zoarium

[ zoh-air-ee-uhm ]

noun

Biology.

plural zoaria, zoariums.

1. a collection of distinct, individual zooids that make up a compound or colonial organism.
2. the supporting structure for a polyp colony; polyzoarium.

Other Word Forms

• zo·ari·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of zoarium¹

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

Example Sentences

Zoarium, zō-ā′ri-um, n. the colony of the polypides of a polyzoan.

From Project Gutenberg

A confused and tangled zoarium may thus be formed, the true nature of which can only be recognized by the examination of its terminal parts.

From Project Gutenberg

The zoœcia are never distinct from one another, but in dendritic forms such as Plumatella the zoarium is divided at irregular intervals by chitinous partitions.

From Project Gutenberg

The zoarium is of delicate appearance and branches sparingly.

From Project Gutenberg

Zoarium dendritic or linear, firmly fixed to extraneous objects; zoœcia tubular, not fused together to form a gelatinous mass.

From Project Gutenberg