1A Collections

TF0110 Lithophaga inclusa

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 11:43:12 +0100

Title

TF0110

Lithophaga inclusa

Subject

Age

Jurassic

Location

Coral Rag, Upware

Description

Species

Lithophaga inclusa

Stratigraphic Range

Jurassic

Lithophaga: Triassic to recent

Taxonomy

Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Mytilida
Family: Mytilidae

Distinctive Features

Dorsoventral symmetry
Two valves
Growth lines
Umbo

Preservation

Set 1:
Original shell material
Set 2:
Mould of boring in which the shell lived (can see the structure of the Coral Rag)

Advanced notes

Lithophaga bore into hard substrates, and often preserve as the specimen from Set 2 has, as moulds of the borings they make. They lived as suspension feeders.

Lithophaga bore into rocks by secreting a weak acid. This dissolves calcareous substances, sometimes including other bivalve shells, into which the animal bores.

TF0111 Opis virdunensis

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 11:47:10 +0100

Title

TF0111

Opis virdunensis

Description

Species

Opis virdunensis Buvignier

Stratigraphic Range

Jurassic

Taxonomy

Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Carditida
Family: Astartidae

Distinctive Features

Two valves
Hinge
Adductor muscle scars
Dorso-ventral symmetry

Preservation

Internal mould

TF0112 Dimyodon nilssoni

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 11:49:53 +0100

Title

TF0112

Dimyodon nilssoni

Subject

Age

Cretaceous

Location

Cambridge Greensand, Barrington

Description

Species

Dimyodon nilssoni

Stratigraphic Range

Cretaceous

Taxonomy

Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Ostreoida

Preservation

Cemented onto fish vertebra

Advanced notes

Identification of these as bivalves took a very long time (historically) as few features are preserved. However, knowing that these are bivalves they can be easily spotted throughout much of the Jurassic and Cretaceous, cementing to hard substrates. The shape of the valve (of which only the inner layer remains) gives probably the most distinctive feature for this kind of animal.

TF0113 Pecten

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 11:52:03 +0100

Title

TF0113

Pecten

Description

Stratigraphic Range

Ordovician to recent

Taxonomy

Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Ostreoida
Family: Pectinidae

Distinctive Features

Ribs
Growth lines
Characteristic 'fan' shape (Pecten only)

Preservation

Original shell material

Advanced notes

Pecten can escape attention predators by swimming away. They can swim in short bursts by clapping their two valves together quickly.

They live a nektobenthic lifestyle: sitting on the seafloor for the majority of the time, swimming to escape danger.

Watch a Pecten maximus swim: Video

TF0114 Unio littoralis

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 11:57:03 +0100

Title

TF0114

Unio littoralis

Subject

Location

River gravels, Burwell, Cambridgeshire

Description

Species

Unio littoralis

Taxonomy

Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Unionata
Family: Unionidae

Distinctive Features

Umbo
Two valves showing dorso-ventral symmetry
Growth lines
Adductor muscle scar
Palial line
Dentition

Preservation

Original shell

Advanced notes

Mobile, infaunal suspension feeder

TF0115 Glycymeris

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 12:02:36 +0100

Title

TF0115

Glycymeris

Description

Stratigraphic Range

Cretaceous to recent

Taxonomy

Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Arcoida
Family: Glycymerididae

Distinctive Features

Growth lines
Adductor muscle scars
Hinge
Palial line

Preservation

Original shell

TF0151 Bivalve (manmade external mould)

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 12:06:17 +0100

Title

TF0151

Bivalve (manmade external mould)

Description

Taxonomy

Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia

Distinctive Features

Ribs

Preservation

Manmade external mould

Advanced notes

Although this particular specimen is a manmade mould, internal and external moulds are common ways in which bivalves are preserved.

Because they commonly disarticulate after death, external and internal moulds of one valve are also common, with the impression of the shell outlasting the shell itself, which is often dissolved.

Brachiopod

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 12:12:49 +0100

Title

Brachiopod

Description

Taxonomy

Phylum: Brachiopoda

Diagnostic features

Two valves (brachial and pedicle)

Bilateral symmetry

Growth lines

Adductor and ductor muscle scars

Pedicle

Commissure

Gape

Teeth and socket (articulates; no teeth or socket in inarticulates)

Stratigraphic range

Cambrian to present

Way of life

Marine

Attach to hard substrates using pedicle

Filter feeding

Sessile

Infaunal, epifaunal, reclining

Advanced notes

Apparent decrease in diversity over time

Limited to marginal environments in the modern ocean

Adductor muscle used to close shell, ductor muscle used to open shell

Specimens

Browse brachiopods

External links

Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History: differences between bivalves and brachiopods

Cortland Paleo, Brachiopoda: brachiopod morphology and ecology information

Learn about types of preservation

TF0701 Lingulella

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 12:15:02 +0100

Title

TF0701

Lingulella

Subject

Age

Cambrian

Description

Stratigraphic Range

Cambrian to Ordovician

Taxonomy

Phylum: Brachiopoda
Class: Lingulata
Order: Lingulida
Genus: Lingulella

Distinctive Features

Bilateral symmetry
Growth lines

Preservation

Organic film

Advanced notes

Lingulella had a phosphate shell in life, which is rare for a brachiopod. Most brachiopods had shells made from calcium carbonate.
Lingulella is very similar to the modern genus Lingula.