zooxanthella

1 9.9

A tiny plant-like alga that lives in corals and gives them energy from sunlight

noun
/ˌzuː.əˈzæn.θə.lə/

Specialized

: zooxantela

When stressed, some corals expel their zooxanthella, leading to coral bleaching.

Examples

Corals depend on zooxanthellae for their survival.
The presence of zooxanthella helps giant clams grow quickly in shallow, sunny waters.
Coral reefs depend on zooxanthella to supply much of their energy through photosynthesis.
The zooxanthella provides energy to coral reefs.
Coral reefs depend on zooxanthella to supply much of their energy through photosynthesis.
The presence of zooxanthella helps giant clams grow quickly in shallow, sunny waters.
When stressed, some corals expel their zooxanthella, leading to coral bleaching.

Synonyms

microalga

vszooxanthella

Specialized

1 8.1

A very small living thing like a water plant that you can only see with a microscope

lives inside marine animals and supplies them with energy from sunlight

Surface Forms

zooxanthella singular

zooxanthellae plural

Morphology

zooxanthella = xanthella (opaque) = zoo + xanthella

The term is a technical scientific coinage from Greek combining forms and the meaning is not derivable for average learners from 'zoo' + 'xanthella'.

Etymology

The word zooxanthella mixes the parts zoo- ('animal') and xanth- + -ella ('yellow' + 'small'). These tiny yellow algae live inside sea animals like corals and make food from sunlight, so the name helps you remember 'small yellow things in animals' that give them energy.