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Glite Dictionary
pteropod

pteropod

1 9.9
A small sea animal like a snail that swims using wing-like fins
  • noun
  • /ˈtɛrəˌpɒd/
  • Specialized
: pterópodo
  • The pteropod glided gracefully through the water.
  • tiny swimming pteropods

Examples

  • Tiny pteropods drift through the open sea, using their wing-like appendages to swim.

  • Many pteropods inhabit the warm waters of the tropics.

  • The scientist collected several pteropods to study their response to changing ocean conditions.

  • Many fish rely on pteropods as a vital part of their diet in the marine ecosystem.

  • The pteropod is a small marine creature that uses its wing-like extensions to swim gracefully through the ocean.

  • In the polar regions, pteropods serve as a vital food source for many species including fish and marine mammals.

  • Researchers studied how pteropods adapt to changing ocean conditions and their impact on the marine ecosystem.

Surface Forms

pteropod singular
pteropods plural

Morphology

pteropod = ptero + pod

The components 'ptero' (wing) and 'pod' (foot) are not transparently recognizable to most learners without specialized knowledge.

Etymology

The word pteropod comes from Greek parts ptero- meaning 'wing' and -pod meaning 'foot'. So a pteropod is a small sea creature whose 'feet' look like wings, which explains the name.