brachiopod
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9.9
- noun
- /ˈbrækɪəˌpɒd/
- Specialized
- Scientists discovered various brachiopods in the fossil layers, showcasing their diversity millions of years ago.
Examples
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Their soft remains sometimes became food for scavengers, and their shells became islands to which brachiopods attached themselves.
Academic text (1992) -
Diversity in the Sea (Evidence Area): Spectacular marine fossils, brachiopods, and trilobites, as well as the first fish, are featured.
Academic text (1995) -
(I suspect that several named mollusks and brachiopods of the Tommotian may turn out to be halkieriid end plates.)
Academic text (1990) -
There he found invertebrates such as trilobites, bryozoa, and brachiopods—fossil remains that serve as a window on deep time.
Academic text (2001) -
With apparent growth lines and an apex near the margin, this posterior shell, if found separately, would surely have been called a brachiopod or mollusk valve.
Academic text (1990) -
Accessory organisms include brachiopods, echinoderms, ostracods, pelmatozoans, bryozoans, and conodonts.
Blog text (19) -
Invertebrates such as corals, crinoids, and brachiopods flourished in the warm oceans of the Devonian period.
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The brachiopod exhibits a unique structure with two shells and tentacle-bearing arms for capturing food.
Synonyms
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9.9
A sea animal with two shells and two arm-like parts with tentacles for feeding
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9.9
A sea animal with two shells and arms with tentacles that catch food
Surface Forms
Morphology
brachiopod = brachio + pod (opaque) = brachio + pod
While 'brachio' and 'pod' are recognizable elements, the specialized biological meaning is not transparent to learners without specific knowledge.
Etymology
Brachiopod comes from Greek parts brachi- meaning 'arm' and -pod meaning 'foot', because these shell animals have arm-like parts for feeding and a foot or stalk. So a brachiopod is a sea animal with a shell whose name points to its 'arms' and 'foot'.