planula
9.9
A tiny flat swimming young of jellyfish and similar animals
- noun
- /ˈplæn.jə.lə/
- Specialized
:
planula
- The fertilized egg develops into a planula before settling on the ocean floor.
Examples
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The planula is a crucial stage in the life cycle of jellyfish.
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Researchers observed the movement of the planula under a microscope.
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After a few days, the planula will attach itself and transform into a polyp.
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After fertilization, the planula develops from the zygote.
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The fertilized egg develops into a planula before settling on the ocean floor.
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Researchers observed the movement of the planula under a microscope.
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After a few days, the planula will attach itself and transform into a polyp.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Planula comes from the Latin root planus meaning 'flat' plus the small ending -ula, so it literally means a 'little flat one'. This is easy to remember because a planula is a tiny, flat larva that swims before it settles on a surface.
