scale worm

scale worm

      any member of the superfamily Aphroditoidea (class Polychaeta, phylum Annelida), a group of widely distributed free-moving, segmented marine worms that possess dorsal scales. Scale worms range in size from 0.5 to 25 cm (about 0.2 to 10 inches). The superfamily is made up of several dozen genera and also includes the sea mouse (q.v.), Aphrodita.

      The somewhat arched back of the scale worm is covered with flattened pairs of overlapping scales (elytra). A proboscis, or snout, which can be extended, has soft, fingerlike projections and four horny jaws.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • scale worm — noun Etymology: scale (V) : any of numerous chaetopod worms of Polynoe and related genera that have two rows of large elytra along the back called also scaleback …   Useful english dictionary

  • Worm-eating Warbler — Taxobox name = Worm eating Warbler regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves ordo = Passeriformes familia = Parulidae genus = Helmitheros genus authority = (Rafinesque, 1819) species = H. vermivorus binomial = Helmitheros vermivorus… …   Wikipedia

  • Velvet worm — Taxobox name = Onychophora fossil range = Cambrian – Recent image width = 250px image caption = Velvet worm regnum = Animalia phylum = Onychophora phylum authority = Grube, 1853 subdivision ranks = Extant families subdivision = Peripatidae… …   Wikipedia

  • Cotton scale — Cotton Cot ton (k[o^]t t n), n. [F. coton, Sp. algodon the cotton plant and its wool, coton printed cotton, cloth, fr. Ar. qutun, alqutun, cotton wool. Cf. {Acton}, {Hacqueton}.] 1. A soft, downy substance, resembling fine wool, consisting of the …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Geologic time scale — This clock representation shows some of the major units of geological time and definitive events of Earth history. The Hadean eon represents the time before fossil record of life on Earth; its upper boundary is now regarded as 4.0 Ga.[1] Other… …   Wikipedia

  • corn worm — Cotton Cot ton (k[o^]t t n), n. [F. coton, Sp. algodon the cotton plant and its wool, coton printed cotton, cloth, fr. Ar. qutun, alqutun, cotton wool. Cf. {Acton}, {Hacqueton}.] 1. A soft, downy substance, resembling fine wool, consisting of the …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cotton worm — Cotton Cot ton (k[o^]t t n), n. [F. coton, Sp. algodon the cotton plant and its wool, coton printed cotton, cloth, fr. Ar. qutun, alqutun, cotton wool. Cf. {Acton}, {Hacqueton}.] 1. A soft, downy substance, resembling fine wool, consisting of the …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Southern army worm — Cotton Cot ton (k[o^]t t n), n. [F. coton, Sp. algodon the cotton plant and its wool, coton printed cotton, cloth, fr. Ar. qutun, alqutun, cotton wool. Cf. {Acton}, {Hacqueton}.] 1. A soft, downy substance, resembling fine wool, consisting of the …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Florida worm lizard — ▪ reptile       pale or pinkish wormlike lizard characterized by the absence of limbs, external eyes, or ear openings, representing the only living member of the amphisbaenian family Rhineuridae. (Amphisbaenians are a group of burrowing, limbless …   Universalium

  • Wood worm — Wood Wood, n. [OE. wode, wude, AS. wudu, wiodu; akin to OHG. witu, Icel. vi?r, Dan. & Sw. ved wood, and probably to Ir. & Gael. fiodh, W. gwydd trees, shrubs.] [1913 Webster] 1. A large and thick collection of trees; a forest or grove; frequently …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”