Found worldwide at all depths, though they prefer cool, well-oxygenated, and low-light environments.
Unlike bivalve mollusks (clams), brachiopod shells are symmetrical across a vertical plane (between the valves) rather than a horizontal plane. brachiopoda
The Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology (Part H) is the primary reference. If you'd like to refine this further, let me know: Found worldwide at all depths, though they prefer
Only ~5% of all known brachiopod species are alive today. Found worldwide at all depths
Lingula (an inarticulate) is considered a "living fossil," remaining virtually unchanged for over 500 million years. IV. Evolutionary History and Paleontology