mammaliferous

The geologist discovered a mammaliferous rock layer in the canyon.

Definition

Adjective: (Geology) Containing or bearing the remains or traces of mammals.

Usage Examples

• (The stratum contains fossil evidence of mammals.)
• (A sedimentary layer holding mammal fossils was found.)

Advanced Usage

• "mammaliferous strata": sedimentary rock layers that contain mammal fossils.

  • Paleontologists study mammaliferous strata to understand ancient ecosystems. (Researchers examine these layers for clues about prehistoric life.)

• "mammaliferous deposits": accumulations of sediment or rock that preserve mammal remains.

  • The site's mammaliferous deposits yielded bones of early equids. (The sediment containing mammal fossils provided remains of ancient horses.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mammal (n): a warm-blooded vertebrate animal that has hair or fur and feeds its young with milk.

  • Whales, bats, and humans are all mammals. (Examples of the class Mammalia.)

• Mammalogy (n): the branch of zoology dealing with mammals.

  • She specializes in mammalogy and studies rodent behavior. (The study of mammals.)

Synonyms

• Fossiliferous: containing fossils (more general than mammaliferous).

  • The fossiliferous rock was rich in ancient shells. (Containing fossil remains.)

• Bearing mammal remains: descriptive phrase for strata with mammal fossils.

Related Idioms

• : "mammaliferous" is a technical term with no idiomatic usage.