Archimedes (bryozoan) Archimedes (bryozoan) Archimedes is a genus of bryozoans belonging to the family Fenestellidae. The first use of the term "Archimedes" in relation to this genus was in 1838. This genus of bryozoans is named "Archimedes" because of its corkscrew shape, in analogy to the Archimedes' screw, a type of water pump which inspired modern ship propellers. These forms are pretty common as fossils but they have been extinct since the Permian. These bryozoans lived from the Carboniferous period (Tournaisian age) to the Permian period (Leonard age) (345.3 to 268.0 Ma), when this genus became extinct. "Archimedes" is a genus of
SS Archimedes fitted with Smith's patented propeller, "Princess Royal", was built in the north of England, and in 1842, several more screw-propelled vessels were built or launched in Britain, including "Bedlington", built at South Shields, "Bee", launched at Chatham, and the largest ship built to that date in Ireland, "Great Northern", launched at Derry. From this point, screw-propelled merchant ships grew rapidly in number. By the time the Cunard Line built the paddle steamer "Persia" for transatlantic service in 1856, the paddlewheel was already becoming an anachronism. Though Smith's "Archimedes" had played an important role in the introduction of screw propulsion, Smith