conodonts

views updated May 08 2018

conodonts Small, phosphatic, fossil teeth, common in rocks from the Cambrian to Triassic (and formerly placed in the category Conodontophora) that belonged to elongated, fish-like animals that were probably chordates (Chordata), possibly vertebrates, and lived as active predators. Two eyes were located in lobe-shaped structures at the anterior end, a notochord ran down the length of the worm-shaped body, there were muscular fins at the posterior end, and the feeding apparatus comprised the only hard parts.

conodonts

views updated May 21 2018

conodonts Small, phosphatic, fossil teeth, common in rocks from the Cambrian to Triassic (and formerly placed in the category Conodontophora), that belonged to elongated, fish-like animals closely related to the vertebrates.

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