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Glite Dictionary
pelecypod

pelecypod

9.9
A sea animal with a soft body inside two shells joined at one side, like a clam or oyster
  • noun
  • /ˈpɛlɪˌsɪpɒd/
  • Archaic
translation icon : pelecipodo
  • Many pelecypods are harvested for food.

Examples

  • Fossil pelecypods are commonly found in marine sedimentary rocks.

  • Marine biologists study the pelecypod to learn about ancient aquatic environments.

  • The pelecypod shells displayed intricate patterns formed over millions of years.

  • The pelecypod is often found in marine environments.

  • Marine biologists study the pelecypod to learn about ancient aquatic environments.

  • The pelecypod shells displayed intricate patterns formed over millions of years.

  • Many pelecypods are harvested for food.

Synonyms

shellfish
vspelecypod
28 2.0

Sea animals with a shell, like shrimp or oysters

is the scientific two-shelled mollusk sense, not defined by food use
mollusk
vspelecypod
  • US
11 5.6

A soft-bodied animal like a snail or clam that often has a shell

is narrower, referring only to animals with two hinged shells
bivalve
vspelecypod
2 6.3

A water animal with a soft body inside two hinged shells, like a clam or oyster

is the same two-shelled mollusk but an older general name for it
lamellibranch
vspelecypod
  • Archaic
9.9

An animal with a soft body and two shells like a clam or oyster

is the same two-shelled animal without emphasising the gill detail

Surface Forms

pelecypod singular
pelecypods plural

Etymology

Pelecypod comes from Greek parts peleky- and -pod, which mean 'axe' and 'foot', and the -pod part is the same 'foot' seen in words like tripod and cephalopod. Think of an 'axe-foot' as a simple picture of the animal's strong foot and the two shell parts, and that is why the name is used for clams, oysters and mussels, animals with soft bodies and two shells.