Aniliid

/əˈnɪliːɪd/ noun

Definition

A type of fossil tunicate or sea squirt from the group Aniliidae.

Etymology

From 'Aniliidae', the scientific family name for these marine organisms, derived from 'anil-' + the Latin '-idae' suffix used in biological nomenclature.

Kelly Says

Sea squirts are bizarre creatures that look like blobs but are actually closer cousins to humans than to most fish—finding their fossils labeled 'aniliid' helps paleontologists trace the evolution of vertebrates back to these surprisingly alien-looking ancestors.

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