taphotaxon

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noun

An invalid taxon based on fossil remains that have been altered in a characteristic way during burial and diagenesis.

OriginEnglish taxon ← Ancient Greek τάφος (táphos) →
Scrabble 22
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Meanings

nountaphotaxon (plural taphotaxa)

plural taphotaxa

  1. biologyAn invalid taxon based on fossil remains that have been altered in a characteristic way during burial and diagenesis.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekθᾰ́πτω (thắptō)
  2. Ancient Greekτάφος (táphos)
  3. Englishtapho-
  4. Englishtaxon
  5. Englishtaphotaxon

From tapho- + taxon.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

taphotaxon. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taphotaxon

MLA

“taphotaxon.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taphotaxon. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “taphotaxon,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taphotaxon.

Source: taphotaxon on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.