Fossil Brachiopods For Sale

Brachiopods are members of the phylum Brachiopoda, or lamp shells. They are marine bivalves that first appeared in the early Cambrian seas and still live today. However, their diversity peaked during the Devonian Period. They are so common in the fossil record that in some areas they make up most of the rock in which they are found.

85 Items ($15 to $1,950)

Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana #285122

15.8" Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana

$125

25 days ago

Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana #285119

12.5" Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana

$85

25 days ago

Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana #285123

11.45" Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana

$39

25 days ago

Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana #285121

20.1" Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana

$99

27 days ago

Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana #285104

7.7" Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana

$25

1 month ago

Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana #285105

9.5" Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana

$29

1 month ago

Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana #285109

6" Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana

$19

1 month ago

Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana #285111

9.4" Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana

$35

1 month ago

Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana #285113

8.55" Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana

SOLD

1 month ago

Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana #285114

10.4" Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana

$39

1 month ago

Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana #285115

8.1" Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana

$35

1 month ago

Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana #285116

12.9" Fossil Brachiopod (Rafinesquina) and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana

$65

1 month ago

Pyrite-Replaced Brachiopod (Paraspirifer) Fossil - Ohio #282907

1.8" Pyrite-Replaced Brachiopod (Paraspirifer) Fossil - Ohio

$22

1 month ago

Pyrite-Replaced Brachiopod (Paraspirifer) Fossil - Ohio #282909

1.9" Pyrite-Replaced Brachiopod (Paraspirifer) Fossil - Ohio

$19

1 month ago

Pyrite-Replaced Brachiopod (Paraspirifer) Fossil - Ohio #282904

1.95" Pyrite-Replaced Brachiopod (Paraspirifer) Fossil - Ohio

$15

1 month ago

Fossil Brachiopod and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana #270473

8.6" Fossil Brachiopod and Bryozoan Plate - Indiana

$35

4 months ago

Pennsylvanian Fossil Brachiopod Plate - Kentucky #224730

10.4" Pennsylvanian Fossil Brachiopod Plate - Kentucky

$39

4 months ago

Pennsylvanian Fossil Brachiopod Plate - Kentucky #224693

11.8" Pennsylvanian Fossil Brachiopod Plate - Kentucky

$45

9 months ago

Insane, Devonian, Spiny Brachiopod (Echinaurus?) - Morocco #254934

3.3" Insane, Devonian, Spiny Brachiopod (Echinaurus?) - Morocco

$1,950

10 months ago

Plate Of Gastropods, Brachiopods, Etc - Waldron Shale, Indiana #252458

4.6" Plate Of Gastropods, Brachiopods, Etc - Waldron Shale, Indiana

SOLD

11 months ago

Insane, Devonian, Spiny Brachiopod - Mrakib, Morocco #70579

3.3" Insane, Devonian, Spiny Brachiopod - Mrakib, Morocco

SOLD

almost 2 years ago

Pyrite Replaced Brachiopod (Orthospirifer) Fossil - Ohio #212125

2.3" Pyrite Replaced Brachiopod (Orthospirifer) Fossil - Ohio

SOLD

2 years ago

Silurian Brachiopod (Pentamerus) Fossil - Iowa #212154

1.45" Silurian Brachiopod (Pentamerus) Fossil - Iowa

SOLD

2 years ago

Fossil Brachiopod (Echinoconchus) - Crawfordsville, Indiana #211923

2.65" Fossil Brachiopod (Echinoconchus) - Crawfordsville, Indiana

SOLD

2 years ago

Mississippian Brachiopod (Dictyoclostus) - Missouri #204283

1.6" Mississippian Brachiopod (Dictyoclostus) - Missouri

SOLD

2 years ago

Pyrite Replaced Brachiopod (Paraspirifer) Fossil - Ohio #189178

1.95" Pyrite Replaced Brachiopod (Paraspirifer) Fossil - Ohio

SOLD

over 2 years ago

Four Brachiopod (Platystrophia) Fossils On Shale - Kentucky

SOLD

over 2 years ago

Green Brachiopod (Orthotetes?) Fossil - Kentucky #189496

2.8" Green Brachiopod (Orthotetes?) Fossil - Kentucky

SOLD

over 2 years ago

Jurassic Fossil Brachiopod (Burmirhynchia) - France #189483

1.25" Jurassic Fossil Brachiopod (Burmirhynchia) - France

SOLD

over 2 years ago

Silurian Brachiopod Fossil (Conchidium) - Tennessee #189492

1.7" Silurian Brachiopod Fossil (Conchidium) - Tennessee

SOLD

over 2 years ago

Pliocene/Pleistocene Fossil Brachiopod (Terebratula) #189491

2" Pliocene/Pleistocene Fossil Brachiopod (Terebratula)

