ENTOMOSTRACA Meaning and
Definition
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Entomostraca is a taxonomic class in the subphylum Crustacea, referring to a diverse group of small aquatic arthropods. The term "entomostraca" is derived from the Greek words "entomon" meaning insect and "strakon" meaning shell, referring to the presence of a hard exoskeleton similar to that of insects.
Members of the class Entomostraca exhibit a wide range of body forms and adaptations to various aquatic habitats. They typically possess a segmented body, a pair of compound eyes, five or more pairs of appendages, and a protective carapace. These organisms' appendages are specialized for feeding, locomotion, respiration, and reproduction.
Entomostraca comprise several subclasses, including Branchiopoda, Ostracoda, Copepoda, and Cladocera. Branchiopoda encompasses organisms such as fairy shrimp, tadpole shrimp, water fleas, and brine shrimp. Ostracoda primarily consists of small bivalved crustaceans commonly known as seed shrimps or ostracods. Copepoda encompasses a vast group of small, planktonic crustaceans found in marine and freshwater ecosystems. Cladocera, commonly known as water fleas, are predominantly freshwater organisms characterized by a flattened body and a peculiar brood pouch.
Entomostraca play essential roles in aquatic ecosystems as primary consumers, predators, and decomposers. They contribute to nutrient cycling and are an important food source for many organisms across various trophic levels. Additionally, some entomostracans are used in biological research and have economic significance, such as the brine shrimp Artemia, which is commonly utilized as fish food in aquaculture.
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A sub-class of crustacea covered with a delicate skin, and usually protected by a bivalve shield.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for ENTOMOSTRACA
- wntomostraca
- sntomostraca
- dntomostraca
- rntomostraca
- 4ntomostraca
- 3ntomostraca
- ebtomostraca
- emtomostraca
- ejtomostraca
- ehtomostraca
- enromostraca
- enfomostraca
- engomostraca
- enyomostraca
- en6omostraca
- en5omostraca
- entimostraca
- entkmostraca
- entlmostraca
Etymology of ENTOMOSTRACA
The word "entomostraca" is derived from the Greek roots "entomon" meaning "insect" and "ostrakon" meaning "shell". It was first used in 1820 by the French zoologist Pierre André Latreille to refer to a group of small, mostly aquatic arthropods that have a hard, chitinous exoskeleton similar to that of insects. These include various species of small crustaceans such as water fleas and copepods. The term "entomostraca" is not commonly used in modern scientific classification, but it played a significant role in early taxonomic studies.
Similar spelling words for ENTOMOSTRACA
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