#myfossil

More brachiopods!!! Interested in their internal morphology? Brachiopods have two valves (shells) that they use their muscles to open. So when they fossilize their valves are tightly sealed and often you will find them secured together! 

I’ve outlined some basic internal anatomy on this figure to help you get a better idea of what is on the insides of these shells. These creatures don’t have too much inside them, some muscles and this structure called a lophophore, which they use to filter water to get food! This is very different from the structures (called siphons) that clams use. 

A few large specimens from my collection. I tend to hate on plants a lot but it’s mostly because I don’t understand them at all!!! Plants are so complicated. They also have a complicated fossil record because many don’t have ‘hard parts’ like the shellies do.

Lepidodendron (left image) known as scale tree that was common during the Carboniferous but extended into the Triassic (359-205 million years ago). The diamond shaped pattern holds leaf scars- places where leaves would have attached to the branch of the tree.

Stigmaria (right image) is part of a plant root structure and is preserved as a cast containing no original material. These are commonly found in Carboniferous aged rocks (~358-298 million years ago).

Schizophoria iowensis, brachiopod from the Devonian of Iowa! Previously in the possession of the University of Tennessee teaching collection. Check out the Bodacious Brachiopod group for some excellent fossil brachiopods!

This brachiopod genus is particularly cool because my masters advisor studied it when she was doing her graduate work (click here)! The Devonian is such a mysterious and amazing time in Earth’s history! So many amazing ancient creatures. 

Vindlandostrophia ponderosa specimens from Georgetown, Ohio. A particularly enjoyable trip with Adriane Lam many years ago - no field sites selected, we just drove around and stopped at various outcrops! 

These are brachiopods, which have two valves - similar to clams - but are not closely related. Only a few brachiopod groups are still around today (sadly) because many groups were decimated at the end Permian extinction event that wiped out upwards of 96% of marine life. Unlike clams, brachiopods used their little muscles to open their shells. Clams use them to keep their shells closed, if you have ever boiled them they pop open when they die. Brachiopods seal tightly shut! 

Aaron Woodruff discusses diversity in the field of paleontology. The short of it is that it is severely lacking and we need to (as a community) work toward increasing diversity, support, and inclusion in our field. He brought a very light humor to his talk, which made it an absolute delight to watch. Conversations such as diversity, racism, sexism, and many more are often very awkward and often ignored. We need to communicate and have productive discussions with the community in order to move forward together.