Athyris

Athyris Temporal range: Lower Devonian - Triassic
Athyris concentrica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Brachiopoda
Class:	Rhynchonellata
Order:	Athyridida
Family:	Athyrididae
Genus:	Athyris McCoy, 1844
species
A. concentrica (Von Buch, 1834) type = Terebratula concentrica A. lamellosa (Léveillé) A. vittata Hall
Synonyms
Cliothyris, Spirithyris, Euthyris, Cleidothyris

Athyris is a brachiopod genus with a subequally biconvex shell that is generally wider than long and a range that extends from the Silurian into the Triassic. Athyris is the type genus for the Athyrididae, which belongs to the articulate order Athyridida. R.C. Moore (1952) gives a shorter range, from the Mid Devonian to the Lower Mississippian.

Alverezites, Bruntonites, and Meristospira are among related genera.

Reassigned species

Some species originally included in Athyris have been reassigned.

• A. aliena = Septathyris aliena
• A. headi = Catazyga
• A. megalotis = Comelicania megalotis
• A. peracuta = Janiceps peracuta
• A. royssii = Cleiothyridina royssii
• A. umbonata = Hindella umbonata

Ecology and taphonomy

Composition: low Mg calcite

Entire body: yes

Adult length: 10 to < 100

Adult width: 10 to < 100

Adult height: 10 to < 100

Folds: minor

Ribbing: minor

Spines: none

Internal reinforcement: none

Locomotion: stationary

Attached: yes

Life habit: low-level epifaunal

Diet: suspension feeder

Vision: blind

• 
  Athyris concentrica, pedicle valve
• 
  Athyris concentrica, brachial valve
• 
  Athyris concentrica, anterior view
• 
  Athyris concentrica, posterior view
• 
  Athyris concentrica, lateral view

References: Aberhan et al. 2004, Hendy 2009

References

• R.C Moore 1952. Brachiopods, Ch 6. Moore, Lalicker, and Fischer. Invertebrate Fossils, McGraw-Hill.
• Athyris data