macula

macula (noun; plural maculae; Latin macula, spot): 1. A colored spot of rather large size.

2. A spot level with surrounding surface.

3. (Bryozoa: Stenolaemata) Prominences, and less commonly flat or depressed areas on colony surfaces regularly spaced among feeding zooids caused by clusters of a few polymorphs, and/or extrazooidal skeleton

See also: monticule. 4. (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) An oval spot on the wall of a statocyst to which a calcareous statolith is attached; gives information on position relative to gravity.