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

Location: Valongo Formation, Arouca, Portugal

Weight: 12.4 Ounces 

Dimensions: 3.5 Inches Long, 3.1 Inches wide, 0.9 Inches Thick (Matrix)

Dimensions: 2 Inches Long, 1.3 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 belonging to the class Rhynchonellata, which are characterized by their bivalve-like shells and are primarily found in marine environments. The classification of Paralenorthis places it within the phylum Brachiopoda, which is known for its diverse fossil record dating back to the Cambrian period. The specific species referred to as Paralenorthis sp. indicates that it is an unidentified or unspecified species within this genus.

The distribution of Paralenorthis sp. in Portugal is closely associated with the region’s Paleozoic geological formations, which have yielded numerous brachiopod fossils. These formations reflect ancient shallow marine environments where conditions were ideal for brachiopod communities to thrive.

Paralenorthis species typically inhabited nearshore to shallow-sea settings, where sedimentary rock formations such as limestone and shale provided stable substrates for attachment. Their presence in these deposits offers valuable insights into Paleozoic marine ecosystems, seafloor conditions, and the geological history of Portugal.

In Portugal, important fossil beds containing brachiopods have been documented in regions such as the Lusitanian Basin, an area known for its rich marine fossil record shaped by complex geological history. The discovery of Paralenorthis sp. indicates that these brachiopods thrived during periods when marine conditions and climate were favorable for abundant sea life.

Species within the genus Paralenorthis display characteristic features of rhynchonellid brachiopods, including two generally symmetrical valves that range from rounded to oval in shape. The shell surface often shows fine ribbing or ornamentation, which plays an important role in species identification and classification.

Internally, Paralenorthis possessed a lophophore, a specialized feeding structure unique to brachiopods, enabling them to filter feed on plankton and organic particles suspended in seawater. This adaptation reflects their success as benthic marine invertebrates living in nutrient-rich ancient seas, and their fossils provide valuable insights into paleoenvironmental conditions and marine ecosystems of the past.