polyclad

[pol-ee-klad]

noun

1. any free-swimming, marine flatworm of the order Polycladida, having a broad, flat body and a many-branched gastrovascular cavity.

Word History and Origins

Origin of polyclad¹

1885–90; < New Latin Polycladus genus name < Greek polýklados many-branched. See poly-, clado-

Example Sentences

This destruction is part of the reason she chose to focus on polyclad flatworms, which are dependent on specialized habitats such as coral reefs and can easily absorb pollutants through their body walls.

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Not just any worms: marine polyclad flatworms.

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The coelenteron exhibits six lobes, two of which Willey identifies with the stomodaeum of other Ctenophora; the other four give rise to a system of anastomosing canals such as are found in Bero� and Polyclad Turbellaria.

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