Obs. [ad. mod.L. tubulītēs, introduced by Gesner, Tractat. Physic. de Petrificatis, 1758.] A fossil or petrifaction of a tube or tubular shell occupied by an animal.
Gesner specified the tubular shell of the ship-worm, a lamellibranch mollusk, the coiled tube of a Serpula, the tubular shell of a Dentalium, all then regarded as ‘worms.’ But as these were the shells of different animals, the word was not permanently used.
1799. Kirwan, Geol. Ess., 236. Common marlites … frequently [contain] shells, or petrifactions, ammonites, pectinites, tubulites.
1834. Boase, Primary Geol., 372. Those secondary strata, which contain tubulites and similar fossils.
