Belemnid

/ˈbɛləmnɪd/ noun

Definition

A member of the extinct group of marine cephalopods (squid-like creatures) that lived during the Mesozoic Era.

Etymology

From the scientific Latin 'Belemnitida,' derived from Greek 'belemnon' meaning 'dart' or 'arrow,' referring to the creature's dart-shaped internal shell. The suffix '-id' denotes membership in a biological group.

Kelly Says

Belemnids were the squid of the dinosaur age—their fossilized arrow-shaped shells are so common in certain rocks that medieval people thought they were thunderstones sent from the sky!

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