family Belemnitidae

9.9

An extinct sea animal with a bullet-shaped shell inside its body from the time of the dinosaurs

noun
/ˈfæmɪli bɪˌlɛmˈnɪtəˌdeɪ/

Specialized

: familia Belemnitidae

Fossils from the family Belemnitidae are often recognized by their bullet-shaped guards.

Examples

The family Belemnitidae thrived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods before becoming extinct.
Paleontologists study members of the family Belemnitidae to learn more about ancient marine ecosystems.
The family Belemnitidae thrived during the Mesozoic era.
Many fossils from the family Belemnitidae have been discovered in Europe.
Fossils from the family Belemnitidae are often recognized by their bullet-shaped guards.
The family Belemnitidae thrived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods before becoming extinct.
Paleontologists study members of the family Belemnitidae to learn more about ancient marine ecosystems.

Synonyms

Belemnitidae

vsfamily Belemnitidae

Specialized

9.9

Family of extinct sea animals like squids with long bullet-shaped shells inside their bodies

uses a slightly longer phrase adding the broader mollusk classification

Surface Forms

family Belemnitidae singular

families Belemnitidae plural

Morphology

family + Belemnitidae

The phrase is directly compositional: 'family' (a taxonomic grouping) combined with the proper name 'Belemnitidae' yields the biological family called Belemnitidae, an extinct group of cephalopods. This taxonomic naming pattern is standard and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would understand the meaning.

Etymology

Family Belemnitidae names a group of extinct sea animals called belemnites. These animals left hard, 'bullet-shaped' shells inside their bodies that look like small stones, so the name points to that shape and today means the family of those fossil animals.