solute
SOL-yoot
Definition
Referring to a specific, extinct group of Paleozoic echinoderms known as solutan echinoderms, which had asymmetrical bodies and a single feeding appendage.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'solutus,' meaning 'loosened' or 'set free,' referring to the group's detached or loosely organized appearance compared to other echinoderms.
In the news
In this article, the word refers to an extinct class of echinoderms found on the same fossil slab as the crinoids being studied, helping to contextualize the discovery.
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