1.7" Fossil Paralenorthis Sp Brachiopod In Matrix Valongo Formation Arouca Portugal

Location: Valongo Formation, Arouca, Portugal

Weight: 1 Pound 15.2 Ounces 

Dimensions: 4.2 Inches Long, 3.7 Inches wide, 1.3 Inches Thick (Matrix)

Dimensions: 1.7 Inches Long, 1.4 Inches wide

The item pictured is the one you will receive.

Middle Ordovician Age, 470 Million Years Old.

Paralenorthis sp. is a genus of brachiopods in the class Rhynchonellata, recognized for their bivalve-like shells and primarily marine habitat. The genus belongs to the phylum Brachiopoda, noted for its diverse fossil record extending back to the Cambrian period. The designation sp. indicates that the exact species is undetermined or unspecified.

In Portugal, fossils of Paralenorthis sp. are associated with Paleozoic sedimentary formations, where many brachiopod specimens have been found. These organisms typically lived in shallow marine environments, attaching to sedimentary rock substrates that provided stable surfaces for growth and survival.

In Portugal, notable brachiopod fossil beds occur in regions such as the Lusitanian Basin, which has preserved a diverse array of marine fossils shaped by historical geological activity. The presence of Paralenorthis sp. indicates that these organisms thrived during periods of favorable climate and nutrient-rich seas.

Species of the genus Paralenorthis exhibit typical rhynchonellid features, including two generally symmetrical valves that range in shape from rounded to oval. Shell surfaces may display fine ribbing or ornamentation, which is important for species identification and classification.

Internally, these brachiopods possessed a lophophore, a specialized feeding organ unique to brachiopods, enabling them to filter plankton and organic particles from the water. This adaptation allowed Paralenorthis sp. to thrive in shallow, nutrient-rich marine environments, providing valuable insight into ancient marine ecosystems.