The term acoelomate is used in the field of biology to describe a type of animal that lacks a coelom, which is a fluid-filled cavity that separates the gut from the body wall. Acoelomates are a diverse group of animals that include flatworms, tapeworms, and flukes.
Definitions
Acoelomates are animals that lack a coelom, which is a fluid-filled cavity that separates the gut from the body wall. They are characterized by a solid body with no internal cavity other than the digestive tract. This means that their organs are not surrounded by a fluid-filled space.
Origin
The term acoelomate comes from the Greek words “a,” meaning “without,” and “koilos,” meaning “hollow.” The term was first used in the 19th century by German zoologist Ernst Haeckel to describe animals that lacked a coelom.
Meaning in different dictionaries
The meaning of acoelomate is consistent across different dictionaries. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines acoelomate as “an animal lacking a coelom.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “an animal without a coelom.”
Associations
Acoelomates are a diverse group of animals that include flatworms, tapeworms, and flukes. They are found in a variety of habitats, including freshwater, marine, and terrestrial environments. Acoelomates are important in the ecosystem as they play a role in the food chain.
Synonyms
There are several synonyms for acoelomate, including “acoel,” “acoelous,” and “acoelomorph.” These terms are used interchangeably to describe animals that lack a coelom.
Antonyms
The antonym of acoelomate is “coelomate.” Coelomates are animals that have a coelom, which is a fluid-filled cavity that separates the gut from the body wall. Coelomates include animals such as mammals, birds, and reptiles.
The same root words
The root words of acoelomate are “a” and “koilos.” These words are also found in other scientific terms such as “amphicoelous,” which describes a type of vertebra that is concave on both ends, and “pneumatocoel,” which describes a gas-filled cavity in some marine animals.
Example Sentences
- The flatworm is an example of an acoelomate animal.
- Acoelomates have a solid body with no internal cavity other than the digestive tract.
- The acoelous body plan is characterized by the lack of a coelom.
- The acoelomorphs are a diverse group of animals that lack a coelom.
- The tapeworm is an acoelomate parasite that lives in the intestines of its host.