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e·chi·no·derm ( -k n -dûrm )n. Any of numerous radially symmetrical marine invertebrates of the phylum Echinodermata, which includes the starfishes, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers, having an internal calcareous skeleton and often covered with spines.
[From New Latin Echinodermata, phylum name : echino- + -dermata, -skinned (from Greek derma, dermat-, skin; see -derm).]
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echinoderm [ɪˈkaɪnəʊˌdɜːm]n (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any of the marine invertebrate animals constituting the phylum Echinodermata, characterized by tube feet, a calcite body-covering (test), and a five-part symmetrical body. The group includes the starfish, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers echinodermal , echinodermatous adj
echinoderm ( -k n -dûrm ) Any of various marine invertebrates of the phylum Echinodermata, having a latticelike internal skeleton composed of calcite and usually a hard, spiny outer covering. The body plans of adult echinoderms show radial symmetry, typically in the pattern of a five-pointed star, while the larvae show bilateral symmetry. Echinoderms probably share a common ancestor with the hemichordates and chordates, and were already quite diversified by the Cambrian Era. They include the starfish, sea urchins, sand dollars, holothurians (sea cucumbers), and crinoids, as well as thousands of extinct forms. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. | echinoderm - marine invertebrates with tube feet and five-part radially symmetrical bodiesinvertebrate - any animal lacking a backbone or notochord; the term is not used as a scientific classification water vascular system - system of fluid-filled tubes used by echinoderms in locomotion and feeding and respiration ambulacrum - one of the five areas on the undersurface of an echinoderm on which the tube feet are located sea star, starfish - echinoderms characterized by five arms extending from a central disk basket fish, basket star - any starfish-like animal of the genera Euryale or Astrophyton or Gorgonocephalus having slender complexly branched interlacing arms radiating from a central disc sea urchin - shallow-water echinoderms having soft bodies enclosed in thin spiny globular shells crinoid - primitive echinoderms having five or more feathery arms radiating from a central disk holothurian, sea cucumber - echinoderm having a flexible sausage-shaped body, tentacles surrounding the mouth and tube feet; free-living mud feeders tube foot - tentacular tubular process of most echinoderms (starfish and sea urchins and holothurians) having a sucker at the end and used for e.g. locomotion and respiration |
Translations echinoderm [ɪˈkiːnəˌdɜːm] n → echinoderma m
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