CLASS ONYCHOPHORA Meaning and
Definition
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Class Onychophora is a taxonomic group that belongs to the phylum Onychophora, commonly known as velvet worms. Onychophora is a small phylum of worm-like invertebrates that exhibit a combination of arthropod and annelid characteristics. Members of Class Onychophora are typically small to medium-sized animals with elongated, worm-like bodies covered in soft and velvety skin, which gives them their common name.
The main distinguishing feature of Class Onychophora is the presence of numerous fleshy, unjointed legs that extend along the entire length of their bodies. These legs bear tiny, claw-like structures that enable them to grip onto the surfaces they crawl on and aid in their movement. In addition to their legs, velvet worms possess other arthropod-like traits such as a pair of antennae on their heads and simple eyes.
Class Onychophora is predominantly found in humid and forested regions of tropical and subtropical areas around the world, although some species have also been discovered in temperate regions. These animals are primarily nocturnal and feed on a diet of small invertebrates, such as insects and spiders, which they capture using sticky secretions or by injecting digestive enzymes. Velvet worms reproduce sexually, and some species exhibit live birth, while others lay eggs.
Despite their unique combination of characteristics, Class Onychophora occupies a relatively small and ancient evolutionary lineage. They are considered to be primitive arthropods and are often studied to gain insights into the early evolution of this diverse phylum.
Common Misspellings for CLASS ONYCHOPHORA
- xlass onychophora
- vlass onychophora
- flass onychophora
- dlass onychophora
- ckass onychophora
- cpass onychophora
- coass onychophora
- clzss onychophora
- clsss onychophora
- clwss onychophora
- clqss onychophora
- claas onychophora
- clazs onychophora
- claxs onychophora
- clads onychophora
- claes onychophora
- claws onychophora
- clasa onychophora
- clasz onychophora
Etymology of CLASS ONYCHOPHORA
The word "Class Onychophora" has its roots in Greek and Latin.
The term "Onychophora" comes from two Greek words: "onycho" meaning "nail" and "phoros" meaning "bearer". This refers to the unique characteristics of Onychophorans, which include their nail or claw-like appendages on their legs.
The word "Class" in this context refers to the taxonomic classification level of organisms. It comes from the Latin word "classis", which originally referred to a division of the Roman citizens based on wealth and military service. In the field of taxonomy, it is used to categorize organisms into distinctive groups based on their shared characteristics.
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