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Glite Dictionary
Burmeisteria retusa

Burmeisteria retusa

9.9
An ancient sea animal with a hard shell known from fossils found in southern South America
  • proper noun
  • Specialized
: Burmeisteria retusa
  • Scientists discovered several Burmeisteria retusa specimens in southern Argentina's shale deposits.

Examples

  • The fossilized remains of Burmeisteria retusa have been studied to understand Devonian trilobite diversity.

  • The unique features of Burmeisteria retusa make it valuable for paleontological research.

  • The Burmeisteria retusa is an important species in the study of trilobite evolution.

  • Did you know that Burmeisteria retusa was once prevalent in southern South America?

  • Scientists discovered several Burmeisteria retusa specimens in southern Argentina's shale deposits.

  • The fossilized remains of Burmeisteria retusa have been studied to understand Devonian trilobite diversity.

  • The unique features of Burmeisteria retusa make it valuable for paleontological research.

Synonyms

trilobite
vsBurmeisteria retusa
  • Specialized
3 9.9

A sea animal with a hard outer shell and a body in three parts that lived long ago

is a single species known only from fossils in southern South America

Surface Forms

Burmeisteria retusa main

Morphology

Burmeisteria + retusa

This is a scientific binomial (proper name) whose constituent strings are not common English words and are either an eponymous genus (Burmeisteria) or a Latin species epithet (retusa) that a B1 learner would not know. The taxonomic name does not transparently convey the meaning 'a species of trilobite' to learners who only know basic English vocabulary, so the expression is opaque.

Etymology

Burmeisteria retusa probably comes from the name of the scientist Burmeister and the Latin word retusa, meaning 'blunt'. That 'blunt' part likely described the fossil's rounded or notched end, so the name helps identify this particular ancient sea animal, a 'trilobite'.