rhizocephalan

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rhizocephalan

(ˌraɪzəʊˈsɛfələn) n (Animals) any parasitic crustacean of the order Rhizocephala, esp Sacculina carcini, which has a saclike body and sends out absorptive processes into the body of its host, the crab: subclass Cirripedia (barnacles)adj (Zoology) of, relating to, or belonging to the order Rhizocephala[C19: from New Latin Rhizocephala (literally: root-headed), from rhizo- + -cephala from Greek kephalē head]