amphioxus
/ˌæmfiˈɒksəs/
noun
- A small, fish-like marine animal (also called a lancelet) that has a simple body structure and is considered a primitive relative of vertebrates.
- Scientists discovered that the amphioxus has a notochord, a feature shared with early vertebrate ancestors.
- The amphioxus is often studied in biology classes to understand the evolution of vertebrates.
- While snorkeling, the marine biologist spotted an amphioxus buried in the sand.
Synonyms