natant
/ˈneɪt(ə)nt
/adjective technical or literary
Swimming or floating.Previously unstudied and earlier-known specimens have revealed the wide cephalic doublure and median ventral suture in Stenopilus; the hypostome is unknown but was probably natant....
- It is likely that the primitive sister group of the Asaphida was a member of Ptychopariida with a natant hypostomal condition: derived members are either conterminant or impendent.
- Since two of the primitive calymenides, Pharostomina and Bavarilla, had natant hypostomes it seems very likely that the Cambrian sister taxon would also be natant.
Origin
Mid 18th century: from Latin natant- 'swimming', from the verb natare.