How Do You Spell GRAPTOLITHUS?

Pronunciation: [ɡɹˈaptəlˌɪθəs] (IPA)

Graptolithus is a fossilized colonial animal that lived in the oceans around 490 million years ago. The spelling of this word is pronounced as /ɡræpˈtɒlɪθəs/ with emphasis on the second syllable. In phonetic transcription, the first syllable is pronounced with a "g" sound followed by "r" and "æ" sounds. The "p" sound in the second syllable is silent, while the "t" and "h" sounds are pronounced together as "th". The final syllable is pronounced with a short "u" sound followed by "s".

GRAPTOLITHUS Meaning and Definition

1. Graptolithus is a term used to describe a diverse group of extinct marine animals that thrived during the Paleozoic era, specifically in the Ordovician and Silurian periods. The word is derived from the Greek words "graptos," meaning written, and "lithos," meaning stone, which emphasize their characteristic fossilized appearance.

   Graptolithus is classified as a type of colonial organism, which means that it consists of interconnected individuals known as zooids that formed colonies resembling branches or rafts suspended in the water. These colonies were typically attached to a substrate, such as rocks or seaweed, by a structure known as a stipe.

   The individual zooids of graptolithus were tiny, tubular organisms complete with a feeding tentacle called a lophophore, through which they obtained food particles from the water. Graptolithus colonies exhibited a wide range of morphological variations, including forms resembling zigzag patterns, serrated lines, or sawtooth shapes.

   Graptolithus fossils are important paleontological indicators as they have been used to establish relative dating and correlation of rock layers, aiding geologists in understanding the evolution and changing environments of the Earth during the Paleozoic era. The study of graptolithus and its taxonomy has greatly contributed to the understanding of early marine ecosystems and the interconnections between different ancient species.

   Due to their intriguing morphology and significance in paleontological studies, graptolithus remains a subject of interest to scientists and fossil enthusiasts who continue to explore and uncover new information about these intricate marine creatures.

2. In geol., fossil zoophytes akin to the sea-pen of modern seas, found throughout the Silurian deposits.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for GRAPTOLITHUS

• fraptolithus
• vraptolithus
• braptolithus
• hraptolithus
• yraptolithus
• traptolithus
• geaptolithus
• gdaptolithus
• gfaptolithus
• gtaptolithus
• g5aptolithus
• g4aptolithus
• grzptolithus
• grsptolithus
• grwptolithus
• grqptolithus
• graotolithus
• graltolithus
• gra-tolithus
• gra0tolithus

Etymology of GRAPTOLITHUS

The word "graptolithus" is derived from the combination of two Greek words: "grapto-" meaning "written" or "engraved", and "lithos" meaning "stone". Therefore, "graptolithus" can be translated as "written stone" or "engraved stone". This term was coined in the early 19th century by Scottish geologist Sir Roderick Murchison to describe a group of extinct marine organisms with fossilized remains resembling small "engraved" lines on rocks. Graptolites, the organisms referred to by the term "graptolithus", are thought to have lived from the Late Cambrian to the Early Carboniferous period.