BLASTOIDS Meaning and
Definition
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Blastoids are extinct marine animals that belong to the phylum Echinodermata and the class Blastoidea. They are considered to be one of the most primitive echinoderms and are known from fossil records dating back to the Ordovician period to the Permian period, approximately 500 to 250 million years ago.
These small, filter-feeding organisms are characterized by a globular or oval-shaped body, which is composed of a system of plates or thecae. The thecae are arranged in five distinct columns or rows, resulting in a symmetrical structure. At the top of the body, there is a small opening known as the summit, which was used for the attachment of the blastoid to the substrate.
Blastoids possessed a series of long and flexible appendages called brachioles that project from the summit. The brachioles aided in both suspension feeding by capturing small particles from the water column and locomotion. These organisms were benthic, meaning that they lived on the ocean floor, and some could move and reattach elsewhere if necessary.
Due to their distinctive morphology, blastoids are often compared to both crinoids (sea lilies) and blastozoans (pentaradial echinoderms). However, blastoids differ from crinoids by lacking a stalk and having shorter brachioles. Furthermore, they vary from blastozoans as they possess a distinct arrangement of plates.
Today, blastoids are considered important fossils for understanding the evolution and paleoecology of echinoderms. They have provided valuable insights into the structure and diversity of ancient marine ecosystems during the Paleozoic era.
Common Misspellings for BLASTOIDS
- blastoides
- blasstoids
- blasttoids
- blostoids
- blastioids
- blastoieds
- blostoides
- blastoyds
- blasstoides
Etymology of BLASTOIDS
The word "blastoids" is derived from the Greek word "blastós" (βλαστός) meaning "germ" or "bud" and the suffix "-oid" which means "resembling". It is a combination of these two elements which suggests that blastoids resemble or are similar to a germ or bud. In the context of biology, blastoids are a group of extinct echinoderms that lived during the Paleozoic era and had a bulbous or bud-like appearance.
