APLACOPHORA Meaning and
Definition
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Aplacophora, also known as solenogasters, is a small phylum of marine invertebrates that belong to the class aplacophorans. The term "aplacophora" comes from Greek, where "a" means without, "plakos" means plate, and "phoros" means bearer, thereby suggesting the absence of body plates.
Aplacophorans exhibit a unique and rather simple body plan. They are characterized by their vermiform or worm-like shape, lacking any external shell or prominent external segmentation. Their soft body is elongated and typically covered with spicules or calcareous scales for protection. They can vary in size, typically ranging from a few millimeters to a few centimeters in length.
These organisms are primarily found in the deep sea but can also be found in shallow marine environments. They are generally considered to be scavengers or detritivores, feeding on dead organic matter or microorganisms. Aplacophorans possess a radula, a specialized feeding structure found in many mollusks, which they use to scrape food particles from the substrate.
Despite their rather inconspicuous appearance, aplacophorans play a significant role in marine ecosystems, contributing to nutrient recycling and maintaining ecological balance. Their primitive body plan and unique characteristics have made them an interesting subject of study in the fields of evolutionary biology and marine biology.
In summary, aplacophora refers to a phylum of small, soft-bodied marine invertebrates that lack external shells or prominent segmentation. They have a worm-like body shape, possess spicules or calcareous scales, and are primarily scavengers or detritivores.
Common Misspellings for APLACOPHORA
- zplacophora
- splacophora
- wplacophora
- qplacophora
- aolacophora
- allacophora
- a-lacophora
- a0lacophora
- apkacophora
- appacophora
- apoacophora
- aplzcophora
- aplscophora
- aplwcophora
- aplqcophora
- aplaxophora
- aplavophora
- aplafophora
- apladophora
Etymology of APLACOPHORA
The word "aplacophora" is derived from Greek. It consists of two Greek words: "a-" meaning without, and "plako-" meaning plate, and "phora" meaning bearer. Therefore, the word "aplacophora" can be translated as "without plates" or "plateless". It is used to refer to a class of small, deep-sea mollusks that lack the external protective shells found in other mollusk groups.
Similar spelling words for APLACOPHORA
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