The Collaborative International Dictionary
Spirifer \Spi"ri*fer\, n. [NL., fr. L. spira a coil + ferreto bear.] (Paleon.) Any one of numerous species of fossil brachipods of the genus Spirifer, or Delthyris, and allied genera, in which the long calcareous supports of the arms form a large spiral, or helix, on each side.
Wiktionary
n. (context paleontology English) Any of numerous species of fossil brachiopods of the genus (taxlink Spirifer genus), or (taxlink Delthyris genus), and allied genera, in which the long calcareous supports of the arms form a large spiral, or helix, on each side.
Wikipedia
Spirifer is a genus of marine brachiopods belonging to the order Spiriferida family Spiriferidae. Species belonging to the genus occurred from the Middle Ordovician ( Sandbian) through to the Middle Permian ( Wordian). They were stationary epifaunal suspension feeders.
Usage examples of "spirifer".
Early in the boring the sandstone had given place to a vein of Comanchian limestone, full of minute fossil cephalopods, corals, echini, and spirifera, and with occasional suggestions of siliceous sponges and marine vertebrate bones - the latter probably of teleosts, sharks, and ganoids.
Early in the boring the sandstone had given place to a vein of Comanchian limestone, full of minute fossil cephalopods, corals, echini, and spirifera, and with occasional suggestions of siliceous sponges and marine vertebrate bones--the latter probably of teleosts, sharks, and ganoids.