Archaeocyathid

[ ahr-kee-oh-sahy-uh-thid, ahr-kee-uh- ]

noun

1. one of the marine invertebrates of the extinct phylum Archaeocyatha, widely distributed during the Cambrian Period, having a limy, typically conical or cylindrical skeleton composed of sievelike inner and outer walls.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Archaeocyathid¹

< New Latin Archaeocyath ( us ) genus name ( archaeo- archaeo- + Latin cyathus ladle < Greek kýathos ) + -id ²