Anisograptidae is an extinct family of

graptolite Graptolites are a group of colonial animals, members of the subclass Graptolithina within the class Pterobranchia. These filter-feeding Filter feeders are a sub-group of suspension feeding animals that feed by straining suspended matter and ...

s. As the first

planktic Plankton are the diverse collection of organisms found in water (or air) that are unable to propel themselves against a current (or wind). The individual organisms constituting plankton are called plankters. In the ocean, they provide a cruc ...

graptolites, they play a crucial role for understanding the transition of graptolites from ocean floor suspension feeders to ocean surface

plankton Plankton are the diverse collection of organisms found in Hydrosphere, water (or atmosphere, air) that are unable to propel themselves against a Ocean current, current (or wind). The individual organisms constituting plankton are called plankt ...

during the

early Ordovician The Ordovician ( ) is a geologic period and system, the second of six periods of the Paleozoic Era. The Ordovician spans 41.6 million years from the end of the Cambrian Period million years ago (Mya) to the start of the Silurian Period Mya. ...

. Anisograptids can be quadriradiate ('' Rhabdinopora'', '' Staurograptus''), triradiate ('' Anisograptus'', '' Triograptus''), or biradiate ('' Adelograptus'', '' Kiaerograptus'').

Genera

List of genera from Maletz (2014): *†'' Adelograptus'' Bulman, 1941 *†'' Aletograptus'' Obut & Sobolevskaya, 1962 *†'' Ancoragraptus'' Jackson & Lenz, 2003 *†'' Anisograptus'' Ruedemann, 1937 *†'' Aorograptus'' Williams & Stevens, 1991 *†'' Araneograptus'' Erdtmann & VandenBerg, 1985 *†'' Bryograptus'' Lapworth, 1880 *†'' Chigraptus'' Jackson & Lenz, 1999 *†'' Choristograptus'' Legrand, 1964 *†'' Damesograptus'' Jahn, 1892 *†'' Dictyodendron'' Westergård, 1909 *†'' Dictyograptus'' Hopkinson, 1875 in Hopkinson & Lapworth (1875) *†'' Dictyograptus'' Westergård, 1909 *†'' Diphygraptus'' Zhao & Zhang, 1985 *†'' Graptopora'' Salter, 1858 *†'' Heterograptus'' Zhao & Zhang in Lin, 1986 *†'' Holopsigraptus'' Zhao & Zhang, 1985 *†'' Hunjiangograptus'' Zhao & Zhang, 1985 *†'' Hunnegraptus'' Lindholm, 1991 *†'' Kiaerograptus'' Spjeldnaes, 1963 *†'' Muenzhigraptus'' Zhao & Zhang, 1985 *†'' Neoclonograptus'' Zhao & Zhang, 1985 *? †'' Nephelograptus'' Ruedemann, 1947 *†'' Paraclonograptus'' Zhao & Zhang, 1985 *†'' Paratemnograptus'' Williams & Stevens, 1991 *†'' Phyllograpta'' Angelin, 1854 *†'' Psigraptus'' Jackson, 1967 *†'' Radiograptus'' Bulman, 1950 *†'' Rhabdinopora'' Eichwald, 1855 *†'' Sagenograptus'' Obut & Sobolevskaya, 1962 *†'' Staurograpsus'' Emmons, 1855 *? †'' Stellatograptus'' Erdtmann, 1967 *†'' Toyenograptus'' Li, 1984 *†'' Triograptus'' Monsen, 1925 *†'' Triramograptus'' Erdtmann, 1998 in Cooper et al. (1998) *†'' Yukonograptus'' Lin, 1981

References

Graptolites Prehistoric hemichordate families {{Hemichordate-stub