Introduction to the Brachiopoda Introduction to the Brachiopoda Of lamp shells and lophophores. . .
Brachiopods are marine animals that, upon first glance, look like clams.
They are actually quite different from clams in their anatomy, and they are not closely related to the molluscs. They are lophophorates , and so are related to the Bryozoa and Phoronida. Although they seem rare in today's seas, they are actually fairly common. However, they often make their homes in very cold water, either in polar regions or at great depths in the ocean, and thus are not often encountered. There are about 300 living species of brachiopods.