pedicellaria

American  

[ped-uh-suh-lair-ee-uh] / ˌpɛd ə səˈlɛər i ə /

noun

Zoology.

pedicellariae plural

1. one of the minute pincerlike structures common to starfish and sea urchins, used for cleaning and to capture tiny prey.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• pedicellariae
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pedicellaria

From New Latin, dating back to 1870–75; see origin at pedicel, -aria

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pedicellariae

The gradation extends even to the manner in which ordinary spines and the pedicellariae, with their supporting calcareous rods, are articulated to the shell.

From The Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection, 6th Edition by Darwin, Charles

Now when the latter arise from the summit of a spine they form, in fact, a rude tridactyle pedicellariae, and such may be seen on the same spine together with the three lower branches.

From The Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection, 6th Edition by Darwin, Charles

In this case the identity in nature between the arms of the pedicellariae and the movable branches of a spine, is unmistakable.

From The Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection, 6th Edition by Darwin, Charles

In certain genera of star-fishes, "the very combinations needed to show that the pedicellariae are only modified branching spines" may be found.

From The Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection, 6th Edition by Darwin, Charles

I wish I had space here to give a fuller abstract of Mr. Agassiz's interesting observations on the development of the pedicellariae.

From The Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection, 6th Edition by Darwin, Charles