Morphological terms used to describe the cardinalia of articulate brachiopods: Homologies and recommendations

Abstract

The literature on fossil and Recent brachiopods is replete with terms for a vast array of morphological features, many of which are effectively synonyms or represent minor variants or unusual growths of other well known structures. It is possible to relate most features to many fewer, and well defined, terms. One of the most difficult areas of brachiopod internal morphology is the cardinalia, positioned posteromedianly in dorsal valves. Our varied studies of these features enable us to define all the main structures and recommend a series of terms covering their description.

Key words:

• Brachiopods
• cardinalia
• growth
• morphological terms

Notes

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