Sphenope, Vörös, 2013

Vörös, A., 2013, Sphenope, a new genus of Pygopidae (Terebratulida, Brachiopoda) from the Mediterranean Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous, Fragmenta Palaeontologica Hungarica 30, pp. 1-14 : 4

Sphenope gen. n.

Type species – Terebratula misilmerensis Gemmellaro, 1871 .

Diagnosis – Large terebratulids with subtriangular or bilobate outline; strongly biconvex, maximum convexity at mid-length. Beak moderately high; foramen large, mesothyrid. Marked beak ridges, deep planareas. Lateral commissures arched or run obliquely; anterior commissure nearly straight or ligate. Opposite sulci may be present. Shell smooth. Cardinal process massive, crenulated. Adductor muscle scars short, slightly divergent. Hinge plates reduced, crural processes crescentic. Loop narrow, short; transverse band faintly arched.

Etymology – Wedge-shaped; sphen, σφήν (greek) = wedge.

Species – S. misilmerensis ( Gemmellaro, 1871) , S. bifida sp. n.

Discussion – By its external appearance (large, smooth, laterally expanded) and simple internal morphology, Sphenope fits well to the family Pygopidae . It is imperforate, therefore its best place is in the subfamily Triangopinae , in the present classification.