testacean

[ te-stey-shuhn ]

adjective

, Zoology.

1. having a shell or test.

testacean

/ tĕ-stā′shən /

1. Any of various protozoans of the order Arcellinida (or Testacida) that are encased in a shell. Testaceans are rhizopods and are related to amoebas. Their shell usually has one chamber and may be secreted by the organism as a chitinous or siliceous covering, or may be glued together out of sand particles.

Word History and Origins

Origin of testacean¹

1835–45; < Latin testāce ( us ) shell-covered, testaceous + -an