AMMONITE Meaning and
Definition
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An ammonite, from the class Ammonoidea, refers to an extinct group of marine mollusks that thrived during the Mesozoic Era, particularly the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. They are characterized by their spiral-shaped, coiled shells, which resemble the horns of ancient Egyptian ram-headed deity Amun. Ammonites are cephalopods related to modern-day squid and octopus, but with an external shell for protection.
The shells of ammonites are composed of a series of chambers called septa, connected by a tubular structure known as the siphuncle. As the ammonite grew, it inhabited only the most recent chamber, sealing off older ones through the formation of the septum. This process allowed them to maintain buoyancy and stability within the water column. The outer surface of ammonite shells is often intricately adorned with ridges, ribs, or spines, serving as both a defense mechanism and an aid in species identification.
Ammonites occupied diverse marine environments, ranging from shallow coastal waters to deep-sea environments. Their fossils are abundant worldwide, providing valuable information to paleontologists about ancient ecosystems, climate, and the evolution of ammonoids and other marine organisms. Their extinction coincided with the end of the Cretaceous period, approximately 66 million years ago, likely due to environmental changes triggered by a cataclysmic event, such as an asteroid impact. Today, ammonite fossils are highly prized by collectors and admired for their aesthetic beauty, scientific value, and representation of an ancient, bygone era.
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A varied family of fossil chambered shells, coiled in a plane spiral, so called from a resemblance to the horns of the statue of the ancient Egyptian god Jupiter-Ammon.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for AMMONITE
Etymology of AMMONITE
The word "ammonite" comes from the ancient Greek "ammonis kokkinos", which means "red ammonius stone". This term refers to the reddish-brown color of the fossilized shells of ammonites. The name "ammonis" relates to the Egyptian deity Amun (also spelled Ammon), who was often depicted wearing ram horns. Ammonites, with their spiral-shaped shells, were thought to resemble these horns, thus the connection to Amun.
Similar spelling words for AMMONITE
- aminat,
- Amandy,
- EMJNET,
- Eminta,
- Eumenidae,
- ament,
- amniote,
- emnid,
- EMINT,
- Emond,
- aminet,
- Aimond,
- Yemenite,
- ammonide,
- Omened,
- amont,
- amiant(h)us,
- Aminta,
- ammonoidea,
- amanita,
- ammannati,
- AIEMNet,
- Immanity,
- AMANDD,
- EMENDA,
- IMINT,
- immunity,
- Omniety,
- Amende,
- ammonoid,
- Amandie,
- eamont,
- Amanda,
- ayamonte,
- Waiment,
- diplomatic-immunity,
- amend,
- Rhot-amenti,
- Wayment,
- eumenid,
- aumenta,
- aminity,
- ammoniated,
- amn't,
- aminata,
- ammondt,
- womanity,
- ammoniate,
- Amandah,
- Amando,
- saint-amand-les-eaux,
- Amenta,
- emnity,
- Amintah,
- amante,
- immunet,
- Immund,
- Aimant,
- SDT-IMINT,
- amunet,
- lodgment-ement,
- womanhood,
- khenti-amentiu,
- IMNET,
- IMNDA,
- ammoniata,
- Amynta,
- imminute,
- amend.2,
- aument,
- amende-honorable,
- amened,
- amountdue,
- AMANDDA,
- omondi,
- amund,
- amonte,
- UMANT,
- zero-amount,
- Amanitae,
- amenity,
- amnat,
- amenti,
- omantai,
- aimend,
- UMINDO,
- ammonate,
- AMINT,
- emanate,
- Aminda,
- Aimnet,
- Saint-Amand,
- iomante,
- amend.1,
- amniota,
- amenities,
- AMND,
- Omenta,
- Amandi,
- amanat,
- amant,
- aumont,
- amaunet,
- aymond,
- aeuminata,
- Amande,
- wimund,
- amanti,
- amount,
- omand,
- Ominate,
- sero-immunity,
- emend,
- Womaned,
- Ammoniato-,
- ill-omened,
- AMNIT,
- aminatou,
- Womanhead,
- omneity,
- Womanhede,
- ammonitic,
- yamanote.
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