Astomatous (Adjective)
Meaning
Having no mouth or mouthlike opening.
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The astomatous worm was absorbed into the body of its host to begin the parasitic relationship.
- The astomatous insect eggs relied entirely on osmotic exchange with their surroundings to obtain the necessary nutrients.
- A group of marine parasites are astomatous and attach to their host's circulatory system to draw nutrients.
- Astomatous protists are often parasitic and reproduce inside the soft tissues of their hosts.
- The astomatous larvae feed on stored nutrients from the egg and begin to develop a mouth only at a later stage of their development.