Athyris Explained

Athyris is a brachiopod genus with a subequally biconvex shell that is generally wider than long and a range that extends from the Silurian into the Triassic. Athyris is the type genus for the Athyrididae, which belongs to the articulate order Athyridida. R.C. Moore (1952) gives a shorter range, from the Mid Devonian to the Lower Mississippian.

Alverezites, Bruntonites, and Meristospira are among related genera.

Reassigned species

Some species originally included in Athyris have been reassigned.^[1]

• A. aliena = Septathyris aliena
• A. headi = Catazyga
• A. megalotis = Comelicania megalotis
• A. peracuta = Janiceps peracuta
• A. royssii = Cleiothyridina royssii
• A. umbonata = Hindella umbonata

Ecology and taphonomy

Composition: low Mg calcite

Entire body: yes

Adult length: 10 to < 100

Adult width: 10 to < 100

Adult height: 10 to < 100

Folds: minor

Ribbing: minor

Spines: none

Internal reinforcement: none

Locomotion: stationary

Attached: yes

Life habit: low-level epifaunal

Diet: suspension feeder

Vision: blind

References: Aberhan et al. 2004, Hendy 2009

References

• R.C Moore 1952. Brachiopods, Ch 6. Moore, Lalicker, and Fischer. Invertebrate Fossils, McGraw-Hill.
• Athyris data

Notes and References

1. Book: Moore, R.C.. 1965. Brachiopoda. Geological Society of America/University of Kansas Press. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology. Part H., Volume 1 and 2. Boulder, Colorado/Lawrence, Kansas. 0-8137-3015-5.