TURRILITE Meaning and
Definition
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Turrilite is a fossilized marine mollusk belonging to the extinct order of ammonites. Ammonites were cephalopods that thrived in the ancient oceans during the Mesozoic era, from around 300 to 65 million years ago. Turrilites were particularly abundant and diverse during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 100 to 65 million years ago.
The name "Turrilite" is derived from its distinctive spiral-shaped shell, which resembles a rope coil or a turret. The shell has a conical form with a prominent central axis, which creates a spiral pattern. The shell is divided into chambers, with the largest chamber being the outermost and the innermost chamber containing the organism's living chamber. Turrilites had a soft body that would have occupied the innermost chamber.
The overall size of Turrilites varied greatly, ranging from a few centimeters to over a meter in length. They were typically elongated and possessed a narrow aperture. The exterior of the shell surface displays intricate patterns of fine ridges and ribs, which likely aided in the control of buoyancy and provided structural support.
Turrilites were found in various marine environments, including shallow nearshore waters and deeper offshore regions. They were primarily carnivorous, feeding on small marine organisms such as fish, crustaceans, and other mollusks. Fossil specimens of Turrilites are highly valued among collectors and paleontologists due to their aesthetic appeal and scientific importance in understanding the evolution and paleoecology of ancient marine ecosystems.
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In geol., a genus of chambered shells belonging to the ammonite family, and characterised by their straight, spiral, turreted appearance.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for TURRILITE
- rurrilite
- furrilite
- gurrilite
- yurrilite
- 6urrilite
- 5urrilite
- tyrrilite
- thrrilite
- tjrrilite
- tirrilite
- t8rrilite
- t7rrilite
- tuerilite
- tudrilite
- tufrilite
- tutrilite
- tu5rilite
- tu4rilite
- tureilite
- turdilite
Etymology of TURRILITE
The word "Turrilite" is derived from the Latin term "turris", meaning "tower", due to the distinctive spiral shape of the fossilized shell. The suffix "-lite" is commonly used in mineralogy and paleontology to denote a particular mineral or fossil.
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