They were the most common shelled macroinvertebrates in the Paleozoic era.
They are benthic (sea-floor dwellers) and sessile (permanently attached to the seafloor), generally filter-feeding. brachiopod
Brachiopods are fascinating marine invertebrates often mistaken for clams, but they are entirely different organisms with a rich, 550-million-year history. Known commonly as "lamp shells," they were dominant in Paleozoic seas but are now relatively rare, often found in deep or cold waters. They were the most common shelled macroinvertebrates in