Echinoid: meaning, definitions and examples

Used in scientific or academic contexts to refer broadly to any member of the class Echinoidea within the phylum Echinodermata.

• The fossil record of echinoids provides insight into their evolution

Commonly used in everyday language and general conversation to refer to these spiny marine animals.

• We found several colorful sea urchins while snorkeling near the coral reef

Primarily used in a formal, scientific setting to refer to the entire class of sea urchins and their relatives.

• Echinoidea exhibit a wide range of morphological adaptations

Typically used in scientific contexts to refer to any member of the Echinoidea class, which includes sea urchins and sand dollars.

• The marine biologist studied the echinoid specimens collected from the deep sea

Commonly used in general language and sometimes in popular science to describe a sea urchin that has become fossilized over time.

• We found a beautifully preserved fossilized sea urchin while hiking along the cliff

Used when referring to the fossilized remains of organisms from the Echinoidea class in paleontology and geological studies.

• The paleontologist was excited to discover an echinoidea fossil in the sedimentary rock layer