Articulate brachiopods are characterized by having calcium carbonate shells that open along a hinge line and that are held in place by a system of teeth and sockets.

Productoid and strophomenoid brachiopods are the most common macrofossil to be found in the Bonner Springs Shale in the Lower Platte River Valley. Juresania nebrascensis is the most common productoid, whereas Derbyia crassa and Derbyia bennetti are the most common strophomenoids. No flat-shelled, wing-like chonetoid brachiopods have been observed in the Bonner Springs here, and only a few specimens of the usually very common atrypoid brachiopod, Composita subtilita have been found here. This is a somewhat anomalous brachiopod distribution for late Pennsylvanian strata, and this may shed more light on environments of deposition for the Bonner Springs Shale in this area.