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Glite Dictionary
🦠 A tiny rotifer 🦠 Relating to rotifers
bdelloid

bdelloid

9.9
Relating to tiny freshwater animals that reproduce without males
  • adjective
  • /ˈdɛloʊɪd/
  • Specialized
: bdeloide
  • A bdelloid organism can reproduce without males, which is unusual among animals.

Examples

  • The bdelloid rotifers are remarkable for their ability to survive extreme dehydration.

  • Researchers discovered new species within the bdelloid group in a freshwater pond.

  • The bdelloid rotifers are fascinating due to their asexual reproduction.

  • Researchers study bdelloid species to understand their unique adaptations.

  • The bdelloid rotifers are well-known for their ability to thrive in extreme conditions without the need for sexual reproduction.

  • Scientists are investigating how bdelloid organisms can survive desiccation and return to life when water is available.

  • Due to their unique reproduction methods, bdelloid rotifers offer valuable insights into asexual life cycles.

Surface Forms

bdelloid positive

Morphology

bdelloid = Bdelloidea (opaque) = bdello + oid

The term is formed with the specialized combining stem 'bdello-' plus the suffix '-oid', but the stem is a technical form unfamiliar to general learners, so the formation is not derivable by average learners.

Etymology

The word bdelloid comes from the Greek bdella meaning 'leech' and the ending -oid meaning 'like', as in asteroid. So bdelloid describes a group of tiny rotifers that are 'leech-like' in shape or movement, which is why biologists use this name for them.