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Glite Dictionary
larvacean

larvacean

9.9
A very small sea animal that keeps its tadpole-like young body and filters tiny particles
  • noun
  • /ˌlɑːrˈveɪʃən/
  • Specialized
: larváceo
  • Each larvacean retains features from its larval stage, which makes it different from most adult marine animals.
  • giant larvaceans

Here is how the giant larvacean one UPS the hagfish.

Examples

  • Giant larvaceans are hermaphroditic; male and female gametes are released when the trunk ruptures.

    Academic text (2004)

  • The side view (top) of one larvacean shows its trunk (tr) and tail.

    Academic text (2004)

  • Here is how the giant larvacean one UPS the hagfish.

    SciShow

  • What, the researchers wondered, were giant larvaceans doing down this deep?

    Academic text (2004)

  • The front view (bottom) of another larvacean shows an opaque gonad (g) just beginning to form on either side of the trunk.

    Academic text (2004)

  • The larvacean uses its unique filter-feeding structure to capture tiny particles from the water.

  • Scientists discovered a new species of larvacean during their research in the deep ocean.

Synonyms

larvacea
vslarvacean
  • Specialized
9.9

A small free-swimming sea animal with a transparent body that filters food from seawater

specifies members of the class and retains larval features as adults
appendicularia
vslarvacean
  • Specialized
9.9

A small tadpole-shaped sea animal that swims freely and filters food from water

focuses on adults that keep larval features rather than changing form

Surface Forms

larvacean singular
larvaceans plural

Morphology

larvacean = Larvacea (semi-transparent) = larvacea + an

Formed from the taxonomic name 'Larvacea' plus the adjectival/nationality-like suffix '-acean'; the structure is regular but the term is specialized and not obvious to general learners.

Etymology

Larvacean comes from larva ('young form' or 'baby') plus the group ending -acean, so the name points to a sea animal that keeps its 'baby' shape as an adult, which is why larvaceans look like permanent larvae.