class onychophora
Học thuậtThân thiện
A scientist carefully observes a living class Onychophora in its natural habitat.
Definition
- Noun:
- A taxonomic class of enigmatic small elongated wormlike terrestrial invertebrates: These creatures inhabit damp, dark environments in warm regions. They are distinct from the phylum Annelida (segmented worms) and are sometimes described as a "missing link" between arthropods (e.g., insects, spiders) and annelids due to their combination of features.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The class Onychophora, which includes velvet worms, is of great interest to evolutionary biologists.
- Fossil evidence suggests that the class Onychophora has ancient origins.
Advanced Usage
- In scientific taxonomy: The term "class Onychophora" is used formally in biological classification to group all species of velvet worms.
- The unique characteristics of the class Onychophora place it in its own phylum, Onychophora.
Variants and Related Words
- Onychophoran (n): An individual animal belonging to the class Onychophora; a velvet worm.
- An onychophoran captures its prey by shooting sticky slime.
- Velvet worm (n): The common name for organisms in the class Onychophora, referring to their soft, velvety appearance.
- We found a velvet worm under the decaying log.
Synonyms
- Velvet worms (common name)
- Peripatus (an older taxonomic name sometimes used for the group or its genera)
Related Terms (Scientific Context)
- Phylum Onychophora: In some classification systems, Onychophora is treated as its own phylum rather than a class.
- Lobopodia: Refers to the stubby, unjointed legs characteristic of these animals.
A scientist carefully observes a living class Onychophora in its natural habitat.
Noun
- enigmatic small elongated wormlike terrestrial invertebrates of damp dark habitats in warm regions; distinct from the phylum Annelida; resemble slugs with legs and are sometimes described as the missing link between arthropods and annelids