What time period did brachiopods live in?

Brachiopods first appeared in the fossil record during the Cambrian Period, around 500 million years ago. They thrived through various geological periods, including the Paleozoic Era, and were particularly abundant during the Ordovician and Devonian periods. While their diversity and abundance declined significantly after the Permian mass extinction, brachiopods still exist today, albeit in much lower numbers and diversity.