Plural of ammonite; multiple extinct marine mollusks with spiral shells or their fossilized remains.
From ammonite plus the regular English plural -s. The term became standardized in paleontology as scientists collected and classified thousands of these fossils.
Ammonites are so common in certain rock layers that paleontologists use them like a geological calendar—if you find certain ammonite species, you immediately know the age of the rocks around them.
Plural form carries the same etymological lineage as 'ammonite'; the term's mythological associations with feminized serpent imagery are historical rather than contemporary linguistic bias.
Use 'ammonites' as the standard scientific plural. No modern usage adjustment needed.
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