suctorian

[ suhk-tawr-ee-uhn, -tohr- ]

noun

1. a suctorial animal.
2. a protozoan of the class or order Suctoria, which live, as adults, attached by a stalk to the substrate and feed by means of long, suctorial tentacles.

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the Suctoria.

Word History and Origins

Origin of suctorian¹

1835–45; < New Latin Suctori ( a ), noun use of neuter plural of sūctōrius sucking (< Latin sūg ( ere ) to suck + -tōrius -tory ¹ ) + -an