How Do You Spell TABULATA?

Pronunciation: [tˌabjʊlˈɑːtə] (IPA)

The word "Tabulata" is spelled with five syllables, pronounced /tæbjʊˈleɪtə/. The first syllable is "ta" with the /t/ sound and the short /æ/ vowel sound. The second syllable is "bu" with the /b/ sound and the short /ʊ/ vowel sound. The third syllable is "la" with the /l/ sound and the long /eɪ/ vowel sound. The fourth syllable is "ta" with the /t/ sound and the short /ə/ schwa sound. The final syllable is "ta" with the /t/ sound and the short /ə/ schwa sound.

TABULATA Meaning and Definition

1. Tabulata is a term used in the field of paleontology and biology to refer to a group of extinct marine organisms known as tabulate corals. Specifically, it describes a subclass of coral that thrived during the Paleozoic era, from approximately 485 to 251 million years ago. Tabulata corals were one of the dominant reef-building organisms during this time, evolving complex structures consisting of numerous horizontal, parallel plates, or tabulae, hence their name.

   These tabulae were formed by the organisms as they secreted calcium carbonate skeletons. Each plate had pores through which the polyps extended their tentacles to capture food and expelled waste. The colonies of tabulate corals were usually colonial, with each individual polyp living within separate tubular skeletal cups or corallites, interconnected by horizontal platforms called dissepiments.

   As filter-feeders, tabulate corals subsisted on plankton and other tiny organisms in the water column. Their dominance in reef-building was unparalleled during the Paleozoic era, and they played a major role in constructing the framework of these ancient coral reefs. However, by the end of the Permian period, the tabulate corals experienced a substantial decline, ultimately leading to their extinction.

   The study of Tabulata provides valuable insights into the ancient biodiversity and paleoecology of coral reefs, as well as the evolution of coral structures. Their fossilized remains have become essential tools for paleontologists, aiding in the reconstruction of ancient marine ecosystems and the understanding of Earth's history.

Common Misspellings for TABULATA

• tabulagta
• tabulatga
• Tabulcta

Etymology of TABULATA

The word "Tabulata" is derived from the Latin term "tabula", which means "a tablet or a board". "Tabulata" is the plural form of "tabula" and is used in various contexts to refer to a variety of things organized in a tabular or board-like structure. In the field of biology, specifically within the study of coral reefs, "Tabulata" refers to a subclass of extinct colonial corals characterized by their tabular or board-like appearance. This term was likely chosen due to the physical resemblance of the corals to small tables or tablets.