coat-of-mail shell

Thân thiện

A marine biologist carefully examines a coat-of-mail shell on the rocky shore.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A primitive, elongated, bilaterally symmetrical marine mollusk having a mantle covered with eight calcareous plates. It is a type of chiton.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The biologist carefully examined the coat-of-mail shell found clinging to the tidal rock.
  • Under the microscope, the intricate structure of the coat-of-mail shell's plates was revealed.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in specialized biological or zoological contexts to describe these specific mollusks. It can be used metaphorically to describe something with a segmented, protective covering, though this is rare.
  • The ancient armor was described as being like a coat-of-mail shell, with overlapping plates of steel.

Variants and Related Words

• Chiton (n): The more common scientific name for the same type of mollusk.
  • Chitons are also commonly known as coat-of-mail shells.

Synonyms

• Chiton: The direct synonym in marine biology.
• Sea cradle: A less common, informal name.

Related Phrases

• Plates of a chiton: Refers specifically to the eight calcareous plates.
  • The research focused on the biomechanics of the plates of a chiton.

Học thuật

Noun

1. primitive elongated bilaterally symmetrical marine mollusk having a mantle covered with eight calcareous plates

Từ đồng nghĩa

• chiton
• sea cradle
• polyplacophore