ScienceJuly 9, 2026
trilobite
/ˈtraɪləˌbaɪt/
Definition
An extinct group of hard-shelled, segmented marine arthropods that lived hundreds of millions of years ago.
Etymology
The word is derived from the Greek 'tri-' meaning 'three' and 'lobos' meaning 'lobe,' describing the animal's distinct three-lobed body shape. It was coined by modern naturalists to categorize these fossilized creatures.
In the news
The term appears in the article as an example of a marine species that went extinct during the Ordovician Period due to massive environmental shifts. It helps illustrate the scale of biodiversity loss caused by ancient climate swings.
FSU scientists find gas emissions from rocks may have contributed to ancient climate swings, mass extinctions
Read the full article ↗Florida State University News