zooxanthella

American  

[zoh-uh-zan-thel-uh] / ˌzoʊ ə zænˈθɛl ə /

noun

plural

zooxanthellae

1. any of various symbiotic yellow-green or yellow–brown algae in the cytoplasm of certain radiolarians and marine invertebrates.

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Etymology

Origin of zooxanthella

First recorded in 1880–85; from New Latin; zoo- ( def. ) + xantho- ( def. ) + -ella ( def. )

Example Sentences

They host a microscopic symbiotic algae called zooxanthella that photosynthesizes just like plants, providing food to the coral.

From Salon • Jul. 17, 2023

In addition to giving coral reefs their bright colors, zooxanthella also provide corals with oxygen, waste filtration, and up to 90 percent of their energy.

From New York Times • Jan. 4, 2018

Absent zooxanthella, corals not only take on a ghostly pallor, hence the term bleaching, but they are also more susceptible to death.

From New York Times • Jan. 4, 2018

During bleaching events, overheated seawater causes corals to part ways with symbiotic plantlike organisms called zooxanthella that live inside of them.

From New York Times • Jan. 4, 2018