athyridae
|a-thy-ri-di-dae|
/ˌæθɪˈrɪdɪdiː/
family of brachiopods
Etymology
'athyridae' originates from New Latin (taxonomic formation), specifically from the genus name 'Athyris' plus the family-forming suffix '-idae', where the suffix '-idae' denotes a biological family.
The genus name 'Athyris' was established in scientific literature in the 19th century; the family name 'Athyrididae' was later formed by adding the standard family suffix '-idae' to that genus name to denote the taxonomic family.
Initially the element referred specifically to the genus name 'Athyris', but as a family name 'Athyrididae' came to denote the broader group (the family) of related brachiopod genera.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a taxonomic family of articulate brachiopods (marine shelled marine invertebrates), known from the Paleozoic era; often found in Devonian–Carboniferous rocks.
Specimens of Athyridae are common in Devonian limestone.
Last updated: 2025/11/11 07:32