An extinct colonial coral from the Paleozoic era, characterized by a honeycomb-like structure with square or polygonal cells.
From Latin favus meaning 'honeycomb' plus the mineralogical/paleontological suffix -ite, used to name fossils and minerals. Named for its distinctive honeycomb appearance.
Favosites were some of the most successful corals 300+ million years ago—their fossils are so common that they're sometimes called 'honeycomb corals' by collectors!
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