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Leptaena

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Leptaena
Temporal range: Darriwilian–Emsian
Leptaena rhomboidalis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Brachiopoda
Class: Strophomenata
Order: Strophomenida
Family: Rafinesquinidae
Subfamily: Leptaeninae
Genus: Leptaena
Dalman, 1828
Type species
Leptaena rugosa
Dalman, 1828
Species
Synonyms
  • Kurnamena Roomusoks, 1989
  • Leptaenopoma Marek and Havlíček, 1967
  • Orhoria Havlicek and Storch, 1990
  • Similoleptaena Roomusoks, 1989
  • Turgenostrophia

Leptaena is an extinct genus of mid-sized brachiopod that existed from the Dariwilian epoch to the Emsian epoch,[1][2] though some specimens have been found in strata as late in age as the Tournasian epoch.[1][3] Like some other Strophomenids, Lepteana were epifaunal, meaning they lived on top of the seafloor, not buried within it, and were suspension feeders.[4]

Physical description

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Leptaena usually have concentric wrinkling and concentric lines on the shell. Leptaena have a concavo-convex profile, and are sometimes Semiquadrate to semielliptical. The Cardinal Process is split in two and the hinge line is straight.[4] Their width is usually greater than their length, like most Strophomenids.

Distribution

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Leptaena fossils have been found on every continent except Antarctica.[3][5][6]

Species

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Leptaena was a diverse genus, with over 70 recognized species and subgenera. Species in the genus Leptaena include the following.[3][6][7] Any synonymous genera to which a given species may belong to are labelled with the synonymous genus in parentheses.

References

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  1. ^ a b Plaza-Torres, Stephanie; Darroch, Simon; Wagner, Peter. "Family tree of a mass extinction survivor: Phylogenetic analysis of the brachiopod genus Leptaena" (PDF). Smithsonian. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  2. ^ Hoel, Ole (21 January 2014). "Palaeobiology of Silurian Leptaeninae (Brachiopoda) from Gotland, Sweden". Paleontology Journal. 2014: 1–14. doi:10.1155/2014/716053.
  3. ^ a b c Paleobiology Database
  4. ^ a b Stigall, Alycia (3 December 2013). "Leptaena". Atlas of Ordovician Life. National Science Foundation. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  5. ^ Global Biodiversity Information Facility
  6. ^ a b Fossilworks
  7. ^ Catalog of Life