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Glite Dictionary
Branchiostomidae

Branchiostomidae

9.9
A family of small fish-like sea animals called lancelets
  • noun
  • /ˌbræŋkiəˈstɒməˌdeɪ/
  • Specialized
: Branchiostomidae
  • The Branchiostomidae family includes several species of lancelets.

Examples

  • Researchers collected specimens from several species within the Branchiostomidae for genetic analysis.

  • The anatomy of Branchiostomidae helps illuminate the transition from invertebrates to vertebrates.

  • Members of the Branchiostomidae family are considered important for studies on vertebrate evolution.

  • Did you know that Branchiostomidae are considered primitive chordates?

  • The Branchiostomidae family is known for its unique features that resemble those of fish.

  • Scientists study Branchiostomidae to better understand the evolutionary history of vertebrates.

  • Various species under the Branchiostomidae family inhabit sandy ocean floors.

Synonyms

Amphioxidae
vsBranchiostomidae
  • Specialized
9.9

A family of small, fish-like sea animals called lancelets

focuses on small elongated body shape rather than taxonomic classification

Surface Forms

Branchiostomidae singular
Branchiostomidaes plural

Morphology

Branchiostomidae = Branchiostoma (opaque) = Branchiostoma + idae

Formed by a genus name plus the zoological family suffix '-idae'; this taxonomic formation is specialist and not transparently meaningful to general learners.

Etymology

The word Branchiostomidae comes from the parts branchio- 'gill', -stoma 'mouth' and -idae 'family'. So Branchiostomidae means a 'gill-mouth family', a simple name for the small, fish-like animals called lancelets that have gill slits and a mouth.