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Conodontophorida

Conodontophorida

9.9
Extinct small jawless sea animals known from tiny tooth-like fossils
  • noun
  • /ˌkɒnəˌdɒnəˈfɔːrɪdə/
  • Specialized
: Conodontophorida
  • The Conodontophorida are best known from their tiny, tooth-like elements found in Paleozoic rocks.

Examples

  • Paleontologists debate whether Conodontophorida should be classified as vertebrates or as a separate phylum.

  • Fossils attributed to Conodontophorida have provided key insights into early vertebrate evolution.

  • The Conodontophorida thrived during the Cambrian period.

  • Many fossils of Conodontophorida have been discovered in North America.

  • Fossils attributed to Conodontophorida have provided key insights into early vertebrate evolution.

  • Paleontologists debate whether Conodontophorida should be classified as vertebrates or as a separate phylum.

  • The Conodontophorida are best known from their tiny, tooth-like elements found in Paleozoic rocks.

Synonyms

order Conodontophorida
vsConodontophorida
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of extinct jawless animals known from small tooth-like fossils

is the same meaning but used without the explicit taxonomic rank word

Compounds

9.9

A group of extinct jawless animals known from small tooth-like fossils

Surface Forms

Morphology

Conodontophorida = conodont (opaque) = conodont + phor + ida

The formation uses specialized scientific combining forms and a taxonomic suffix; knowing 'conodont' does not let a typical learner deduce the full taxonomic meaning.

Etymology

The word Conodontophorida comes from parts that mean cono- 'cone', -odont- 'tooth', and phor- 'to carry'. So it is like 'cone-tooth carriers', which helps explain why this extinct group is known mainly from tiny cone-shaped, tooth-like fossils.