anguillulidae
|an-gwil-lu-li-dae|
/ˌæŋɡwɪˈluːlɪdiː/
obsolete nematode family of tiny ‘eel‑like’ worms
Etymology
'Anguillulidae' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Anguillula,' where 'anguilla' meant 'eel' and the diminutive '-ula' meant 'little one,' with the family suffix '-idae' indicating a taxonomic family.
'Anguillula' was used as a genus name in zoological Latin; from it the family name 'Anguillulidae' was formed in 19th–20th‑century taxonomy and entered English scientific usage as 'Anguillulidae.'
Initially, it denoted 'the family derived from Anguillula (little eel),' referring to tiny eel‑like nematodes; over time, revisions reassigned its members and the family name became largely obsolete in modern classifications.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a (largely obsolete) family name in the phylum Nematoda that historically included very small, eel‑like nematodes such as the vinegar eel.
In older classifications, Anguillulidae encompassed vinegar eels and similar free‑living nematodes.
Last updated: 2025/08/09 19:37