Brachiopod - Kirkidium knighti

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Brachiopods have a remarkably long history on Earth, dating back at least 550 million years. They first appear as fossils in ancient rocks from the earliest Cambrian age, and their descendants still thrive today, albeit relatively scarce, in modern oceans and seas. During the Palaeozoic Era (248 to 545 million years ago), they were incredibly abundant, often dominating rock formations of that age. Brachiopods are marine animals belonging to their own unique phylum, Brachiopoda, within the animal kingdom. Modern brachiopods inhabit a diverse range of sea-bed environments, from tropical waters to the cold, icy regions of the Arctic and Antarctic. These animals are virtually defenseless, relying solely on their protective shell for safety. Most are permanently anchored by a fleshy stalk (the pedicle) to a hard sea-floor surface, such as a rock outcrop or boulder, and are unable to actively pursue food. A few species can attach themselves directly to soft sediment, while others remain unattached. The pedicle is the only soft tissue that protrudes from their shell, which opens and closes to allow water currents carrying food to pass through it.