What are Brachiopods?
Brachiopods, also known as lampshells or “brachs,” are a group of shellfish, members of phylum Brachiopoda. Although some of them look superficially like clams, they’re really completely different — both on the outside and the inside. Brachiopods are phylogenetically unique enough to merit their own phylum, whereas clams are bivalves, part of phylum Mollusca. Brachiopods are called articulate or inarticulate based on whether their two shells have a hinge (articulate) or are held together based on muscles alone (inarticulate).
