parapodium

American  

[par-uh-poh-dee-uhm] / ˌpær əˈpoʊ di əm /

noun

Zoology.

plural

parapodia

1. one of the unjointed rudimentary limbs or processes of locomotion of many worms, as annelids.

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parapodium British  

/ ˌpærəˈpəʊdɪəm /

noun

1. any of the paired unjointed lateral appendages of polychaete worms, used in locomotion, respiration, etc

2. any of various similar appendages of other invertebrates, esp certain molluscs

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Other Word Forms

• parapodial adjective

Etymology

Origin of parapodium

First recorded in 1875–80; para- ¹ + -podium

Example Sentences

The worm, named Pectinereis strickrotti, has an elongated body that is flanked by a row of feathery, gill-tipped appendages called parapodia on either side, and Rouse said its sinuous swimming reminded him of a snake.

From Science Daily

It is probable also, as already mentioned, that the leaf-like appendages of the Phyllopoda are of a primitive type, and attempts have been made to refer their structure to that of the Annelid parapodium.

From Project Gutenberg

Saccocirrus, which also lives in sand, and more closely resembles the Polychaeta, has throughout the greater length of its body on each segment a pair of small uniramous parapodia bearing a bunch of simple setae.

From Project Gutenberg

The fins of Pteropods are now interpreted as the expanded lateral margins of the foot, termed parapodia, not homologous with the siphon of Cephalopods which is formed from epipodia.

From Project Gutenberg

Probably the chaetae preceded the development of parapodia, and by their concentration and that of the muscular bundles connected with them at the sides of each segment, led directly to the evolution of the parapodia.

From Project Gutenberg