Brachiopod ✦

They use a specialized organ called a lophophore , a coil-shaped tentacle structure, to trap food, rather than gills.

They are benthic (sea-floor dwellers) and sessile (permanently attached to the seafloor), generally filter-feeding. brachiopod

They resemble ancient Roman oil lamps, especially the Terebratulida order. They use a specialized organ called a lophophore

Depending on species, they live between 3 to 30 years. 🦴 The Fossil Record What is a Brachiopod? (And Why You Should Care) Depending on species, they live between 3 to 30 years

Unlike bivalves (clams), where shells are mirror images of each other, brachiopod shells are top/bottom oriented and distinct, but each individual valve is symmetrical down the middle.

Brachiopods are fascinating marine invertebrates often mistaken for clams, but they are entirely different organisms with a rich, 550-million-year history. Known commonly as "lamp shells," they were dominant in Paleozoic seas but are now relatively rare, often found in deep or cold waters.