SOLD

over 2 years ago

Devonian Brachiopod (Platyrachella) Fossil - Iowa #189490

3.2" Devonian Brachiopod (Platyrachella) Fossil - Iowa

SOLD

over 2 years ago

Pyrite Replaced Brachiopod (Spinocyrtia) Fossil - Ohio #189489

2.1" Pyrite Replaced Brachiopod (Spinocyrtia) Fossil - Ohio

SOLD

over 2 years ago

Devonian Brachiopod (Pseudoatrypa) Fossil - Ohio #189488

1.55" Devonian Brachiopod (Pseudoatrypa) Fossil - Ohio

SOLD

over 2 years ago

Pyrite Replaced Brachiopod (Pseudoatrypa) Fossil - Ohio #189487

1.35" Pyrite Replaced Brachiopod (Pseudoatrypa) Fossil - Ohio

SOLD

over 2 years ago

Cluster Of Pyrite Replaced Brachiopods - Sylvania, Ohio #188728

10.5" Cluster Of Pyrite Replaced Brachiopods - Sylvania, Ohio

SOLD

over 2 years ago

Two Pyrite Replaced Brachiopod (Paraspirifer) Fossils - Ohio

SOLD

almost 3 years ago

Pyrite Replaced Brachiopod (Paraspirifer) Fossil on Shale - Ohio #129605

2.35" Pyrite Replaced Brachiopod (Paraspirifer) Fossil on Shale - Ohio

SOLD

almost 3 years ago

Cretaceous Brachiopod (Pygope) Fossil - France #153156

1.8" Cretaceous Brachiopod (Pygope) Fossil - France

SOLD

almost 3 years ago

Pennsylvanian Fossil Brachiopod Plate - Kentucky #138901

5.6" Pennsylvanian Fossil Brachiopod Plate - Kentucky

SOLD

3 years ago

Mississippian Brachiopod & Cuneate Coral Fossils - Arkansas #148598

5.7" Mississippian Brachiopod & Cuneate Coral Fossils - Arkansas

SOLD

over 3 years ago

Pyrite Replaced Brachiopod (Stropheodonta) Fossil - Ohio #145629

1.5" Pyrite Replaced Brachiopod (Stropheodonta) Fossil - Ohio

SOLD

over 3 years ago

Brachiopod (Stropheodonta) Fossil - Silica Shale, Ohio #145639

1.15" Brachiopod (Stropheodonta) Fossil - Silica Shale, Ohio

SOLD

over 3 years ago

Huge, Pyrite Replaced Brachiopod (Paraspirifer) Fossil - Ohio #142144

Huge, 2.5" Pyrite Replaced Brachiopod (Paraspirifer) Fossil - Ohio

SOLD

over 3 years ago

Pyrite Replaced Brachiopods (Paraspirifer) - Ohio #142158

1.9" Pyrite Replaced Brachiopods (Paraspirifer) - Ohio

SOLD

almost 4 years ago

Large, Pyrite Replaced Brachiopod (Paraspirifer) Fossil - Ohio #142152

Large, 2.5" Pyrite Replaced Brachiopod (Paraspirifer) Fossil - Ohio

SOLD

almost 4 years ago

Pyrite Replaced Brachiopod (Paraspirifer) Fossils on Shale - Ohio

SOLD

almost 4 years ago

Two Fossil Brachiopods (Platystrophia) Mounted On Shale - Kentucky

SOLD

almost 4 years ago

Three Fossil Brachiopods (Platystrophia) Mounted On Shale - Kentucky

SOLD

almost 4 years ago

Two Brachiopod (Platystrophia) Fossils On Shale - Kentucky

SOLD

almost 4 years ago

Crinoid (Lecanocinus) Calyx - Rochester Shale #137575

1.6" Crinoid (Lecanocinus) Calyx - Rochester Shale

SOLD

almost 4 years ago

Crinoid (Gennaeocrinus) Fossil - Arkona, Canada #137269

1.6" Crinoid (Gennaeocrinus) Fossil - Arkona, Canada

SOLD

almost 4 years ago

Two Pyrite Replaced Brachiopod (Paraspirifer) Fossils on Shale - Ohio

SOLD

almost 4 years ago

Multiple Ordovician Fossil Brachiopod Plate - Indiana #136983

4.3" Multiple Ordovician Fossil Brachiopod Plate - Indiana

SOLD

almost 4 years ago

Fossil Brachiopod (Echinochonchus) - Indiana #137176

2.5" Fossil Brachiopod (Echinochonchus) - Indiana

SOLD

almost 4 years ago

Fossil Brachiopod and Gastropod Association Plate - Indiana #137177

6.3" Fossil Brachiopod and Gastropod Association Plate - Indiana

SOLD

almost 4 years ago

Fossil Brachiopod (Platystrophia) Cluster - Indiana #136615

2.7" Fossil Brachiopod (Platystrophia) Cluster - Indiana

SOLD

almost 4 years ago

Multiple Fossil Brachiopod (Hebertella) Plate - Kentucky #136606

3.7" Multiple Fossil Brachiopod (Hebertella) Plate - Kentucky

SOLD

almost 4 years ago

Multiple Fossil Brachiopod (Platystrophia) Plate - Kentucky #136609

