zoarium

9.9

A group of many tiny sea animals of the same kind that live together and form a shared structure

noun
/zoʊˈɛəriəm/

Specialized

: zoario

In bryozoans, each zoarium consists of many interconnected individuals.

Examples

Scientists studied the structure of the fossilized zoarium to learn more about ancient marine life.
The coral's zoarium provided shelter for countless small marine creatures.
The zoarium is beautiful.
Look at that zoarium!
In bryozoans, each zoarium consists of many interconnected individuals.
Scientists studied the structure of the fossilized zoarium to learn more about ancient marine life.
The coral's zoarium provided shelter for countless small marine creatures.

Surface Forms

zoarium singular

zoaria plural

Morphology

zoarium = zoo (opaque) = zoo + arium

Although formally composed of 'zoo' + '-arium', the actual specialized meaning 'a colony of zooids' is not the expected 'place for animals' and would mislead average learners.

Etymology

Zoarium comes from the old Greek root zoo- meaning 'animal' and the Latin ending -arium meaning 'place'. Think of it like a tiny zoo of very similar animals living together, which is why a zoarium is a colony of many zooids.