Britannica
Sources used in this answer
What materials make up the shells of inarticulate lamp shells?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
lamp shells
Lamp shells on the sea floor off the coast of Massachusetts.
The shells of inarticulate lamp shells (brachiopods) are typically composed of chitinophosphatic material. This substance is often described as chitinous or fingernail-like in nature. While these shells are generally characterized by this composition, some specific groups may occasionally feature calcareous material.12