lancelet

American  

[lans-lit, lahns-] / ˈlæns lɪt, ˈlɑns- /

noun

1. any of several small, lancet-shaped burrowing marine animals of the subphylum Cephalochordata, having a notochord and bearing structural similarities to both vertebrates and invertebrates.

---

lancelet British  

/ ˈlɑːnslɪt /

noun

1. Also called: amphioxus.  any of several marine animals of the genus Branchiostoma (formerly Amphioxus ), esp B. lanceolatus, that are closely related to the vertebrates: subphylum Cephalochordata (cephalochordates)

---

lancelet Scientific  

/ lăns′lĭt /

1. Any of various small, transparent, fishlike marine organisms of the subphylum Cephalochordata that are related to vertebrates but have a notochord instead of a true backbone. Unlike other primitive chordates, lancelets have a body divided into serially repeated muscular segments.

2. Also called amphioxus

---

Etymology

Origin of lancelet

First recorded in 1565–75; lance ² + -let

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lancelet

The lancelet is a chordate, fish-like filter feeder that buries itself in marine sands.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

The shark branched off first, followed by the lancelet, then the frog, then the ostrich and then the snake.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

If the answer is no, a branch leads downward to lancelet.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

The illustration shows a lancelet with a head protruding form the sand, and the rest of the body buried.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

Goodsir, Prof., on the affinity of the lancelet to the ascidians.

From The Descent of Man by Charles Darwin