BLASTOIDEA Meaning and
Definition
-
Blastoidea refers to a class of extinct marine echinoderms that existed from the Ordovician to the Permian periods, approximately 470 to 250 million years ago. These organisms were characterized by a spherical or pear-shaped body known as a theca, which was composed of numerous calcium carbonate plates or ossicles. The theca was typically attached to the substrate by a stalk, although some species were stalkless.
Members of the class Blastoidea had a complex structure, with a mouth at the top of the theca and a series of arms or cirri extending outward. These arms were lined with numerous tube feet that were used for locomotion and feeding. Blastoideans primarily fed on microscopic organisms present in the water column, using their arms to filter out particles and direct them towards the mouth.
Blastoidea exhibited a wide diversity of morphological features, with some species growing as small as a few millimeters while others reached sizes of several centimeters. They were predominantly benthic animals, inhabiting shallow marine environments ranging from tropical to more temperate regions.
Despite their once considerable abundance, Blastoidea eventually went extinct by the end of the Permian period, possibly as a result of environmental changes and competition from other marine organisms. Today, their fossilized remains serve as valuable indicators of past marine ecosystems and provide important insights into the evolutionary history of echinoderms.
Common Misspellings for BLASTOIDEA
- vlastoidea
- nlastoidea
- hlastoidea
- glastoidea
- bkastoidea
- bpastoidea
- boastoidea
- blzstoidea
- blsstoidea
- blwstoidea
- blqstoidea
- blaatoidea
- blaztoidea
- blaxtoidea
- bladtoidea
- blaetoidea
- blawtoidea
- blasroidea
- blasfoidea
- blasgoidea
Etymology of BLASTOIDEA
The word "Blastoidea" comes from the Greek words "blastos" meaning "shoot" or "bud" and "eidos" meaning "form" or "appearance". The term was coined in the early 19th century by the French naturalist Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville to refer to a class of extinct echinoderms that had a bud-like appearance. These organisms, known as blastoids, were marine invertebrates that existed from the Early Ordovician period to the Permian period, approximately 488 to 252 million years ago.
Similar spelling words for BLASTOIDEA
- Ballistite,
- bilsted,
- belouizdad,
- placidity,
- Balistoid,
- palisadoed,
- blasted,
- blastid,
- Palisaded,
- pellucidity,
- plastid,
- Plastide,
- Blastoid,
- blood-plastid,
- balistidae,
- Pulsated,
- sun-blasted,
- polstead,
- belstead,
- Ballasted,
- plaisted,
- Blastide.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
