Pycnogonida
- noun
- /ˌpɪk.nəˈɡoʊ.nɪ.də/
- Specialized
:
pycnogonidos
- The class Pycnogonida includes fascinating sea spiders that can often be found in deep ocean waters.
Examples
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In the class Pycnogonida, sea spiders have unique adaptations that allow them to thrive in various ocean environments.
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Scientists are studying the biology of Pycnogonida to better understand their role in marine ecosystems.
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Another giant, an eight-legged sea spider in the class Pycnogonida, was standing on its pointed legs in the ooze at the base of the promontory.
Academic text (1992)
Synonyms
A small sea animal like a spider with long thin legs
A small sea animal with a thin body and long legs like a spider
Compounds
- Specialized
A group of sea animals called sea spiders with long legs and small bodies
Surface Forms
Morphology
Pycnogonida = pycnogon + ida
A technical taxonomic name built from Greek combining forms and the class-forming suffix '-ida', which are not productive English morphemes and so do not yield a clear meaning to average learners.
Etymology
Pycnogonida comes from Greek parts pycno- meaning 'thick' and gony meaning 'knee', a helpful image for their chunky leg joints. That's why Pycnogonida are often called sea spiders: they are small, spider-like sea animals with long, jointed legs.
