Mantellilised

Mantellilised (British spelling mantellilised) is a rarely used term that appears in speculative biology and geology to describe entities that exhibit a mantle-like enclosing layer or a mantle-derived modification. The root is mantle, a term used in biology and geology to denote a protective or secretory layer, plus the suffix -ised to denote a characteristic. In biology, mantellisation conceptually refers to organisms where a mantle-like tissue is expanded or modified to cover more of the body or to enhance secretion of a protective covering, such as shells in molluscs; in this sense, mantellised organisms may show continuous mantle margins, accelerated shell deposition, or novel glandular secretions. In zoological literature the term remains informal and is not used for standard taxonomic descriptions.

In geology and materials science, mantellised materials are described in speculative discussions as rocks or composites that acquire a mantle-like outer layer through metamorphic, hydrothermal, or diagenetic processes; this mantle would typically be rich in certain minerals that alter surface properties, such as permeability or reflectance. The concept is mainly encountered in theoretical models, or in world-building contexts, rather than in established nomenclature.

Because mantellilised is not widely standardized, its definition varies by author and discipline. It is often contrasted with truly shelled or bare-bodied forms to emphasize the presence of an extensive mantle-derived enclosure. See also: mantle, shell, molluscs, metamorphism, diagenesis.