Monoplacophora

Monoplacophora
Temporal range: Early Cambrian – Recent[1][2]
The holotype of Neopilina galatheae at the Zoological Museum, Copenhagen
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Subphylum: Conchifera
Class: Monoplacophora
Odhner, 1940
Shell of Monoplacophora

Monoplacophora /ˌmɒnoʊpləˈkɒfərə/, meaning "bearing one plate", is a polyphyletic superclass of molluscs with a cap-like shell, inhabiting deep sea environments. Extant representatives were not recognized as such until 1952; previously they were known only from the fossil record, and were thought to have become extinct 375 million years ago.[2]

Although the shell of many monoplacophorans is limpet-like in shape, they are not gastropods, nor do they have any close relation to gastropods.[1]

  1. ^ a b Taviani, M.; Sabelli, B.; Candini, F. (1990). "A fossil Cenozoic monoplacophoran". Lethaia. 23 (2): 213–216. Bibcode:1990Letha..23..213T. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.1990.tb01361.x.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Lindberg2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).