Family CRANIIDAE Menke, 1828

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Introduction

Occurence: ?Mid Cambrian, Later Ordovician to Recent.

Diagnosis

Shell calcareous, punctate, punctae in branchial valve, branching in some Recent genera, arborescently towards distal end. Branchial valve usually conical, pedicle valve subconical or convex when free, conforming to shape of surface of attachment when fixed. Principal muscles consist of two pairs of adductors traversing shell dorsoventrally and two pairs of oblique muscles. Recent species with anus posteriorly placed on mid-line of shell, no marginal setae. From Moore (1965A: H289) and Lee (1986: 143).

Diagnosis References

Lee, D.E. & Brunton, C.H.C. 1986. Neocrania n.gen., and a revision of Cretaceous-Recent brachiopod genera in the family Craniidae. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Geology 40(4): 141-160 [143]

Moore, R.C. 1965. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology. Part H. Brachiopoda. New York : The Geological Society of America, Inc. and The University of Kansas Press Vol. 1 pp. i-xxxii, H1-H521. [H289]

General References

Lee, D.E. & Brunton, C.H.C. 1986. Neocrania n.gen., and a revision of Cretaceous-Recent brachiopod genera in the family Craniidae. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Geology 40(4): 141-160

Moore, R.C. 1965. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology. Part H. Brachiopoda. New York : The Geological Society of America, Inc. and The University of Kansas Press Vol. 1 pp. i-xxxii, H1-H521.

History of changes