Anatomical distinctions of the Mesozoic lingulide brachiopods

摘要: The long held view that Lingula represents a n extremely bradytelic lineage is questioned. Examination of Mesozoic lingulides has shown they significantly differ from their Recent relatives and Glottidia in having longer lophophoral cavities, shorter ventral canals, better developed posterior adductor muscles, less acute umbones. Morphological characters the shell interior are needed to identify members Lingulidae, not solely external characteristics. apparent evolutionary tendency towards reduction volume cavity contradics traditional 'living fossil' survived without significant morphological change since Paleozoic. Actually today living lingulide genera probably arose early Cenozoic. A new inarticulate brachiopod genus, Lingularia introduced, with three species, Middle Triassic L.. siberica, Jurassic L. sirnilis, Cretaceous smirnovae .