3.7" Multiple Fossil Brachiopod (Platystrophia) Plate - Kentucky

SOLD

almost 4 years ago

Multiple Fossil Brachiopod (Lepidocyclus) Plate - Indiana #136512

4" Multiple Fossil Brachiopod (Lepidocyclus) Plate - Indiana

SOLD

almost 4 years ago

What Are Brachiopods?

Brachiopods are members of the phylum Brachiopoda. They are clam-like creatures with wide shells composed of two halves called valves. They are filter feeders that live affixed to rocks or on the seafloor.

When Did Brachiopods First Appear In The Fossil Record?

Brachiopods first appeared in the early Cambrian in simple forms with non-articulating shells. Their diversity peaked during the Devonian. There are 12,000 described fossil species of Brachiopoda from 5,000 genera.

When Did Brachiopods Die Out?

Most species of brachiopod died out during the Permian-Triassic Extinction, but there are about 450 species living today. They live in cold marine environments like polar seas or continental shelves and slopes.

What Do Brachiopods Look Like?

At first glance, brachiopods look like clams or other bivalve molluscs. Their shells are composed of two halves (valves). Each half has symmetry across a midline. They have two different sized shells: the bottom is slightly larger than the top. In addition, brachiopods have holes in their bottom shells where their anchoring organ, called a pedicle, comes through. They are also known as lamp shells because they resemble ancient Greek oil lamps.

What Do Brachiopods Eat?

Brachiopods are filter feeders! They filter plankton and other nutrients from the water around them.

How Do Brachiopods Move?

Most Brachiopods do not move. They attach themselves to a rock or shell and remain in that location as long as they are able to attach to it. A few species move short distances by extending their pedicle (foot), attaching to an object and pulling themselves toward it. This is not an energy-efficient way to move, so brachiopods that employ this method never move more than a few inches or feet.

How Big Are Brachiopods?

The largest fossil brachiopod is 7.9 inches (200 mm) wide, but most are 2-4 inches (3-8 cm). Living brachiopods also fall into this range.

Where Do Brachiopods Live?

Today, brachiopods live in cold marine environments like polar seas and continental shelves and continental slopes. The diversity of fossil species suggests that Devonian brachiopods occupied most of the marine environments that existed at the time. It is likely that they lived in cold polar waters and warm seas, from the deep ocean to shallow bays. Some probably even lived in water with low salinity, like river mouths and estuaries.

What Are The Differences Between Brachiopods And Clams?

Both these animals look similar to each other, but brachiopods are more closely related to bryozoans than molluscs. The easiest differences to identify are in their shells. Mollusc shells, like clams, are divided between left and right, while Brachiopod shells are divided between top (dorsal) and bottom (ventral). Mollusk shells are about equal size, but in brachiopods, the bottom shell is larger than the top.

The other big difference is in how they feed. Both are filter feeders, but mollusks extend their filters into the water and pull food into their shells. Meanwhile, brachiopods have internal feeding structures. They draw into their shells where food is filtered before expelling it out.

FOSSIL BRACHIOPODS FOR SALE

What Are Brachiopods?

When Did Brachiopods First Appear In The Fossil Record?

When Did Brachiopods Die Out?

What Do Brachiopods Look Like?

What Do Brachiopods Eat?

How Do Brachiopods Move?

How Big Are Brachiopods?

Where Do Brachiopods Live?

What Are The Differences Between Brachiopods And Clams?