Jaffaia
Jaffaia is a monotypic genus of brachiopods belonging to the family Dallinidae. The only species is Jaffaia jaffaensis from southern Australia. The species was described by Blochmann in 1910 and recently re-described in the Australian Journal of Taxonomy.
Description
J. jaffaensis reaches a maximum length of 23.4 mm and fits the following diagnosis:Overall outline ovoid to circular, relatively thin laterally and with commissures straight, anterior commissure rectimarginate to lightly sulcate. Beak suberect, with deltidial plates conjunct and mostly exposed, and bearing a small foramen. Hinge teeth large relative to symphytium, with swollen bases. Cardinalia with inner and outer hinge plates separated by thick crural bases, inner hinge plates forming a V-shaped septalium supported by median septum. Cardinal process well developed, supported anteriorly by a triangular ridge between the hinge plates, and with a posteriorly facing myophore. The median septum does not reach mid-valve, highest at junction with lateral connecting bands of brachial loop. Crura are short, subparallel, and with short and pointed crural processes. Adult brachial loop 'trabecular', supporting a 'plectolophous' lophophore.
The genus is very similar in morphology to the genus Nipponithyris and they may prove synonymous.