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pentastomid

pentastomid

9.9
A wormlike animal with two pairs of hooks by the mouth that lives in mammal noses
  • noun
  • /ˈpɛntəˌstoʊmɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pentastómido
  • The pentastomid is often found in the nasal passages of mammals.

Examples

  • The veterinarian identified a pentastomid infection in the dog's nasal cavity.

  • Certain reptiles and mammals can serve as hosts for pentastomid parasites.

  • A pentastomid is rarely encountered in routine clinical practice outside tropical regions.

  • Many pentastomids can cause severe respiratory issues in their hosts.

  • The veterinarian identified a pentastomid infection in the dog's nasal cavity.

  • Many pentastomids can cause severe respiratory issues in their hosts.

  • Certain reptiles and mammals can serve as hosts for pentastomid parasites.

Synonyms

tongue worm
vspentastomid
  • Specialized
9.9

A small wormlike parasite with hooks that lives inside the nose of animals like dogs or cows

is the scientific name for the same nasal parasitic arthropod

Surface Forms

pentastomid singular
pentastomids plural

Morphology

pentastomid = pentastome (opaque) = penta + stom + id

Formed by adding the taxonomic suffix '-id' to the technical base 'pentastome'; both elements are rare and composed of Greek combining forms unfamiliar to average learners.

Etymology

The word pentastomid comes from Greek parts penta- 'five' (as in pentagon) and stoma 'mouth'. Think of a 'five-mouthed' creature to remember the ring of hooks beside its mouth, which fits this small, wormlike parasite often found in the nose and sinuses of animals.