COMATULIDAE Meaning and
Definition
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Comatulidae is a scientific term that refers to a family of marine animals known as feather stars or crinoids. This family belongs to the phylum Echinodermata, which includes other well-known animals like sea stars, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers.
Feather stars are characterized by their unique body structure and feathery arms, which give them their common name. They are ancient creatures, tracing back to the Paleozoic era, and can be found in various parts of the world's oceans, from shallow coastal waters to deep abyssal regions.
Members of the family Comatulidae have a flexible stalk-like structure known as a column, which attaches them to the substrate such as rocks or coral. The column supports a crown-like structure called a calyx, which houses the digestive system and internal organs. From the calyx radiate multiple long, slender arms, covered with feathery extensions called pinnules. These pinnules function both in suspension feeding and locomotion, as the animal moves by gracefully waving and crawling on the substrate.
Feather stars are filter feeders, using their arms to capture tiny plankton and organic particles from the water. They can also retract their arms and contract their bodies, assuming a ball-like shape for protection when threatened.
Comatulidae is a diverse family, with numerous species displaying a range of vibrant colors and patterns. Although they may resemble plants, they are indeed animals, recognized by their ability to move, reproduce sexually, and possess a nervous system.
Common Misspellings for COMATULIDAE
- xomatulidae
- vomatulidae
- fomatulidae
- domatulidae
- cimatulidae
- ckmatulidae
- clmatulidae
- cpmatulidae
- c0matulidae
- c9matulidae
- conatulidae
- cokatulidae
- cojatulidae
- comztulidae
- comstulidae
- comwtulidae
- comqtulidae
- comarulidae
- comafulidae
Etymology of COMATULIDAE
The word "Comatulidae" is derived from the scientific classification of a group of marine animals known as crinoids, specifically the family Comatulidae. The family name "Comatulidae" comes from the Latin word "comatus", meaning "hairy" or "tufted", which refers to the appearance of the animals' feathery and branching arms. The suffix "-idae" is commonly used in taxonomy to indicate a family of organisms. Therefore, "Comatulidae" can be translated as "the family of hairy or tufted organisms", referencing the characteristic appearance of these crinoids.
Similar spelling words for COMATULIDAE
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