zoarium

American  

[zoh-air-ee-uhm] / zoʊˈɛər i əm /

noun

Biology.

zoaria, plural zoariums plural

1. a collection of distinct, individual zooids that make up a compound or colonial organism.

2. the supporting structure for a polyp colony; polyzoarium.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• zoarial
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• zoaria
  plural
• zoariums
  plural

Etymology

Origin of zoarium

First recorded in 1880–85; zo- ( def. ) + -arium ( def. )

Example Sentences

A=outline of part of zoarium from a stone, � 16; B=outline of the tip of a single zoœcium, � 70; C=free statoblast, � 70.

From Freshwater Sponges, Hydroids & Polyzoa by Annandale, Nelson

C=outline of zoarium on leaf of water-plant, � 3.

From Freshwater Sponges, Hydroids & Polyzoa by Annandale, Nelson

B=outline of part of a zoarium of the typical form of the species from the United Provinces, showing variation in the form of the zoœcia and of the orifice, � 15.

From Freshwater Sponges, Hydroids & Polyzoa by Annandale, Nelson

The zoarium is entirely recumbent and often appears to form an almost uniform flat layer instead of a dendritic body.

From Freshwater Sponges, Hydroids & Polyzoa by Annandale, Nelson

The nature of the zoarium in this genus is well expressed by Ehrenberg's specific name "articulata," although the name was given under a false impression.

From Freshwater Sponges, Hydroids & Polyzoa by Annandale, Nelson