CYSTIDEA Meaning and
Definition
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Cystidea refers to a class of extinct marine organisms that belong to the phylum Echinodermata. These creatures are characterized by having a symmetrical, calcareous skeleton containing numerous small plates or ossicles, which are often dome-like or box-like in shape. Cystidea fossils are commonly found in sedimentary rocks from the Paleozoic era, particularly during the Ordovician and Silurian periods.
Members of the class Cystidea are considered to be echinoderms, a group that also includes familiar creatures like sea stars, sea urchins, and sand dollars. However, Cystidea possess unique characteristics that distinguish them from other echinoderms. Their skeletal structure is made up of interconnected plates or ossicles that encase their soft bodies, providing protection and support. Moreover, Cystidea lack the famous five-fold radial symmetry exhibited by other echinoderms, instead displaying bilateral symmetry.
Cystideans were benthic, meaning they lived on the seafloor, where they utilized their complex feeding structures to collect organic particles and plankton from the water. They typically employed a filter-feeding mechanism, where they captured food using specialized appendages or arms.
Cystidea played a significant role in the marine ecosystems of the past, occupying various ecological niches. The presence of their fossils in sedimentary rocks is valuable to paleontologists, allowing them to study and understand the evolutionary history and ecology of these fascinating organisms.
Common Misspellings for CYSTIDEA
Etymology of CYSTIDEA
The word "Cystidea" is derived from two separate words: "cyst" and "idea".
- "Cyst" comes from the Greek word "kystis", meaning "bladder" or "pouch".
- "Idea" comes from the Greek word "idéa", which translates to "form", "kind", or "species".
Therefore, when combined, "Cystidea" refers to a particular kind or form of bladder-like structure or organism. In the field of biology, it specifically refers to an extinct class of echinoderms, an early group of marine animals that had sac-like structures or cysts.
Similar spelling words for CYSTIDEA
- Cystoidea,
- Sestetto,
- sisted,
- cestoda,
- sestett,
- seastead,
- Cystoid,
- Suscitate,
- sociedad,
- cestidae,
- Seceded,
- Cestoidea,
- cestida,
- suicided,
- Cestoid,
- cystidia,
- SISDATA,
- Cisted,
- sistoyd,
- sestito,
- Cystid,
- sociedade,
- suceeded,
- Cystite,
- SESTAT,
- sestette,
- sestet,
- Zested,
- CISTOD,
- sustaita,
- cestode,
- societatea,
- cystideae,
- Cysted.
