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

Location: Valongo Formation, Arouca, Portugal

Weight: 1 Pound 4.3 Ounces 

Dimensions: 6 Inches Long, 5.8 Inches wide, 0.4 Inches Thick (Matrix)

Dimensions: 2.3 Inches Long, 1.3 Inches wide

The item pictured is the one you will receive.

Middle Ordovician Age, 470 Million Years Old.

Paralenorthis sp. represents an unidentified species within the brachiopod genus Paralenorthis, belonging to the class Rhynchonellata. Brachiopods are marine invertebrates distinguished by their bivalve-like shells, arranged dorsally and ventrally rather than side by side as in mollusks. The genus falls within the phylum Brachiopoda, a group renowned for its extensive fossil record reaching back to the Cambrian period. The designation sp. indicates that while the specimen can be confidently assigned to the genus, its exact species has not been formally determined.

In Portugal, fossils of Paralenorthis sp. are closely associated with Paleozoic geological formations, which have produced abundant and diverse brachiopod assemblages. These organisms typically inhabited shallow marine environments, where sedimentary rock substrates such as limestone and shale provided stable surfaces for attachment and growth.

Notable fossil-bearing regions, including the Lusitanian Basin, have yielded a wide range of marine fossils, reflecting a dynamic geological history shaped by changing sea levels and environmental conditions. The presence of Paralenorthis sp. in these deposits suggests periods of favorable climate and nutrient-rich marine ecosystems that supported thriving benthic communities.

Morphologically, members of the genus Paralenorthis exhibit classic rhynchonellid characteristics, including two generally symmetrical valves that vary from rounded to oval in outline. Shell surfaces often display fine ribbing or ornamental textures, features that are essential for taxonomic identification. Internally, these brachiopods possessed a lophophore, a specialized feeding organ unique to the group, enabling efficient filter feeding on plankton and suspended organic particles. This adaptation allowed them to flourish in productive Paleozoic seas, making their fossils valuable indicators of ancient marine environments.