The fossil record holds a wealth of ecological data, including data on biotic interactions. For example, holes in the skeletons of invertebrates produced by drilling activities of their enemies are widely used for exploring the intensity of such interactions through time because they are common and easily distinguished from non‐biotic holes or holes produced by other types of interactions. Such drill holes have been described in numerous studies of Palaeozoic brachiopods but rarely in those focusing on brachiopods of the post‐Palaeozoic, a striking pattern given that in the late Mesozoic and Cenozoic drilling gastropods diversified and frequencies of drilled molluscs increased dramatically. During the past several years, however, drilled brachiopods were reported in several studies of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic, suggesting that this phenomenon may be more common than has been previously assumed. Here we report on drilled brachiopods from a Pliocene locality in Algeria where 90 of 261 (34.5%) specimens of Megerlia truncata show evidence of predatory drilling. These data confirm that Cenozoic drilling frequencies of brachiopods may be locally high and, when taken together with other published data, that drilling frequencies are highly heterogeneous in space and time.

Nineteen genera of Recent brachiopods, i.e. Discradisca Stenzel, 1964, Novocrania Lee & Brunton, 2001, Basiliola Dall, 1908, Cryptopora Jeffreys, 1869, Gryphus Megerle von Mühlfeldt, 1811, Dallithyris Muir-Wood, 1959, Stenosarina Cooper, 1977, Xenobrochus Cooper, 1981, Terebratulina d'Orbigny, 1847, Chlidonophora Dall, 1903, Eucalathis Fischer & Oehlert, 1890, Macandrevia King, 1859, Frenulina Dall, 1895, Jolonica Dall, 1920, Argyrotheca Dall, 1900, Phaneropora Zezina, 1981, Nipponithyris Yabe & Hatai, 1934, Megerlia King, 1850 and Megerella n. gen. have been identified in the material collected during three French cruises MAINBAZA, MIRIKY and ATIMO VATAE to the Mozambique-Madagascar area during the years 2009–2010. One genus and four species are described as new: the genus Megerella n. gen. with type species M. hilleri n. gen., n. sp. and the species Eucalathis daphneae n. sp., Eucalathis malgachensis n. sp. and Macandrevia emigi n. sp. Eucalathis daphneae n. sp. differs from congeneric species ... RÉSUMÉ Les brachiopodes actuels de la région Mozambique-Madagascar, Océan Indien de l'Ouest. Dix-neuf genres de brachiopodes actuels : Discradisca Stenzel, 1964; Novocrania Lee & Brunton, 2001; Basiliola Dall, 1908; Cryptopora Jeffreys, 1869; Gryphus Megerle von Mühlfeldt, 1811; Dallithyris Muir-Wood, 1959; Stenosarina Cooper, 1977; Xenobrochus Cooper, 1981; Terebratulina d'Orbigny, 1847; Chlidonophora Dall, 1903; Eucalathis Fischer & Oehlert, 1890; Macandrevia King, 1859; Frenulina Dall, 1895; Jolonica Dall, 1920; Argyrotheca Dall, 1900; Phaneropora Zezina, 1981; Nipponithyris Yabe & Hatai, 1934, Megerlia King, 1850 et Megerella n. gen. ont été identifiés dans le matériel récolté dans la région Mozambique-Madagascar pendant les expéditions françaises MAINBAZA, MIRIKY et ATIMO VATAE en 2009 et 2010. Un genre et quatre espèces sont décrits comme nouveaux : le genre Megerella n. gen. avec l'espèce type M. hilleri n. gen., n. sp. et les espèces Eucalathis daphneae n. sp., Eucalathis malgachensis n. sp. et Ma...

The number of living brachiopod genera and species recorded to date, are 116 and 391, respectively. The phylum Brachiopoda is divided into three subphyla: Linguliformea, Craniiformea and Rhynchonelliformea. Although they were extremely common throughout the Paleozoic, today they are considered a minor phylum, and only five orders have extant representatives: Lingulida, with two families, 6 genera and 25 species; Craniida, with one family, 3 genera and 18 species; Rhynchonellida, with 6 families, 19 genera and 39 species; Thecideida, with two families, 6 genera and 22 species; and Terebratulida, with 18 families, 82 genera, and 287 species.