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BRACHIOPODA
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BRACHIOPODA, an important and well-defined but extremely isolated class of invertebrates. The group may be defined as follows: Sessile solitary Coelomata with bivalved shells usually of unequal size and arranged dorso-ventrally. The head is produced into ciliated arms bearing tentacles. They reproduce sexually, and with doubtful exceptions are of separate sexes. The name Brachiopod ((3pax1cov, an arm, and 7rous, 7roSbs, a foot) was proposed for the class by F. Cuvier in 18o5, and by A. M. C. Dumeril in 1809, and has since been very extensively adopted. The division of the group into Ecardines (Inarticulata),