Leptaena

Leptaena, genus of extinct brachiopods (lamp shells) commonly found as fossils in Ordovician to Lower Carboniferous sedimentary rocks (between 488 million and 318 million years old). The very distinctive shell of Leptaena is characterized by its wrinkled ornamentation and fine linear markings.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Richard Pallardy.

Citation Information

Article Title: Leptaena

Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica

Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.

Date Published: 11 August 2008

URL: https://www.britannica.comhttps://www.britannica.com/animal/Leptaena

Access Date: April 23, 2025