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Glite Dictionary
subphylum Urochordata

subphylum Urochordata

9.9
A group of sea animals like sea squirts with a bag-like body and a tail in the young stage
  • noun
  • /sʌbˈfaɪləm ˌjʊrəˈkɔrdə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : subfilo Urochordata
  • The subphylum Urochordata includes marine creatures commonly referred to as sea squirts.

Examples

  • Researchers studied the developmental stages of organisms within the subphylum Urochordata.

  • Despite their simple appearance, members of the subphylum Urochordata play an important role in marine ecosystems.

  • The subphylum Urochordata includes various species of tunicates.

  • Did you know that the subphylum Urochordata is primarily marine?

  • Researchers studied the developmental stages of organisms within the subphylum Urochordata.

  • Despite their simple appearance, members of the subphylum Urochordata play an important role in marine ecosystems.

  • The subphylum Urochordata includes marine creatures commonly referred to as sea squirts.

Synonyms

subphylum Urochorda
vssubphylum Urochordata
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of sea animals like sea squirts with a sac-like body and a backbone-like rod when young

is more specific about the notochord appearing in the larval stage
Tunicata
vssubphylum Urochordata
  • Specialized
9.9

Sea animals with a sac-like body and a tough outer covering

highlights presence of a notochord during the larval stage instead
Urochordata
vssubphylum Urochordata
  • Specialized
9.9

Sea animals with a sac-like body and a tough outer covering, like sea squirts

focuses on the larval notochord rather than outer covering
Urochorda
vssubphylum Urochordata
  • Specialized
9.9

Sea animals that have bag-shaped bodies and a tough outer covering and that filter water to feed, like sea squirts

specifies the notochord appears in the larval stage, not just the covering

Surface Forms

subphylum Urochordata singular
subphyla Urochordata plural

Morphology

subphylum + Urochordata

The phrase is fully compositional: 'subphylum' denotes a taxonomic rank and 'Urochordata' names the group, so the meaning 'the subphylum called Urochordata (a group of tunicates)' follows directly from its parts. Taxonomic naming conventions are regular across languages, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Subphylum Urochordata comes from Greek roots uro- ('tail') and -chordata ('cord') because the free-swimming young have a tail with a cord-like support inside, and the word 'subphylum' shows they are a group under a larger animal group.