AMPHIOXIDAE Meaning and
Definition
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Amphioxidae is a taxonomic family of marine animals that belongs to the phylum Chordata and the subphylum Cephalochordata. Members of this family are commonly known as lancelets or amphioxus, and they are characterized by their slim, elongated body shape.
Lancelets are small, translucent invertebrates that can be found in shallow coastal waters, burying themselves in the substrate with only their anterior ends exposed. They are considered to be one of the earliest known living chordate lineages, as their anatomy and physiology closely resemble the hypothetical ancestral chordate.
The body of an amphioxus is divided into several segments, which are myotomes or alternating blocks of muscle and myosepta. These segments are essential for their unique undulating swimming motion. Lancelets have a notochord, a flexible rod-like structure that provides support and serves as the main axial skeleton. Additionally, they possess a dorsal nerve cord and pharyngeal gill slits, which help in filter-feeding and gas exchange.
Amphioxus are filter-feeders, using their oral hood equipped with tentacles to capture small planktonic organisms. They play an important ecological role as they contribute to nutrient cycling and serve as a food source for various marine organisms.
The study of amphioxus has significant scientific importance due to their close evolutionary relationship with vertebrates, making them a valuable model organism for understanding early chordate development and evolutionary biology.
Common Misspellings for AMPHIOXIDAE
- zmphioxidae
- smphioxidae
- wmphioxidae
- qmphioxidae
- anphioxidae
- akphioxidae
- ajphioxidae
- amohioxidae
- amlhioxidae
- am-hioxidae
- am0hioxidae
- ampgioxidae
- ampbioxidae
- ampnioxidae
- ampjioxidae
- ampuioxidae
- ampyioxidae
- amphuoxidae
- amphjoxidae
Etymology of AMPHIOXIDAE
The word "Amphioxidae" comes from the combination of two Greek terms. The first part, "amphi" (ἀμφί), means "both" or "double", while the second part, "oxus" (ὀξύς), translates to "sharp" or "keen".
Amphioxidae is the name of a family of small, elongated marine animals commonly known as lancelets or amphioxus. The name refers to some distinctive features of these organisms. "Amphi" in the name implies that they possess characteristics of both invertebrates and vertebrates. They have a chordate body plan but lack a backbone, making them transitional forms between invertebrates and vertebrates. The term "oxus" might suggest their pointed snout or the sharpness of their bodies when viewed from the side.
Similar spelling words for AMPHIOXIDAE
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