ostracod

American  

[os-truh-kod] / ˈɒs trəˌkɒd /

noun

1. seed shrimp.

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ostracod British  

/ ˌɒstrəˈkəʊdən, ˈɒstrəˌkɒd /

noun

1. any minute crustacean of the mainly freshwater subclass Ostracoda, in which the body is enclosed in a transparent two-valved carapace

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Other Word Forms

• ostracodan adjective
• ostracodous adjective

Etymology

Origin of ostracod

1860–65; < New Latin Ostracoda name of the subclass < Greek ostrakṓdēs, equivalent to óstrak ( on ) shell, tile ( see ostracize) + -ōdēs -ode ¹

Example Sentences

That is 273 million years earlier than the glowing ostracod crustaceans that previously held the title of earliest evolution of bioluminescence in animals.

From Science Daily • Apr. 23, 2024

But sometimes an ostracod will stay dark and sneak up on another displaying male, in hopes of intercepting a female drawn in by the competitor’s display.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 28, 2023

Increasingly, ostracod researchers are delving into how evolution shaped the animals’ most distinctive feature—their flashes.

From Science Magazine • Aug. 24, 2022

So they were able to compare characteristics of extinct ostracod species with the abundant living species.

From Salon • Jun. 8, 2018

The team of researchers set about studying 93 species of extinct ostracod, featured in a recent study published in Nature.

From Salon • Jun. 8, 2018