Onychophora (Noun)
Meaning
Enigmatic small elongated wormlike terrestrial invertebrates of damp dark habitats in warm regions; distinct from the phylum Annelida; resemble slugs with legs and are sometimes described as the missing link between arthropods and annelids.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The capture of several onychophorans in the tropical rainforest provided valuable insights into the diets of these ancient creatures.
- Onychophora has been the subject of extensive research, largely due to its unique position within the invertebrate tree of life.
- Despite the onychophorans' soft bodies, they possess an exceptional combination of setae and fluid-filled appendages allowing for dynamic locomotion.
- Although rarely encountered, onychophorans can thrive in carefully maintained terrariums that mimic their natural, dark, and humid environments.
- Onychophorans display traits from both arthropods and annelids, prompting scientists to study them as a potential missing link between these distinct phyla.