Rhynchonellata

thumb|A modern member of Rhynchonellata, Calloria inconspicua, observed off the coast of New Zealand The Rhynchonellata is a class of Lower Cambrian to Recent articulate brachiopods that combines orders from within the Rhynchonelliformea (Articulata revised) with well developed pedicle attachment. Shell forms vary from those with wide hinge lines to beaked forms with virtually no hinge line and from generally smooth to strongly plicate. Most all are biconvex. Lophophores vary and include both looped and spiraled forms. Although morphologically distinct, included orders follow a consistent phylogenetic sequence.

==Orders== Orders assigned to the Rhynchonellata, in temporal sequence, include: †Protorthida (Lower Cambrian – Upper Devonian) †Orthida (Lower Cambrian – Upper Permian) †Pentamerida (Middle Cambrian – Upper Devonian) †Atrypida (Lower Ordovician – Upper Devonian) Rhynchonellida (Lower Ordovician – Recent) †Spiriferida (Upper Ordovician – Lower Jurassic) †Athyridida (Upper Ordovician – Lower Jurassic) †Spiriferinida (Lower Devonian – Lower Jurassic) Terebratulida (Lower Devonian – Recent) Thecideida (Upper Triassic – Recent)