adductor muscle scars.[1]
Classification edit
Leighton & Maples (2002) conducted multiple phylogenetic analyses which are strongly in agreement that the four subfamilies Buxtoniinae, Echinoconchinae, Pustulinae and Juresaniinae form the family Echinoconchidae. The cladogram results of their phylogenetic analyses are displayed in the cladogram below:[2]
References edit
- ^ a b Williams, Alwyn (2000). Part H Brachiopoda (revised): Volumes 2 & 3, Linguliformea, Craniiformea, Rhynchonelliformea (part)., Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology. Geological Society of America. p. 509.
- ^ Leighton, Lindsey R.; Maples, Christopher G. (July 2002). "Evaluating internal versus external characters: Phylogenetic analyses of the Echinoconchidae, Buxtoniinae, and Juresaniinae (Phylum Brachiopoda)". Journal of Paleontology. 76 (4): 659. doi:10.1666/0022-3360(2002)076<0659:EIVECP>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0022-3360.