Definition of Sipuncula in English:
Sipuncula
plural noun sʌɪˈpʌŋkjʊləsīˈpəNGkyələ
Zoology A small phylum that comprises the peanut worms. Also called Sipunculida.
Example sentencesExamples
- Comparison of both the inferred amino acid sequences and the gene arrangements of a variety of diverse metazoan taxa reveals that the phylum Sipuncula is more closely related to Annelida than to Mollusca.
- The phylum Sipuncula (acorn worms) has been considered allied to the molluscs on the basis of a pattern of cells in early spiral cleavage of the embryo, known as the molluscan cross.
Derivatives
adjective & noun
Zoology The position and composition of the cells suggests that they are homologous to the gliointerstitial cell system of molluscs, sipunculans, annelids echiurans.
Example sentencesExamples
- In echiurans, sipunculans and in most polychaete annelids at least portions of the coelomic lining form the somatic and visceral musculature.
- Although mollusks, annelids, brachiopods, and sipunculans are closely related, the relationships between them are not well resolved.
- Morphology places sipunculans with annelids and molluscs, and their mitochondrial genes relate them to annelids.
- Siboglinids, echiurids, myzostomids, and sipunculans, are four taxa with enigmatic evolutionary origins.
adjective & noun
Zoology The plesiomorphic nature of myoepithelial organization of the body wall musculature is evident in adult annelids, echiurans, and sipunculids.
Example sentencesExamples
- At least for certain sipunculids, however, circular muscles are reportedly derived from the ectomesenchyme.
Origin
Modern Latin (plural), from Sipunculus (genus name), based on a variant of Latin siphunculus 'small tube'.