How Do You Spell ROTALITES?

Pronunciation: [ɹˈə͡ʊtəlˌa͡ɪts] (IPA)

The word "rotalites" is spelled with a silent "t" in the middle, as it is derived from the Latin word "rota" meaning wheel, and pronounced as /roʊtəlaɪts/. The "t" in the spelling is a holdover from the word's Latin origins. The pronunciation of the word sounds like "ROH-tuh-lyts" with the emphasis on the first syllable. Rotalites are a type of foraminifera, a unicellular marine organism with a shell that serves as an important tool for paleontology and petroleum geology.

ROTALITES Meaning and Definition

1. Rotalites, also known as rotalitids, refer to a group of marine microfossils belonging to the Class Foraminifera. Foraminifera are single-celled organisms that inhabited the oceans throughout geological history and left behind abundant calcareous shells or tests upon their death. Rotalites are characterized by their spiral or coiled shell structure, which is formed of chambers or chambers in serial arrangement. These minute shells typically display a distinctive pattern of chamber growth, resulting in a unique spiral shape.

   The shells of rotalites range in size from as small as a fraction of a millimeter to several millimeters. They are composed mainly of calcium carbonate, formed due to precipitation from seawater. These microfossils possess tiny openings in their shells called foramina, through which they extend pseudopodia to capture food particles and for locomotion.

   Rotalites are known for being excellent biostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental indicators. The appearance and disappearance of specific rotalite species can provide valuable insights into the age and depositional environment of sedimentary rock formations. They are widely used by paleontologists and geologists in analyzing sediment cores and well drillings, as they can help to determine the age and history of geological formations, climate change, oceanic conditions, and even the presence of hydrocarbon deposits.

   Overall, rotalites are significant components of the fossil record and research on these microfossils has provided valuable information for understanding past marine ecosystems and the Earth's geological history.

2. In geol., a genus of foraminiferous shells-so called from their nautiloid wheel-like contour.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for ROTALITES

• rotalitse
• eotalites
• dotalites
• 5otalites
• 4otalites
• ritalites
• rktalites
• rltalites
• rptalites
• r0talites
• r9talites
• rofalites
• rogalites
• ro6alites
• ro5alites
• rotzlites
• rotslites
• rotwlites
• rotqlites
• rotakites

Similar spelling words for ROTALITES

• Radiolites,
• retaliates,
• RDLDS,
• rhodolites,
• ritualities,
• radialities,
• rootlets.