AMPHIOXUS Meaning and
Definition
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Amphioxus, also known as Branchiostoma lanceolatum, is a small, slender marine animal belonging to the subphylum Cephalochordata. It is commonly referred to as a lancelet or a freshwater lancet. With an elongated body reaching up to 7 centimeters in length, it is characterized by its eel-like shape and semi-transparent appearance. Amphioxus is segmented externally, displaying myotomes which extend along the length of its body. This organism is predominantly found in sandy or muddy sea bottoms, often found burrowing into the substrate and commonly inhabiting temperate and tropical oceans across the globe.
Amphioxus exhibits primitive chordate characteristics, serving as an important model organism for understanding the evolutionary development of vertebrates. It lacks a true backbone, possessing instead a supportive rod called the notochord which runs along the length of its body. It also showcases ciliated gill slits on either side of its pharynx, allowing for filter feeding and gas exchange. The nervous system of amphioxus consists of a dorsal hollow nerve cord extending the length of its body, exhibiting similarity to the central nervous system of vertebrates.
Due to its evolutionary significance, amphioxus has been extensively studied in the fields of zoology and evolutionary biology. Its simple morphology and availability for laboratory experiments make it an ideal model organism for investigating the origins and evolution of vertebrates. The study of amphioxus has contributed to our understanding of chordate development and the genetic basis of embryology, shedding light on the common ancestry shared by all vertebrates.
Common Misspellings for AMPHIOXUS
- zmphioxus
- smphioxus
- wmphioxus
- qmphioxus
- anphioxus
- akphioxus
- ajphioxus
- amohioxus
- amlhioxus
- am-hioxus
- am0hioxus
- ampgioxus
- ampbioxus
- ampnioxus
- ampjioxus
- ampuioxus
- ampyioxus
- amphuoxus
- amphjoxus
- emphioxus
Etymology of AMPHIOXUS
The word "amphioxus" is derived from two Greek words: "amphi" meaning "both" or "double", and "oxys" meaning "sharp" or "acute". The name "amphioxus" is a reference to the shape of the animal's body, which is tapered at both ends and has a distinct pointed head and tail. This name was first coined by the Danish biologist Johannes Peter Müller in 1844 to describe a genus of small, lancelet-like marine animals that were later classified as a subphylum of the Chordata phylum and renamed Branchiostoma.
Similar spelling words for AMPHIOXUS
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