Printer Friendly
The Free Dictionary
1,082,162,821 visitors served.
?
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

amphioxus

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.38 sec.
amphioxus: see lancelet lancelet, name for small, fishlike lower chordate (see Chordata ), also called amphioxus; it shows many affinities with the vertebrates. There are about 30 lancelet species, most belonging to the genus Brachiostoma (formerly Amphioxus).
..... Click the link for more information. .

amphioxus

 or lancelet

Any of certain small marine chordates (invertebrate subphylum Cephalochordata) found widely on tropical and subtropical coasts and less commonly in temperate waters. Seldom more than 3 in. (8 cm) long, they resemble small, slender fishes without eyes or a definite head. They are grouped in several species in two genera (Branchiostoma or Amphioxus, and Epigonichthyes or Asymmetron). They spend much of their time buried in gravel or mud on the ocean bottom, though they are able to swim, and feed by filtering food particles from water passing through their gill slits. They have no brain or distinct heart.



How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
 Email
Feedback
? Mentioned in ? References in periodicals archive
 
The earliest chordates presumably resembled amphioxus in being nearly brainless animals that lacked paired eyes and fed by filtering food from the water.
Waking Up to the Dawn of Vertebrates by Monastersky, R. / Science News
Along its abdomen, the creature has V-shaped segments that closely resemble the stacked muscle blocks in primitive living chordates such as amphioxus.
Early kin of vertebrates found in China by Monastersky, Richard / Science News
It's a long way from amphioxus to the meanest human cuss.
Jump-start for the vertebrates; new clues to how our ancestors got a ... by Monastersky, Ronald / Science News
More results
 
Encyclopedia browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Encyclopedia
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2008 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.. Terms of Use.