Astraeospongia

noun

As·​traeo·​spon·​gia

¦astrē(ˌ)ōˈspənjēə,

-pän-

: a genus of saucer-shaped Silurian fossil sponges having 6-rayed stellate spicules and important as Paleozoic index fossils

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from astraeo- (from Greek astraios starry, from aster-, astēr star) + -spongia

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