echinoderm

American  

[ih-kahy-nuh-durm, ek-uh-nuh-] / ɪˈkaɪ nəˌdɜrm, ˈɛk ə nə- /

noun

1. any marine animal of the invertebrate phylum Echinodermata, having a radiating arrangement of parts and a body wall stiffened by calcareous pieces that may protrude as spines and including the starfishes, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, etc.

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echinoderm British  

/ ɪˈkaɪnəʊˌdɜːm /

noun

1. 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

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echinoderm Scientific  

/ ĭ-kī′nə-dûrm′ /

1. 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.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• echinodermal
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of echinoderm

1825–35; taken as singular of New Latin Echinodermata, neuter plural of echinodermatus < Greek echîn ( os ) sea urchin + -o- -o- + -dermatos -dermatous

Example Sentences

He considers the Rotifers to be "the permanent forms of Echinoderm larvæ."

From Marvels of Pond-life A Year's Microscopic Recreations by Slack, Henry J.

Pelmatozoic Theory.—The rejection of the calycinal and Pentactaea theories need not scatter our conceptions of Echinoderm structure back into the chaos from which they seemed to have emerged.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 10 "Echinoderma" to "Edward" by Various

But if they are linked together as a connected series, then the lowest Acaleph should stand next in structure above the highest Polyp, and the lowest Echinoderm next above the highest Acaleph.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 09, No. 53, March, 1862 by Various

Pilidium, Echinoderm larvae, &c., and that larval characters have been the principal causes of the form of embryonic characters, strong reason to believe will be adduced later on.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 3 "Electrostatics" to "Engis" by Various

A pentacrinoid Echinoderm, with a complete jointed stalk, is developed within the larva of Antedon.

From Critiques and Addresses by Huxley, Thomas Henry