ScienceAugust 29, 2026

calyx

KAY-liks

Definition

The main body or central cup-shaped portion of a crinoid (sea lily) that contains the animal's internal organs.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek word 'kalyx', meaning 'husk' or 'cup', which originally referred to the outer covering of a flower bud.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the measurement of a crinoid's central body, noting that the specific specimen discussed was only 3.7 millimetres high.

In the entire 485-million-year fossil record of sea lilies, only one fossil had ever been found with the tube feet the animals catch their food with, and a pair of crushed specimens from a Quebec quarry has now produced the second and oldest case, at about 452

Read the full article ↗

ScienceBlog.com

Related words

ambulacral

Relating to the anatomical structures (such as grooves, plates, or feet) found in…

Science

apinnulate

Lacking pinnules, which are the small, feather-like side branches found along the arms of…

Science

biserial

Arranged in two rows or series, specifically describing the configuration of plates or…

Science

bolus

A small, rounded mass or lump of food that has been compacted during the feeding process.

Science

crinoid

A marine echinoderm of the class Crinoidea, which includes sea lilies and feather stars,…

Science

echinoderms

A phylum of marine invertebrate animals characterized by radial symmetry and a water…

Science

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.