Definition of zooid in English:
zooid
noun ˈzuːɪdˈzuːɔɪdˈzoʊɔɪd
Zoology An animal arising from another by budding or division, especially each of the individuals which make up a colonial organism and typically have different forms and functions.
Example sentencesExamples
- The individuals of the colony are called zooids and many zooids with individual siphonal openings cover the surface of the colony.
- The most integrated colonies behave like individual organisms, for the zooids making up the colony are all specialized for certain functions and connected to each other.
- The feeding zooids use retractile tentacles, called the lophophore, to filter feed and have a U-shaped gut for digestion.
- These are marine bryozoans with tubular zooids with strongly calcified walls.
- Even in the earliest stages of new growth, complete reversals in budding directions of zooids are evident.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from zoo- 'relating to animals' + -oid.