The word "ptilopora" is a combination of Greek words "ptil", meaning feather, and "poros", meaning pore. It refers to the small openings on the underside of feathers that help birds to efficiently spread oil across their feathers during preening. The spelling of "ptilopora" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as [tɪlɒpɔːrə]. It comprises of the voiceless alveolar plosive sound /t/, the front open-mid unrounded vowel sound /ɪ/, the velar nasal sound /ŋ/, and the open central unrounded vowel sound /ɒ/ among others.
Ptilopora is a term used in paleontology to refer to a genus of prehistoric marine bryozoans that existed during the Ordovician period. Bryozoans, commonly known as "moss animals," are small colonial invertebrates that live in aquatic environments. The genus Ptilopora is characterized by its unique skeletal structure, which consists of a branching colony composed of numerous delicate, tube-like zooids.
Each individual zooid in a Ptilopora colony had its own protective tube or chamber, commonly referred to as a zooecium, which housed the organism. These zooecia were often interconnected, forming intricate networks or branches within the colony. The delicate nature of the colony suggests that Ptilopora likely thrived in calm, shallow marine environments.
Ptilopora fossils are typically preserved as impressions or molds in sedimentary rocks. These fossils provide important insights into the ecological dynamics and paleogeography of the ancient oceans during the Ordovician period. They also help scientists understand the biodiversity and evolutionary history of bryozoans, contributing to our broader understanding of the biological processes that have shaped life on Earth.
Overall, Ptilopora is an extinct genus of bryozoans characterized by its branching colony structure composed of delicate, tube-like zooids. Its fossils offer valuable information about the ancient marine ecosystems and provide clues about the evolutionary history of these unique organisms.
In geol., a genus of Carboniferous polyzoans, whose pores or cells are arranged in feather-like form on a common axis.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.