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Obolus
fossil brachiopod genus
Obolus, genus of extinct brachiopod, or lamp shell, of the Cambrian Period (from 542 million to 488 million years ago). Obolus was a small animal with a spherical shape; one valve, or shell, was larger than the other. Unlike the shells of its relatives, the lingulids, the obolus shells were composed of calcium carbonate. Obolus inhabited shallow marine waters.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Richard Pallardy.
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