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Glite Dictionary
cephalochordate

cephalochordate

9.9
A small fish-like sea animal with a stiff rod instead of a backbone
  • noun
  • /ˌsɛfəloʊˈkɔrdɪt/
  • Specialized
: cefalochordado
  • The cephalochordate swims gracefully through the water, showcasing its fish-like body.

Examples

  • Scientists study the cephalochordate to understand the evolution of vertebrates.

  • In marine biology, a cephalochordate is often used as a model organism for research.

  • And this is the transition between cephalochordates and agnathans.

  • You first encountered A forebrain when we talked about antioxis, A cephalochordate, simplest living chordates.

Surface Forms

cephalochordate singular
cephalochordates plural

Morphology

cephalochordate = chordate (semi-transparent) = cephalo + chordate

Formally built from the combining form 'cephalo-' + 'chordate', but both elements are technical biological terms and the composition is unlikely to be intuitive to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Cephalochordate comes from Greek parts cephalo- ('head') and -chordate ('cord' or 'string'), like the English word cord. So a cephalochordate is an animal with a 'head' and a long inner 'cord' called the notochord running along its body, which is why it has a cord instead of a true spine.