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Lampshells: Brachipoda

Lampshells And People

Some inarticulate lampshells are eaten by people living on islands in the eastern Pacific, from Japan to New Caledonia. Articulate lampshells are used by scientists to understand the fossil record. Fossils are impressions of ancient organisms left in mud that have become stone after million of years. These fossils also help us to understand how life has changed, or evolved, over millions of years.

LAMPSHELLS MUST COMPETE FOR FOOD AND SPACE

As a group, lampshells are very ancient animals, at least 600 million years old. More than 12,000 different kinds of fossil species are known. They reached their peak just over 300 million years ago, when they were one of the most abundant life forms. Since then, their numbers have declined. Some scientists think this is partly because they cannot compete with clams and scallops living in the same habitats.

Additional topics

Animal Life ResourceMollusks, Crustaceans, and Related SpeciesLampshells: Brachipoda - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Lampshells And People, Black Lampshell (hemithyris Psittacea): Species Account - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, CONSERVATION STATUS