舌形貝俗名海(hai)(hai)豆芽,是世(shi)界上(shang)已(yi)發現生(sheng)(sheng)物中生(sheng)(sheng)存歷史最長(chang)的(de)(de)一個屬(shu),是著名的(de)(de)“活(huo)(huo)化石”,生(sheng)(sheng)活(huo)(huo)在(zai)溫(wen)帶和熱帶海(hai)(hai)域(yu)。殼(ke)(ke)為幾丁磷灰質,兩殼(ke)(ke)大小近(jin)等,輪(lun)廓舌形或長(chang)卵形,兩殼(ke)(ke)瓣皆(jie)稍(shao)稍(shao)隆起,后(hou)緣(yuan)尖縮,前(qian)緣(yuan)平直(zhi)。腹(fu)殼(ke)(ke)有(you)一小的(de)(de)假鉸(jiao)合面。殼(ke)(ke)面平滑,或具同(tong)心紋。有(you)一長(chang)柄。常見(jian)于寒(han)武系以來的(de)(de)海(hai)(hai)相地層,現生(sheng)(sheng)種(zhong)至今仍未(wei)絕滅,分布于世(shi)界各地。
舌(she)形(xing)(xing)貝呈(cheng)殼(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)舌(she)形(xing)(xing)或(huo)長卵(luan)形(xing)(xing),后緣尖縮,前(qian)(qian)(qian)緣平直。兩(liang)殼(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)凸度相(xiang)似,大(da)小近等,但腹殼(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)略長。殼(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)壁(bi)脆薄,殼(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)多糖和磷(lin)灰質交互(hu)成層(ceng)。殼(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)面(mian)具(ju)油脂光(guang)澤,飾以(yi)同心紋。肉莖特長,自兩(liang)殼(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)間伸出,深埋于潛穴中,并在腹殼(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)假(jia)(jia)鉸合面(mian)上留(liu)下(xia)一個三角(jiao)形(xing)(xing)的凹(ao)溝,稱為肉莖溝(pedicle groove)。外套膜邊緣具(ju)剛毛,促(cu)使(shi)水由(you)前(qian)(qian)(qian)方兩(liang)側進入腕腔,再由(you)前(qian)(qian)(qian)方中央排(pai)出。小舌(she)形(xing)(xing)貝兩(liang)殼(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)大(da)小相(xiang)等,長卵(luan)形(xing)(xing)至亞三角(jiao)形(xing)(xing),前(qian)(qian)(qian)緣圓。腹殼(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)后緣比較(jiao)尖銳,有清晰(xi)的假(jia)(jia)鉸合面(mian)和莖溝。背(bei)殼(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)稍短。殼(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)(ke)面(mian)具(ju)同心紋,有時(shi)呈(cheng)斷續(xu)的層(ceng)狀,或(huo)具(ju)放射紋。
舌(she)形(xing)(xing)貝類是(shi)無鉸小腕足類,殼由(you)殼多糖組成(cheng)。現生屬(shu)(海豆(dou)芽(ya)屬(shu)〔lingula〕)見(jian)于(yu)正常的海洋環境(jing),但在不(bu)適于(yu)大(da)(da)多數生物(wu)生活(huo)的多泥、缺氧的半(ban)咸水中(zhong)更為常見(jian)。小舌(she)形(xing)(xing)貝屬(shu)(lingulella)是(shi)寒(han)武(wu)(wu)系的化(hua)石,外形(xing)(xing)和構造上都與(yu)現代(dai)海豆(dou)芽(ya)屬(shu)類似(si)。鱗舌(she)形(xing)(xing)貝屬(shu)(Lingulepis,大(da)(da)致(zhi)限於晚寒(han)武(wu)(wu)世(shi))外形(xing)(xing)不(bu)同于(yu)其他舌(she)形(xing)(xing)貝類,形(xing)(xing)態更像淚滴。舌(she)形(xing)(xing)貝類是(shi)提供環境(jing)信(xin)息的有用(yong)化(hua)石;對于(yu)地層對比作用(yong)不(bu)大(da)(da);是(shi)寒(han)武(wu)(wu)紀腕足動物(wu)群(qun)的重(zhong)要成(cheng)員。(舌(she)形(xing)(xing)貝的歷史距今已有4.5億年(nian)左(zuo)右,它們起(qi)源于(yu)寒(han)武(wu)(wu)紀。)