A group of fossil fish with vertebral bodies that are cyclic or ring-like in structure, representing an ancient fish classification.
From 'cyclo-' (ring) + Latin 'spondylus' (vertebra) + plural '-i'. This paleontological term describes the vertebral morphology of certain fossil fish.
Studying the spine structure of ancient fish teaches us about vertebrate evolution—these cyclic vertebrae show how fish backbones gradually became more complex, eventually leading to human spines!
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