MILLEPORITE Meaning and
Definition
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Milleporite is an noun that refers to a type of marine colonial organism commonly found in coral reefs. It belongs to the family Milleporidae, which encompasses various species of calcareous hydroids. The name "Milleporite" is derived from Latin roots, with "mille" meaning thousand and "porus" meaning pore. This name reflects the characteristic porous and branched structure of these organisms.
Milleporites are also known as fire corals due to their ability to inflict a painful sting on humans on contact. Despite their name, they are not true corals and are more closely related to other organisms such as sea anemones and jellyfish. Milleporites are typically yellow, orange, or brown in color, and their colonies form hard structures that resemble corals.
The individual polyps in a milleporite colony are interconnected and share a common calcium carbonate skeleton. These polyps produce a protective exoskeleton that provides support and structure to the entire colony. They also possess specialized cells called nematocytes, which are used to capture small prey and provide defense against predators.
Milleporite colonies are found in warm tropical waters and often serve as important habitat for other marine organisms. They play a crucial role in reef ecosystems by providing shelter, food, and breeding sites for various fish and invertebrates. However, excessive human contact with milleporites can harm both the organisms and humans, as their painful stings can cause allergic reactions and skin irritations.
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Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for MILLEPORITE
- nilleporite
- killeporite
- jilleporite
- mulleporite
- mjlleporite
- mklleporite
- molleporite
- m9lleporite
- m8lleporite
- mikleporite
- mipleporite
- mioleporite
- milkeporite
- milpeporite
- miloeporite
- millwporite
- millsporite
- milldporite
- millrporite
- mill4porite
Etymology of MILLEPORITE
The word milleporite is derived from the Latin word millepora, meaning thousand pores. It is a combination of mille (thousand) and pora (pores). Millepora refers to a genus of colonial marine organisms that belong to the class Hydrozoa, which includes the fire corals. The suffix -ite is added to millepora to signify that it is a mineral or rock-like structure made of these organisms. Therefore, milleporite literally means made of millepora or resembling millepora.
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