larvacean
|lar-va-cean|
🇺🇸
/lɑrˈveɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/lɑːˈveɪʃən/
tadpole-like tunicate
Etymology
'larvacean' originates from New Latin, specifically the taxonomic name 'Larvacea', where Latin 'larva' meant 'mask' or 'ghost' (later used for an immature form of an animal).
'larvacean' was formed in English from New Latin 'Larvacea' with the English adjectival/noun-forming suffix '-ean', producing 'larvacean' to denote a member of or relating to Larvacea.
Initially the root referred to 'larva' (a mask/ghost and then an immature animal form); over time it came to denote organisms of the taxonomic group Larvacea and things relating to them, retaining the sense of 'tadpole‑like' form.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a small free-swimming tunicate of the class Appendicularia (also called Larvacea), which retains a tadpole-like larval form throughout life; any member of this group.
Scientists collected several larvaceans from the plankton net.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
relating to or characteristic of larvaceans.
The study described larvacean feeding structures in detail.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/21 12:32