epizoic

9.9

A living thing on the outside of an animal that often acts as a parasite

adjective
/ˌɛpɪˈzoʊɪk/

Specialized

: epizoico

Some barnacles are epizoic, attaching themselves to the shells of turtles.

Examples

The biologist studied an epizoic algae species growing on fish skin.
The epizoic barnacles attach themselves to the whale's skin.
An epizoic fungus can harm the health of its animal host.
Some fish have epizoic organisms living on their scales.
Some barnacles are epizoic, attaching themselves to the shells of turtles.
An epizoic fungus can harm the health of its animal host.
Some fish have epizoic organisms living on their scales.

Synonyms

ectozoan

vsepizoic

Specialized

9.9

Living on the outside of an animal, for example on skin or scales

focuses on them usually acting as parasites rather than mere presence

Antonyms

entozoic

Specialized

9.9

Living inside the body of an animal, usually as a parasite

Surface Forms

epizoic positive

Morphology

epizoic = epi + zo + ic

A technical biological term built from Greek combining forms (epi- 'on' + zo- 'animal' + -ic) that are not productive or familiar to average B1 learners, so the meaning is not readily derivable from known English base words.

Etymology

Epizoic comes from the parts epi- meaning 'on' and zoo meaning 'animal' (the same zoo as in zoology), so epizoic describes a plant or small animal that lives on the outside of another animal, often like a parasite.