coccolith
nounEtymology Derived from coccolithophore. By surface analysis, Ancient Greek κόκκος (kókkos, “grain, seed”) + Ancient Greek λίθος (líthos, “stone”), due to the shape of the organism's exoskeleton.
1
Biology, Natural sciences A microscopic skeletal plate of calcite on the surface of certain marine phytoplankton; it forms chalk and limestone when fossilized
- Derived terms
- coccolithic, coccolithogenesis, heterococcolith, holococcolith