An extinct genus of bryozoans (tiny colonial marine animals) from the Paleozoic Era, characterized by tubular structures with hair-like projections.
From Greek χαίτη (chaitē) meaning hair, and -etes, a taxonomic suffix, literally meaning 'hair-like creatures.'
Chaetetes lived hundreds of millions of years ago and their fossilized colonies now form part of the rock record—studying them tells us about ancient ocean conditions and how life organized itself before modern ecosystems.
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