Brachiopod larvae are termed “lobate larvae”, but are considerably different between the Articulata and Inarticulata in terms morphology and timing of settlement.  Articulate larvae have no mouth so settle after a planktonic period of several days, where they undergo reorganization from a three-part lobed larva to a sessile adult.  The morphology of the Inarticulata larvae is similar to adults.  They have a far longer planktonic period, at the end of which they gradually uncurl a pedicule and start secreting calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate (Lingulata) to form a shell, which, because it is heavy causes them to settle without such a dramatic metamorphosis as in the Articulata (Brusca and Brusca 2003).