carcinoecium

noun

car·​ci·​noe·​ci·​um

ˌkärsəˈnēs(h)ēəm

plural carcinoecia

-s(h)ēə

: a colony of zoanthidean anemones (genus Epizoanthus) enclosing a hermit crab after dissolving the shell in which the crab lodged

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from carcin- + -oecium (from Greek oikion house, nest, diminutive of oikos house)

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