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myxosporidian

myxosporidian

9.9
A tiny single-celled parasite that lives in fish and can cause disease
  • noun
  • /mɪkˌsoʊpəˈrɪdiən/
  • Specialized
: mixosporidio
  • A myxosporidian parasite can cause significant damage to the gills of salmon.

Examples

  • The disease was traced to a myxosporidian infecting the fish population in the pond.

  • Scientists are studying how myxosporidians affect aquaculture and wild ecosystems.

  • The myxosporidian was found in the gills of the fish.

  • Many myxosporidians are harmful to aquatic life.

  • A myxosporidian parasite can cause significant damage to the gills of salmon.

  • The disease was traced to a myxosporidian infecting the fish population in the pond.

  • Scientists are studying how myxosporidians affect aquaculture and wild ecosystems.

Surface Forms

myxosporidian singular

Morphology

myxosporidian = Myxosporea (opaque) = myxo + spor + idian

The term is a specialized taxonomic formation from technical combining forms ('myxo-' and 'spor-') plus a taxonomic suffix; this formation and its specific biological meaning are not inferable by average learners.

Etymology

Myxosporidian comes from Greek parts myxo- meaning 'slime' and spore meaning 'seed' or 'spore', so you can imagine a 'slimy seed'. That's why a myxosporidian is a tiny parasite that makes spores and often lives in fish, sometimes causing disease.