Lophophorine (/ˌlɒfəʊfəˈraɪn/) is a word used to describe a type of marine organism characterized by a lophophore, a tentacle-like organ used for feeding and respiration. The spelling of the word can be broken down into its phonetic components using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The word starts with the "l" sound which is pronounced as /l/. The following letters "o", "ph", and "o" are pronounced as /ɒ/, /f/, and /əʊ/ respectively. The final syllable "rine" is pronounced as /raɪn/.
Lophophorine is a term derived from the word "lophophore," which refers to a distinctive feeding organ found in certain aquatic invertebrates known as lophophorates. The term "lophophorine" is used to describe any characteristic or substance that is associated with or related to the lophophore.
Lophophores are specialized filtering structures that surround the mouths of lophophorate animals, including the phoronids, brachiopods, and bryozoans. These animals use their lophophores to capture and filter food particles from the water, facilitating their feeding processes. The lophophore is typically composed of tentacle-like structures called lophophore arms, which often have ciliated surfaces or specialized structures for efficient suspension feeding.
Lophophorines, in the context of these organisms, may encompass various aspects such as the anatomy, morphology, physiology, behavior, or any other characteristic associated with the development, structure, or function of the lophophore. The term can also be applied to substances that are produced or secreted by lophophorates and play a role in their ecological or physiological processes.
In summary, lophophorine refers to anything related to the lophophore, its structure, function, or associated substances in lophophorate animals. The term provides a specific framework to discuss and understand the unique feeding adaptations and biological significance of these organisms.
An alkaloid, C13H15NO3, from Anhalonium lewinii.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "lophophorine" is derived from the combination of two terms: "lophophore" and the suffix "-ine".
The term "lophophore" originates from two Greek roots: "lophos" meaning "crest" or "tuft", and "phero" meaning "to bear" or "to carry". A lophophore is a characteristic feeding structure found in certain aquatic invertebrates, such as brachiopods, phoronids, and bryozoans. It consists of a circular or horseshoe-shaped ridge with various tentacles or cilia used for feeding and gas exchange.
The suffix "-ine" is commonly used in scientific terminology to denote substances or pertaining to certain characteristics.