Terebratulina septentrionalis is a species of brachiopod that comes from the family Terebratulidae. It is an invertebrate that can be found in parts of the oceans with strong currents, more specifically the Northern Atlantic ocean and Arctic ocean.Fox, R. S. (2006). Terebratella: Articulate brachiopod [Online laboratory exercise]. Lander University. https://lanwebs.lander.edu/faculty/rsfox/invertebrates/terebratella.html This brachiopod has a bivalve shell with a lophophore feeding structure and a pedicleMarine Species Traits. "Terebratulina septentrionalis (Couthouy, 1838)." Accessed March 25, 2025. to attach itself to hard substrates.
Description Terebratulina septentrionalis has a smooth, biconvex shellCouthouy, J. P. (1838). "Descriptions of new species of Mollusca and shells, and remarks on several Polypii, found in Massachusetts Bay." Boston Journal of Natural History, 2(1): 53-111. Available onlineKentucky Geological Survey. (2023, January 5). Brachiopod shapes. University of Kentucky. https://www.uky.edu/KGS/fossils/fossil-brachs-shapes.php that ranges from a yellowish to a light brown colour. The shell is composed of calcium carbonate and there is a short pedicle which acts as an anchor to hard substrates. A pedicleMorse, E. S. (1872). "The Early Stages of Terebratulina septentrionalis." Nature, 5: 221-222. Available online. is a fleshy stalk that is able to anchor the organism to a hard substrate and allows for a short, flat shell to elongate and convex. As mentioned before, this brachiopod has a lophophoreDigital Atlas of Ancient Life. "Brachiopoda." Accessed March 25, 2025 which is a ciliated feeding organ used to filter plankton and other tiny organisms drifting in the current.
Early life Early life for T. septentrionalis starts with a flat, short shell which lacks ridges, as seen in the photo of the T. septentrionalis that is attached to the hard substrate. As it ages and develops further, the lophophore will develop around the opening of the mouth and eventually will grow enough to develop into the brachiopod's arms. Habitat This species is mainly found in the Northern Atlantic Ocean and in Arctic waters. It is found at depths ranging from to over deep. They can be found attached to rocky substrates, coral, or other hard surfaces for the pedicle to attach.ResearchGate. "Map showing the distribution of Terebratulina septentrionalis in Greenland waters." Accessed March 25, 2025.
Behavior Terebratulina septentrionalis is a suspension feeder and uses its lophophore to create water currents to draw in water to filter out plankton and organic particles. This species are sessile and participate in benthic ecosystems, located near sponges, bryozoans, and cold water coral.
Reproduction Similarly to other brachiopods, this species reproduces sexually through release of sperm or eggs into the water currents which will eventually meet together to form a zygote and settle into the seabed as a larva until fully developed.SeaLifeBase. "Reproduction Summary - Terebratulina septentrionalis." Accessed March 25, 2025.
Conservation This species is not considered endangered or threatened. However, since this species can be deep sea dwelling, it is susceptible to habitat disturbances such from deep sea trawling, climate change, and acidification of the ocean.Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. "Terebratulina septentrionalis (Lamp Shell)." Accessed March 25, 2025. Barnes, D. K. A., and Peck, L. S. examine populations of a similar deep sea brachiopod called Neorhynchia strebeli found on the Antarctic shelf and the ecological significance in this region of the ocean.Barnes, D. K. A., & Peck, L. S. (1997). An Antarctic shelf population of the deep-sea, Pacific brachiopod Neorhynchia strebeli. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 77(2), 221–222. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315400071757
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