ASCIDIUM Meaning and
Definition
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An ascidium, also known as tunicate or sea squirt, is a marine invertebrate belonging to the phylum Chordata and the subphylum Tunicata. It derives its name from the presence of a protective outer covering or tunic, which distinguishes it from other organisms in this phylum. Ascidia can be found in various marine environments, such as rocky shores, coral reefs, and the ocean floor.
Typically, an ascidium has a soft, bag-like body structure with two siphons, one for drawing in water and the other for expelling it. This unique feature allows ascidians to filter feed, extracting microscopic particles such as plankton from the water. They possess a rudimentary internal skeleton called the endostyle, which functions as a glandular organ involved in the production of mucus and capture of food.
Ascidians have a simple yet remarkable life cycle. They start as free-swimming larvae, which undergo metamorphosis to become sessile adults. Once attached to a substrate, they lose their ability to move. Instead, they spend their adult life anchored in one spot, filtering water, and reproducing. Some ascidians can form colonies by asexual reproduction, resulting in large aggregations.
Ascidians play important ecological roles as filter feeders, helping to maintain water quality and nutrient cycling in coastal ecosystems. They also serve as models for studying developmental biology and possess significant potential for biomedical research due to the presence of unique immune responses and secondary metabolites, which might hold prospects for drug discovery and cancer treatment.
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In bot., a form of leaf in which the stalk is hollowed out and closed by the blade as by a lid; a pitcher-leaf.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for ASCIDIUM
- zscidium
- sscidium
- wscidium
- qscidium
- azcidium
- axcidium
- asxidium
- asvidium
- asfidium
- asdidium
- ascudium
- ascjdium
- asckdium
- ascodium
- asc9dium
- asc8dium
- ascisium
- ascixium
- ascicium
Etymology of ASCIDIUM
The word "Ascidium" has its origin in Latin. It comes from the Latin word "ascidium", which means "small leather bag" or "wineskin". This term was used in ancient Rome to refer to a type of flask or container for holding liquids, typically made from the bladder or the intestines of animals. The word "ascidium" was later adopted by early naturalists to describe a particular group of marine invertebrates known as tunicates or sea squirts, due to their sac-like body shape resembling a small bag or wineskin.
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