Terebratulids are one of only three living orders of articulatebrachiopods, the others being theRhynchonellida and theThecideida.Craniida andLingulida include living brachiopods, but areinarticulates. The name, Terebratula, may be derived from the Latin "terebra", meaning "hole-borer". The perceived resemblance of terebratulid shells toancient Roman oil lamps gave the brachiopods their common name "lamp shell".

Terebratulida Temporal range:Silurian–present PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Terebratulid brachiopod from the Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) of southwestern France.
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Brachiopoda
Class:	Rhynchonellata
Order:	Terebratulida Waagen, 1883
Suborders
See text

Terebratulids typically have biconvex shells that are usually ovoid to circular in outline. They can be either smooth or have radial ribbing. Thelophophore support is loop shaped in contrast to the spiralia of similar looking spiriferids. Terebratulids are also distinguished by a very short hinge line, and the shell is punctate in microstructure. There is a circularpedicle opening, orforamen, located in the beak.

Terebratulids may have evolved fromAtrypids during the early orMiddle Silurian. Early genera were almost circular to elongate-oval, with smooth or finely costate shells. During theCretaceous andTertiary periods, many shells became coarsely plicate.

• SuborderTerebratellidina
  • SuperfamilyKraussinoidea
  • SuperfamilyLaqueoidea
  • SuperfamilyMegathyridoidea
  • SuperfamilyPlatidioidea
  • SuperfamilyTerebratelloidea
    • FamilyDallinidae
    • FamilyEcnomiosidae
    • FamilyTerebratellidae
    • FamilyThaumatosiidae
  • SuperfamilyZeillerioidea
  • SuperfamilyBouchardioidea
  • SuperfamilyGwynioidea
  • SuperfamilyKingenoidea
  • SuperfamilyIncertae sedis
    • FamilyTythothyrididae
• SuborderTerebratulidina
  • SuperfamilyCancellothyroidea
    • FamilyCancellothyrididae
    • FamilyChlidonophoridae
    • FamilyCnismatocentridae
  • SuperfamilyDyscoloidea
  • SuperfamilyTerebratuloidea
    • FamilyGryphidae
    • FamilyTichosidae
    • FamilyTerebratulidae

Extinct Superfamilies

• • SuperfamilyDielasmatoidea †
  • SuperfamilyCryptonelloidea †
  • SuperfamilyLoboidothyridoidea †
  • SuperfamilyStryingocephaloidea †

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  Coenothyris oweni from the MiddleTriassic (Anisian) lower Saharonim Formation, Har Gevanim, southernIsrael.
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  Pygites diphyoides (d'Orbigny, 1849) from theHauterivian (Lower Cretaceous) of Cehegin, Murcia, Spain. This terebratulid is characterized by a central perforation through its valves.
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  Terebratalia transversa, a living terebratulide
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  Calloria inconspicuo, a living terebratulide
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  Coptothyris grayi, a living terebratulide