Cheirothyris is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of fossil

brachiopod Brachiopods (), phylum Brachiopoda, are a phylum of trochozoan animals that have hard "valves" (shells) on the upper and lower surfaces, unlike the left and right arrangement in bivalve molluscs. Brachiopod valves are hinged at the rear end, w ...

from the

Upper Jurassic The Late Jurassic is the third epoch of the Jurassic Period, and it spans the geologic time from 163.5 ± 1.0 to 145.0 ± 0.8 million years ago (Ma), which is preserved in Upper Jurassic strata.Owen 1987. In European lithostratigraphy, the name ...

period. The shells of this genus are characterised by four, high, radially arranged ribs on each valve. On the anterior edge of the valves the ribs protrude like fingers, so that the shells look like the webbed feet of birds from above.Ivanov, Hrdlickova & Gregorova (2001) The Complete Encyclopedia of Fossils: A Comprehensive guide to Fossils from around the world Rebo Publishers, , The Nederlands. pp. 312 ''Cheirothyris fleuriausa'' is one of the largest reported specimens measuring about 3 cm.

References

Prehistoric brachiopod genera Jurassic brachiopods Jurassic animals of Europe {{brachiopod-stub