Gigantoproductus giganteus
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| Gigantoproductus giganteus Temporal range: Carboniferous ~ | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Brachiopoda |
| Class: | †Strophomenata |
| Order: | †Productida |
| Family: | †Monticuliferidae |
| Genus: | †Gigantoproductus |
| Species: | †G. giganteus |
| Binomial name | |
| †Gigantoproductus giganteus (Sowerby, 1822)[1] | |
Gigantoproductus giganteus ("Gigantic giant Productus"[2]) is an extinct species of brachiopods in the family Monticuliferidae,[3] known only from its fossil remains. It was a marine invertebrate found on the seabed in shallow seas. It evolved during the Carboniferous period and it is believed to be the largest brachiopod that has ever existed.[2][1]
Gigantoproductus giganteus was a large brachiopod that superficially resembled a cockle. Fossils of this species have been found with shell widths of 30 centimetres (12 in).[2] and more than 35 cm (14 in).[4] It had a pair of thick dome-shaped valves joined by a hinge. The valves had a small number of broad ribs that radiated from a thick umbo and there were large wing-shaped ears of calcareous material on either side. The valves were held together by a central strong adductor muscle which left a scar on the inside of the valves. The ventral valve, also known as the pedicle valve, was covered with spines on the outside. The inside of this valve was rough, being covered by numerous cone-shaped protrusions.[5] These are visible in an internal mould of the brachiopod, a cast fossil which has been formed when a hole in sediment left by the soft tissues of the dead organism was later infiltrated by mineral matter.[6]